Hualian Travel Guide

  cycling in the high mountain
by tarokobike
 
  • cycling in the high mountain
      cycling in the high mountain
    by tarokobike
  •   Hualian
    by kiely
  •   Hualian
    by kiely
  •   Hualian
    by luckymiffy
  •   Hualian
    by Toto88
 

Pro

DirtyRudy profile photo

 Thundering oceans and refreshing breeze! 


Con

THLIN profile photo

 a little inconvenient 


In a nutshell

DSwede profile photo

 A very quiet place, ideal for nature enthusiasts. 

 

Explore Hualian

Things to Do  

Sampling local flavours

Sampling local flavours, Hualian

 6aruna Says:  There is a shop facing the railway station which sells mochis,the local delicacy. You can see the ladies making it and sample it. I insist that you sample it . The mochis are made of glutinous rice and filled with various fillings, coconut, red beans, peanuts,ground nuts.. I... 

Taroko gorges

Taroko gorges, Hualian

 6aruna Says:  If you love nature and adventure,this is a must see.Situated along the eastern coast and between two mountains and a deep blue sea.Hualien has everything .And taroko gorges takes the cake .It is a natural as well as man made wonder.Those magnificant misty mountains... 

Hualian Amis Tribe

Hualian Amis Tribe, Hualian

 limkahwan Says:  Hualian has the most indigenous tribes, Amis, Taroko, Bunun and Puyuma. The Pine Garden is where the Japanese air fighters were bestowed the Heavenly Emperor wine on the eve of the suicide missions. http://www.pinegarden.com.tw 

Hualien Farglory Ocean Park

Hualien Farglory Ocean Park, Hualian

 Burtty Says:  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... 

Hotels  

Grand Formosa Taroko Hotel

 1 Review and 182 Opinions  I've known this hotel since I was a high school student, with its astonishing location, I made up my... 

Parkview Hotel

 33 Opinions

Restaurants  

Azure Hotel Restaurant: Outstanding food

Azure Hotel Restaurant: Outstanding food, Hualian

 kiely Says:  I've eaten there twice during my stay in Hua-Lian. Luke and I ordered four different meals these two times. And they were all delicious. Price is about average, very affordable. Deep fried pork chop with fried rice and XO sauce.Steamed rice with mix vegetable covered with... 

Lai De Shu: Fruit Juice Stall

Lai De Shu: Fruit Juice Stall, Hualian

 edelng Says:  This fruit juice stall is directly opposite Gong Zheng Bao Zi's stall. We ordered the avocado juice. Very creamy and thick. Compared to the fruit juice stall, which is 2 stalls next to Gong Zheng Bao Zi's stall, this stall's juice is cheaper and thicker. Avocado Juice 

Yeh Xiang Bian Shi: Taiwanese Wanton

Yeh Xiang Bian Shi: Taiwanese Wanton, Hualian

 edelng Says:  This original stall is called Ye Xiang Bian Shi, which sells wanton. One bowl of Bian Shi cost NT60. There are many photos of politicians and movie stars hanging on the wall. Even the current president, Ma Ying Jiu's photo is there. The soup is quite bland. I prefer the... 

Gong Zheng Bao Zi: Pork Buns and Dumplings - Xiao Long Bao

Gong Zheng Bao Zi: Pork Buns and Dumplings - Xiao Long Bao, Hualian

 edelng Says:  Recommended by the guide book. Operating for past 30 years. Famous for its pork buns, dumplings, sweet and sour soup. It is situated at the corner. Very crowded at night. Open 24 hours. Xiao Long Bao. Sweet and Sour soup. 

Purple Signboard Original Bao Xin Fen Yuan: Dessert - Balls with red beans with bean curb

Purple Signboard Original Bao Xin Fen Yuan: Dessert - Balls with red beans with bean curb, Hualian

 edelng Says:  According to the locals, this is the original store, with purple signboard. Established since 1994. It is hot and cold specialty dessert in Hualien. The red beans are wrapped with sago balls, by hand. A must try in Hualien. The balls are eaten with Bean curb, grass jelly,... 

Transportation  

Talkative Mr Liu

Talkative Mr Liu, Hualian

 Orchid Says:  Getting around Taroko Gorge is difficult without your own transport. We read that one could hire taxis and checked quite a few recommendations before choosing Mr Lui. We were very satisfied with the one day tour to Taroko Gorge and the Chingshi Cliffs that we arranged - the... 

Express trains

Express trains, Hualian

 6aruna Says:  The train ride from Taipei to Hualien takes about 2 1/2 hours.Catch the earliest train .The scenery is incredible.The train goes through tunnels and mountains and at some point there is blue sea on one side and mountains on the other. 

Taipei - hualien trains

Taipei - hualien trains, Hualian

 pohutakawa Says:  At weekends and holidays trains are heavily booked - making planning difficult. I would suggest that if you are having issues getting TPE - Hualien direct train tickets then break the journey at Luodong City. It is often easier to get tickets if you break your journey at... 

Storyin Railway

Storyin Railway, Hualian

 storyin Says:  Eastern LineOrdinary train no.411 was my best choice.but it just now stop running.slow cheap wind blow school childrenOrdinary Express train no.162 & no.157 was my second choice ......... -_-still alive ........ 

Take Express Train from Taipei to Hualian

Take Express Train from Taipei to Hualian, Hualian

 edelng Says:  We took an express train Tzu Chiang from Taipei to Hualien. Express train are faster and seats are assigned. The duration is about 2 hours. We bought the tickets from Taipei Main Station on the same day of travel. To check for schedule, the website is... 

Shopping  

Tseng's: Mash Sticky Rice...

Tseng's: Mash Sticky Rice..., Hualian

 THLIN Says:  It is not really a correct place if you expect something extravagant; it's a place selling delicious mash sticky rice, which is a popular snacker in East Asia. Somehow, they make it like a tourist shop for tourists. We local called it Moa-gi, it's made of sticky rice... 

Warnings and Dangers  

Earthquakes and rockslides

Earthquakes and rockslides, Hualian

 agc Says:  I had my first earthquake experience in Hualien. It was freaking scary!! When you sense an Earthquake, get out of your hotel and out to the streets. You might look funny but when the building comes crashing down, look who's laughing. Also, when you're in Taroka National... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Jichi Beach Resort

Jichi Beach Resort, Hualian

 Burtty Says:  Jichi Beach is the only sand beach along the Hualien coast. The beach itself is not so special. However if you love to go visiting the sand beach for the water activities, this is the only choice you will have in Hualien.Direction: 38km south away from Hualien city along... 

Cisingtan Scenic Area and Beach

Cisingtan Scenic Area and Beach, Hualian

 DSwede Says:  Cisingtan translates to "Seven Stars Pools". It is a vast, wide beach and scenic viewpoint for the cliffs and mountainous coast line around Hualien and Sincheng.The beach has posted signs for no-swimming, but that should not detract from the visit. Many of the locals will... 

Sports & Outdoors  

LiWu River

LiWu River, Hualian

 THLIN Says:  Just like most of rafting, fun, exciting and risky. Visitors has to go with a group. Life guard are around us. Sometimes they may play tricks on us splitting water on us. Strongly recommand you take cheap foot wear. You can buy many places in the town. 

Favorites  

Hwa-Liean

Hwa-Liean, Hualian

 kiely Says:  Hwa-Liean is located in the easten Taiwan . As you all know that Taiwan is an island , so there are a lot of beaches here . But the thing which you might not know is that the beaches along the east coast are all very different from the ones in the west . And there are also a... 

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Map of Hualian