Tianxiang is located at the confluence of the Dashaxi River and the Taosexi Stream, a tributary of the Liwu River. It is an expansive river terrace, originally named Tabito, and was the ancestral home of the Atayal indigenous people. It was later renamed in honor of Wen Tianxiang. Situated at the western end of Taroko Gorge, the area boasts stunning scenery and a pleasant climate, making it a very popular scenic spot along the Central Cross-Island Highway. Fuyuan and Meiyuan are two small parks before entering Tianxiang, where visitors are often seen strolling among the plum trees and taking photos. On one side of Meiyuan, there used to be a palace-style vermilion building, the Tianxiang Guesthouse, which served as an ideal lodging option. Behind the local shops and eateries stands a statue of Wen Tianxiang, set amid the lush green mountains, offering a panoramic view of the Tianxiang Railway Station area. Crossing the Zhihui Bridge over the highway and passing the Pudu Bridge leads to Xiangde Temple on the opposite bank, where an over ten-foot-tall golden statue of the Earth Store Bodhisattva stands prominently atop the mountain. Nearby is a seven-story Tianfeng Pagoda, which offers excellent views. Tianxiang also features the elegantly designed Tianxiang Youth Activity Center, affiliated with the National Youth Corps, which has become another attraction in the area.
Sixty Stone Mountain is located on a ridge that extends westward from the Eastern Coastal Mountain Range in Zhutian Village, Fuli Township, Hualien County. With an elevation of about 800 meters, the mountain features steep slopes and a gently undulating, expansive summit. It earned the name "Sixty Stone Mountain" due to the scattered large rocks on its surface. By turning east off Provincial Highway 9 and following the Sixty Stone Mountain Farm Road (which is two to four meters wide), you can drive for about ten to fifteen minutes along the winding road to reach the summit. Once there, you’ll be greeted by a vast expanse of green fields, resembling a golden needle flower farm blanketed by a green carpet. A few winding dirt farm roads twist across the landscape, dotted with red-roofed farmhouses and clusters of green woods, giving visitors the feeling of being in a highland farm in Europe.
The Bulowan Recreation Area is an important site in Taroko National Park that showcases indigenous culture and historical relics. Located on the Bulowan river terrace near Swallow Grotto, it is surrounded by majestic mountains on three sides, offering extremely beautiful scenery. This area was once a stronghold for the Atayal people and has yielded prehistoric cultural sites. Today, it is a carefully planned indigenous cultural area by the park. “Bulowan” means “valley of thunderous echoes” in the Atayal language. It is said that 250 years ago, the Toda subgroup of the Atayal people crossed the Central Mountain Range from the Taichung area into this region. When they arrived at this river terrace, they encountered heavy rain and heard the booming sound of thunder echoing through the valley, so they named the place “Bulowan.”
Chike Mountain is located on the Coastal Mountain Range east of Yuli Town, and it is one of the main areas in Taiwan where daylilies—also known as hemerocallis or "daylily flowers"—are cultivated. Every year from August to September, when the daylilies are in full bloom, the hillsides at altitudes above 800 meters turn a brilliant golden yellow, contrasting beautifully against the lush green grass. Whether viewed from afar or up close, the sight is truly delightful. The blooming daylilies never fail to amaze and delight visitors. In addition to daylilies, through collaboration with agricultural authorities, the area has also begun cultivating tea varieties such as oolong, jade, and jinxuan, as well as lilies. Therefore, even though April is not the season for daylilies, the emerald-green tea and daylily fields, along with the clusters of white lilies dotting the gardens of Chike Mountain, present an exquisitely elegant and delicate landscape.
Hualien Ocean Park is located in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, approximately ten kilometers from downtown Hualien. The park features three main themed areas, including the core Theme Park area and a 19-hectare Natural Landscape Park. Within Hualien Ocean Park, there are attractions such as Ocean Village, Sea Aquarium, Shark Museum, Sea Lion Eco-Park, Dolphin Eco-Park, and Dolphin...
Shitiping is located about 2 kilometers north of Gangkou Village in Fengbin Township, Hualien County. It gets its name from its terraced-like terrain and is one of the most famous tourist attractions on Taiwan’s east coast. The coastline in this area has been significantly altered by seawater erosion, with protruding headlands gradually forming sea-eroded terraces, platforms...
Seven Star Lake is located in Beipu Village, Xincheng Township, at the foot of the Huadong Plateau cliff. It is a crescent-shaped bay with pristine white sands, azure waters, and rolling waves of frothy surf, making it an ideal spot for swimming and one of the best summer beach destinations. The Seven Star Lake Scenic Area includes not only the beach but also the surrounding region extending to the Seven Star Lake community…
Swallow Grotto is located on the cliffs of the Dali Chi Canyon, about 500 meters from Jin Heng Park along the Central Cross-Island Highway. The site features a spectacular sight of countless small caves. These formations were created because the cliff is composed of metamorphic limestone, which has been eroded by water flowing along the limestone layers over time, resulting in many small cavities. Over the years, swallows have made their nests in these caves...
Qingshui Cliff refers to the steep sea cliffs of Qingshui Mountain along the Pacific Ocean, located in northern Hualien County. The cliffs are shaped like a sheath, with sheer rock faces rising thousands of feet, beneath which the white waves surge violently, creating an extremely dramatic and perilous landscape. Qingshui Cliff is a massive rocky cliff formed by the contiguous coastal cliffs of mountains such as Chongde, Qingshui, and Heping. Stretching over 21 kilometers in length, it juts vertically into the...
Wuhu is located in Ruisui Township, Hualien County, at a key point along the Huatung Highway. It was once known for the Wuhu Stone Pillars. Later, when the government developed the hillside areas and promoted the establishment of a specialized production zone, Wuhu Village became a scenic tourist destination. The most famous attraction in the Wuhu Stone Pillars Scenic Area is a pair of uniquely shaped, towering stone pillars over two zhang in height. They are relics from before the Amis people developed the eastern region. From here, visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the Xiuguluan River Valley and the mountains on the opposite bank. The Wuhu Tea Plantation is also a great spot for tourists to explore, offering Tiange Tea that is mellow, fragrant, and distinctly flavorful. In contrast, nearby He’gang Village produces the renowned He’gang Black Tea. Additionally, on the left side of the highway stands the Tropic of Cancer Monument, which stands out vividly against the lush green backdrop with its white structure.
Carp Lake is located at the foot of Mount Carp on the western side of Shoufeng Township, covering an area of 104 hectares. It is the largest lake in Hualien County. It is said that the lake got its name because the surrounding mountains resemble a carp when viewed from afar, and the lake is also abundant in carp. The county government releases fish fry here every year, making it a true “Carp Lake.” The lake water comes from springs at the lake’s center, crystal clear…
According to historical records from Hualien, bonito was a major local seafood catch, with over 10,000 kilograms often landed in a single haul during midsummer. Although Qixingtan lacks natural harbors, the warm Kuroshio Current of the Pacific Ocean flows through the area, fostering a thriving fishing industry and making it a hub for dried bonito processing plants. The Qixing Dried Bonito Museum is located next to Qixingtan and is a...
Far East Splendor Hotel is a Victorian palace-style themed leisure hotel located along the ridge of the Pacific Coastal Mountain Range in Hualien, Taiwan. Overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean and the beautiful Huatung Valley, and with distant views of the layered peaks of the Central Mountain Range, guests can enjoy breathtaking mountain and sea scenery right from their rooms. Upon entering Far East Splendor Hotel, the soaring...
The Hualien Railway Cultural Center is located next to the Sixth Redevelopment Zone on Zhongshan Road in Hualien City, Taiwan. Originally established in 1909 as the Hualien Port Branch of the Railway Bureau, it was later renamed the Hualien Management Office of the Taiwan Railways Administration after the retrocession of Taiwan. On March 1, 1988, with the westward relocation of Hualien Railway Station, the Hualien Management Office was disbanded, and the site was taken over by the Hualien Operations Section and the Fourth Police…
With an elevation of 3,705 meters, Central Peak is located in the northern section of Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range, on the main ridge south of Nanhu Mountain. It is the fourth highest peak in the Central Mountain Range and falls under the management of Taroko National Park. Among the famous Taiwan Hundred Mountains, Central Peak, along with Qishan Peak and Dafen Peak, is collectively known as the “Three Peaks,” ranking the highest among them…
Jianying Bridge is a concrete bridge located in Fenglin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, spanning the Hualien River and connecting Darong Village and Shanxing Village. It is said that in the earliest days, the only connection between Darong Village and Shanxing Village was a makeshift bamboo footbridge, which was both inconvenient and dangerous to use. On the early morning of October 6, 1977, Typhoon Dana struck...
Lin Tian Shan Forest Farm is located on the eastern side of the Central Mountain Range, spanning the administrative regions of Wanrong Township and Xiulin Township in Hualien County, with Wanrong Township as the primary area. It borders the Muguashan Forest Management Area to the north, connects with the Zhuoshui River Forest Management Area and Danda Forest Management Area to the west, adjoins the Luandashan Forest Management Area to the south, and meets the border of Fenglin Town, Hualien County, to the east. The area stretches 27 kilometers from north to south and approximately 26…
Seven Color Lake is a lake located on the eastern side of the main ridge of Taiwan's Central Mountain Range, at an elevation of 2,980 meters. The lake covers an area of approximately 2 hectares, with a maximum depth of around 8 meters, making it the second deepest alpine lake in Taiwan. Legend has it that Lin Wen-an, known as the "Father of Taiwan’s Hundred Mountains," stumbled upon the lake during sunrise and was struck by the dazzling array of rainbow-like colors shimmering on the water’s surface...
Red Leaf Hot Springs is located in Hongye Village, Wanrong Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. It originates from the upstream of the Hongye River on Tiger Head Mountain and is one of the three well-known hot spring areas in the Huatung Valley, alongside Ruisui Hot Springs and Antong Hot Springs. This hot spring is an alkaline sodium bicarbonate spring situated between valleys, featuring clear, colorless, and odorless water that can reach temperatures up to 47 degrees Celsius, with a hydrogen ion...
Chihu Forest Recreation Area is a forested leisure destination located in Wenlan Village, Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. It gets its name from its position south of Liyu Lake in Shoufeng Township. In the early days, this area served as a logging and timber collection site for the Chihu Papaya Forest Management Zone, but it was transformed into a forest recreation area following the logging ban policy of the 1980s. The terrain within the recreation area…