A 32-Year-Old Green Leaf Hotel Gets a Makeover: A Metal Industrial-Style Youth Hostel

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo provided by Morven. Travel Notes)

ReporterYan Xintong/ Comprehensive Report

The "Huilanwo International Youth Hostel" sits directly opposite Hualien Railway Station, its bold green facade highly eye-catching. Originally the "Green Leaf Hotel," a property around 32 years old, owner Ye Jiwei said, “For a long time, we rented it out to others to manage. Only this year did we come back to run it ourselves.” “Turning it into a youth hostel isn't about comparing decor and equipment—there will always be new hotels with newer gear, and the comparison never stops. What we offer is the chance for travelers from everywhere to have great memories because of Huilanwo.”What we offer is the chance for travelers from everywhere to have great memories because of Huilanwo.”

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo by Reporter Yan Xintong)

Owner Ye said,he hopes every guest can have a WOW experience, which is why the "Huilanwo" English name is WOW, and every floor's space is also named starting with WOW. The building has nine floors in total: the first floor is the reception hall, with both stairs and an elevator. Outside the first floor is WOW Cafe', offering light meals and drinks—you can also take away food when just passing by, and if you’re staying, you get a NT$20 discount voucher.Outside the first floor is WOW Cafe', offering light meals and drinks—you can also take away food when just passing by, and if you’re staying, you get a NT$20 discount voucher.

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo provided by Morven. Travel Notes)

The second floor is a common area dedicated to guest interaction. It houses the service desk, a self-service kitchen, a sofa lounge area, and an outdoor terrace space for chatting (smoking is prohibited throughout the building, including outdoor balconies)—it’s a very well-equipped space. Floors 3 through 6 are backpacker rooms, featuring various bed configurations as well as family rooms.

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo provided by Morven. Travel Notes)

Floors 7, 8, and 9 are guest rooms, while B1 is a small stage area, ingeniously repurposed from a septic tank. On the top floor, there’s also a laundry area set to open after the launch, and outside the rooftop is an open-air terrace designed with a train station view—featuring railway ties as seats, offering guests a place to drink and watch planes.

▲Deluxe Double Room (Photo by Reporter Yan Xintong)

The rooms feature an industrial style accented with wooden textures to create a warm atmosphere. Gray walls are painted white to give off an edgy, worn-down industrial-home vibe. Rooms are equipped with amenities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, cups, towels, bath towels, tea bags, and mineral water. A small fridge is installed under the wardrobe, and there’s also a cold/hot water dispenser in the hallway for guest convenience.

The room’s piping follows an industrial design. To avoid it feeling too stark, the floors are made of wood and paired with other wooden furniture, British-style sofas, and searchlights to create a cozy industrial aesthetic.

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo provided by Morven. Travel Notes)

To cater to various types of travelers, the backpacker rooms come in different combinations, such as double twin beds, 8-person rooms, 6-person rooms, 4-person rooms, etc. The mattresses are of the pocket spring type. On the bunk bed staircases, some flat steps are made wider for better ergonomic footing. Owner Ye said, “Not all guests here are young travelers. Some are parents’ age. Some spent their younger years dedicating themselves to their families and only get the chance to travel after retirement. Making the steps more user-friendly adds safety.” Paying attention to these small details makes guests feel more at ease.

Every backpacker room at "Huilanwo" has its own bathroom, and even the doors are fully enclosed. Ye said doing so ensures that unpleasant odors from showers or toilets don’t waft out and cause embarrassment. He came up with the idea because he himself is a backpacker who loves traveling, and so he incorporated his own thoughts into the design of "Huilanwo."

▲Huilanwo International Youth Hostel (Photo by Reporter Yan Xintong)

Additionally, in the corners of each floor, you’ll find creatively designed 3D murals. Ye said they were all painted by local artists, transforming what could have been unused spaces into interactive 3D artworks. The stairwells span nine floors; while floors 1 and 2 feature waterfall scenes, the other levels depict local Hualien attractions—such as the Central Cross-Island Highway and Qingshui Cliff—can be found in each stairwell.

Huilan International Youth Hostel
Address: No. 3, ???宦犯, Hualien County, Hualien
Phone: 03-833-0186
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/hualienwow
Official Website:http://hualienwow.com/