Hualian Things to Do

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Hualien Ocean Park is smilar to Hong Kong Ocean Park and San Diego Sea World where I vivisted before. However Hualien Ocean Park is with the new facilities and the spectular view of the moutain and sea.

The Ocean Park provided the Dolphin show, Sea Lion Show, Mermaid show and the dancing shows upon our visit in June 2006. There also some amuzment facilities as well as the cable car in the park.

It is a place for the fun and relax.

If you ever asked me what and where is a must-go when visiting Taiwan, my answer goes to Taroko Gorge without hesitation. It locates in our beautiful eastern county of Hualian ( or Hualien), with a three-hour train ride, you can arrive. The river here is called Li-wu, it cuts the gorge over tens of thousnads years. It' breathtakingly magnificant.
There is tourist bus service near the train station. You can join their English service every morning or just take a normal trip. The prices are as following: Day trip departing at 0800 is around NT1,000(USD31), including a meal at Formosa Hotel. If you just do half-day trip, it costs NT650(USD20), departing at 1130. I think English service is only available for the day trip one.

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Hiking Trails

*Buluowan Swallow Grotto (0.5 km.)
Behind the round theater on the lower terrace, there are stairs leading down to the highway. near Swallow Grotto. The short descent on this wooded trail makes for a refreshing walk.

*Upper Terrace Scenic walk (0.3 km)
Behind the wooden cabins on the upper terrace, there is a short nature trail through cool bamboo groves. Beautiful plants, birds and insects can be seen here as well as the magnificent strangling fig trees.

~Information provided by Taroko gov.~
~Photos taken by Kiely~

For more information: Taroko National Park Trails

Exciting activity starts from here. When you come to Rui-Sui, you certainly don't want to miss the white-water rafting on Xiuguluan River. From Rui-Sui to the ocean, there are only 22kms, so this section of the river is the best place for white water rafting. The service centre usually provides a great help with all the detail information. And the best time to do it will be from April to October.

Unfortunately, you can't get closer to the temples up there because the path has been badly beaten by the frequent earthquakes in the aeria!
There are amazing stairs you can see in the steep marble stones and it would be a big adventure to climbe up there to the temples they lead to. But it's just too dangerous!

This amazing marble bridge is at the beginning of Taroko Gorge. On both sides there are hundreds of small marble lions and on each side of the bridge there are 2 big ones. I think the meaning is, that they are garding the bridge.

Just north of Hualien, close to the airport lies this nice beach. If you are lucky you can find some nice gem stones!
Well, every once in a while some fighter jets start from the airport. Then it gets very loud and you need you hands to cover your ears and stop looking for stones for a few seconds.
But it's still worth seeing! For those of you who like planes as well!

From Hualien it's easy to get to Taroko Gorge, an impressive marbel gorge!!
The best way as a tourist to see it is to book a tour. At Marshal Hotel we could book one through the hotel.
I'm coming from Switzerland and am used to mountains and gorges. But still I was impressed by this wild and steep one!
Worth seeing!!!