Hualien County

There are 13 townships and settlements in Hualien, each with its own character and charm:

• – Touristic centre of the Hualien County and base for exploring the nearby Taroko Gorge.
• (光復)
• (Rueisuei) – Ruisui is most famous for its hot springs; however, there are tons other things to do as well, see below.
• – Mostly a farming area, with a historic hiking trail nearby, the Walami trail, once used by the Japanese to keep on eye on Aboriginal villages in the mountains. Many sections have been wiped out, but you can do the first part as a day trip.

• – An impressive canyon, long. The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area.
• – The highest mountain of Taiwan, is in Nantou County, and is also the name of the related national park in Hualien County.

Go to the Taipei Train Station (not to be confused with Taipei Main Station, the MRT station). Take the Ziqiang Train to Hualien, which is about a 3-hour trip from Taipei.

By bus

The bus station heading south to Taitung is to the left as you come out of the Hualien Train Station. Buses travel down the scenic Highway 11, and usually transfer in Jing Pu, near Big Harbor and the famous Big Red Bridge. Try the homemade dumplings at the noodle shop in Jing Pu while you're waiting.

By train

Trains travel down the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area and are perhaps the most convenient way to travel from Taitung to Hualien. Spend a few days slowly making your way down this area. The sightseeing is the best in Taiwan for those that love nature and beauty.

History and culture

• Eternal Spring Shrine

  phone: +886 3 862 1100
  A mountainside memorial shrine that was built in honour of those who lost their lives building the nearby highway. The site offers picturesque views of the surrounding area.

• Saoba Stone Pillars

  phone: +886 3 887 5306
  An archaeological site at Ruisui Township featuring a number of stone pillars from Beinan culture built during the Stone Age, around 3,000 years ago.

Museums

• Chihsing Tan Katsuo Museum

  phone: +886 3 823 6100
  address: No. 148, Qixing Street, Xincheng Township
  A museum in Xincheng Township dedicated to dried bonito fish. The museum is accessible east from Beipu Station.

Parks and nature

• HehuanshanA 3,416-metre-high (11,207 ft) mountain in Central Taiwan which lies on the borders of Nantou and Hualien counties, within Taroko National Park.

• Liyu LakeA scenic lake good for a stroll or lunch, with boats for rent. There is also a mountain trail around the lake.

• Matai'an Wetland Ecological ParkThe wetland is at the foot of Mount Masi and spans over an area of 12 hectares, making it the largest wetland in the county.

• Qingshui CliffAn impressive 21-km-long coastal cliff that rises 800 m above sea level on average. Its tallest peak, the Qingshui Mountain, rises 2408 m above sea level directly from the sea.

Temples

• Xiangde Temple

  phone: +886 3 869 1120
  A large mountainside temple complex in Xiulin Township.

• Ruisui Hot SpringsRuisui's pristine natural beauty is a must to experience during a trip to Hualien. Ruisui Hot Springs originated from the upper stream of Hongye Stream. The water from Ruisui Hot Springs is alkaline sodium carbonate, perfect for osmosis detox and cleansing, with a pH ranging between 6 and 7. The high altitude of Ruisui Hot Springs offers a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and plains. Ruisui Hot Springs have helped boosted tourism in Ruisui, and Ruisui Organic Farms, especially the dairy products, is loved by all who visit.

• Siouguluan River BasinSoak in the RueiSuei Hot Springs for an evening, then wake up in the morning and River Raft down the incredibly beautiful Siouguluan River basin down to Big Harbor, where you can then hop on a yacht at #96 Shi Ti Bay and head out whale and dolphin watching. The seafood in Shi Ti Harbor is the freshest in Taiwan, caught twice a day by local (mostly Aborigines) fishermen and delivered fresh to your plate!

• Hehuan MountainIt is a fantastic journey through the wonders of Taroko Gorge and past, ending in a treeless, absolutely different ecosystem. Hiking available ranges from easy to hard, and can be hiked on one day or multiple days, depending on the route you choose. English literature is available but very basic. It is possible to just set out on a trail and see where it takes you. Being a (mostly) treeless environment, it is difficult to get lost, but beware of the dangers of high altitude hiking - most peaks are above 3000 m.

• Mugua River GorgeThis collection of rivers, waterfalls and lakes are an excellent place to swim and see the rich diversity of ecosystems in Hualien County. Most easily accessed by organized tour, the Mugua river gorge is home to Liyu Lake, Emerald Valley, Zimu Waterfall, Rainbow Waterfall, the Miyawan river and more!

• Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.

• Rareseed RanchA tourist attraction ranch in Wuhe Village, Ruisui Township.

Amusement parks

• Farglory Ocean Park

  phone: +886 3 812 3199
  A 51-hectare water theme parkin Shoufeng Township. The park is accessible southeast from Ji'an Station.

• Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park

  phone: +886 3 875 1703
  address: No. 99, Linsen Road, Fenglin Township
  The forest consists of former offices and residential buildings, dormitories, logging tools and machines, rail tracks, an elementary school, and a church. The site is divided into the forestry exhibition area, early settlement buildings, and the remains of Kangle New Village, administration and management area, and hiking trails.

• Kuan Yun Youth Activity Center

  phone: +886 4 25991173
  address: Guanyuan
  Great for a stopover when coming from Taroko Gorge or Hehuan Mountain. It is an old building with a large dinning hall. The dorm rooms, however, are very pleasant with TV and shower (and warm in the winter). They only host people under 40, but this policy does not seem to apply in off-season. They also serve optional dinner for NT$200 per person.

• Sun Moon Lake – A beautiful lake nestled among tall mountains, just a few kilometres south of Puli and the main reason why many people come to Puli, a picturesque and relaxed town in Nantou County. This lake is one of Taiwan's most popular resorts.
• Hehuan Mountain – A beautiful mountain range and decent hiking spot half way towards Taroko Gorge.