Hualien city is a place of incredible natural wonders and home to one of
Taiwan’s most beautiful National Parks, Taroko. While the county’s unrivalled scenery is an understandable attraction for tour groups and travellers, the city of Hualien itself also has a lot to offer. So next time, if you visit Taiwan’s East Coast, take some time to enjoy the delights of this relaxed coastal city.
Visit Taroko Gorge National Park
The undisputed king of Taiwan’s National Parks, Taroko Gorge is the quintessential destination on Taiwan’s east coast. Towering marble valleys, thundering waterfalls, forest hikes and mountain to mountain suspension bridges are just a few of the spectacular features of this grand park. Carved by the Liwu river over millions of years, the spectacular Gorge is the largest marble canyon in the world and boasts a wide variety of trails, temples and landscapes.
Sample street food at Dongdamen Night Market
You simply cannot visit any city in
Taiwan without checking out the local night market. In Hualien that means heading to Dongdamen. The market is a hive of activity once the sun goes down. Take a browse around the stalls and be sure to sample some of the region’s most famous street foods. It does get busy at the weekends but half the fun of a night market is navigating the crowds while eating food on a stick.
Check out the beaches
Beaches in
Hualien are uncrowded and fairly pristine. The water can be chilly, so if you want to go for a dip your best bet is to head to Jici (or Jiqi) beach airsouth of Hualien city as swimming is not allowed at the more famous Qixingtan beach.
Explore the East Rift Valley
As one heads south on Highway 9 or scenic Old Highway 193 from Hualien City, it becomes clear, quite quickly, what a spectacular day is in store for you. With the Coastal Mountain Range rising on your left, and the Central Mountain Range on your right, the green and fertile East Rift Valley stretches south, littered with glistening rice paddies, wild rivers, waterfalls, hot springs and more.
From the tranquil shores of Liyu Lake, to the tea fields and hot springs of Ruisui, there are tons of things to explore in this beautiful valley. Cool off under Fenghuang Waterfall, take a bike ride through Danong Dafu Forest Park, view countless orchids and critters in the Matai’an Wetlands, see many of Taiwan’s 450 butterfly species at the Fuyuan Forest Recreation Area and so much more.
Wander around Hualien Railway Culture Park
The Railway Culture Park is set in the restored grounds of an old railway depot. Originally built in 1932, this park is full of historical facts and information about the area’s industrial past. There is a fully restored machine yard which is something of a paradise for train lovers young and old, while the rest of the park features rustic buildings, great to take a wander around and the perfect photo backdrop.
See more: 7 must-try foods in Hualien, Taiwan
Source Internet
