A summer family trip to Hualien lets you dive into the Pacific Ocean during the day and paddle a canoe, then spend the night in brand-new Jimmy-themed rooms, where the whole family can drift off to sleep under blue skies, white clouds, stars, and the ocean.
At first mention of “sea swimming,” it’s hard to imagine this as a meaningful activity—after all, it’s just swimming, only the setting changes from a pool or riverside to the sea. But after listening to Mr. Su Dazhen from the “Sufan Marine Culture and Arts Foundation” explain the differences between tides and various types of waves, and then personally sidestepping through the surf and gently floating over the waves under blue skies and white clouds, you’ll realize that sea swimming isn’t just about swimming—it’s fun and serves as a foundational course for understanding the ocean and preventing maritime disasters.
Taiwan is an island nation with many beautiful coastal areas, but for a long time, whenever someone drowned or was swept away by waves, the simplest solution for government authorities was to put up a “No Swimming” sign, dodging responsibility while also creating the stereotype that “the sea = danger.”
This “ocean fear education” not only fails to prevent maritime disasters but also stifles the development of marine culture. Su Dazhen says that Taiwan’s number of maritime accidents is three times that of New Zealand, yet the number of people engaging in maritime activities in Taiwan is only one percent of New Zealand’s. Calculated proportionally, Taiwan’s accident rate is 300 times that of New Zealand—an astonishing figure.
Understand ocean currents, train in canoeing
Su Dazhen was originally a professor in the Department of Marine Engineering at National Taiwan Ocean University. He earned his Ph.D. in Hawaii and specialized in scuba diving. Fifteen years ago, he fell in love with the “Hawaiian-like” Yanliao Beach in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, and bought property there. Five years ago, after retiring, he moved here and founded the “Sufan Marine Culture and Arts Foundation,” dedicating himself to promoting marine education. He was also a key figure behind the once sensational “Canoe Around Taiwan” event.
Su Dazhen explains that there is no such thing as a “freak wave.” All tides are predictable and follow formulas. Maritime disasters often occur because people don’t understand so-called rip currents, incoming currents, alongshore currents, or the differences and characteristics of swells, curling waves, and breaking waves. They don’t know how to position themselves against different waves and currents, nor do they realize that the beautiful white foam of breaking waves offers no buoyancy—many accidents happen for these reasons, and the term “freak wave” is simply used to shift blame.
The most terrifying thing about the ocean isn’t sharks or waves, but ignorance. Sea swimming is the foundation for understanding the ocean and tides, as well as the root of ocean survival skills. To help people understand the ocean, this summer the Sufan Marine Foundation has partnered with the Howard Plaza Hotel to offer sea swimming and canoeing courses. Fun comes second—the most important goal is to help everyone understand the ocean, overcome their fear of it, and provide an educational experience perfect for families.
In August, the Sufan Marine Foundation will also launch a “Qingshui Cliffs Canoeing” trip. The 4-day, 3-night journey costs NT$8,000 including meals and lodging, and no experience is required. Starting with learning about the ocean and tides, participants will then train in basic sea swimming and canoeing skills, and finally paddle out to sea to view the Qingshui Cliffs, reliving the excitement the Portuguese felt when they first exclaimed “Formosa!”
Jimmy-themed rooms full of childlike wonder
Eastern Taiwan is very Jimmy-themed this summer, from the Jimmy Square next to Yilan Railway Station, the Jimmy special exhibition at Taitung Art Museum, to the newly renovated lobby and guest rooms at the Hualien Howard Plaza Hotel themed around Jimmy’s picture book “Hug,” making eastern Taiwan (Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung) brimming with romantic charm.
The Hualien Howard Plaza Hotel was originally the Hualien Chung Hsin Hotel. Three years ago, it underwent a brand upgrade and renovation with a green energy hotel concept. In addition to installing solar panels to make guest room power self-sufficient, the exterior walls use heat-insulating and energy-saving techniques, and there’s a rainwater recycling system. More interestingly, the pool water is filtered and used for guest room toilets—the more people stay and use the toilets, the faster and cleaner the pool water gets, without the need for chlorine disinfection that harms the body.
Stepping into the current Hualien Howard Plaza Hotel, large installations inspired by Jimmy’s picture books greet you from the entrance, including lions, giraffes, gentle white rabbits, green frogs, elephants, and pink pigs, constantly surprising guests. The 29 rooms on the 7th floor have all been transformed into Jimmy-themed rooms, with bedspreads, walls, and pillows immersing you in real-life scenes from four different picture books such as “In the Afternoon of Spring” or “Hiding in the Corner of the World.”
Special room rates—embrace the lion, gather love
Even more special is that the hotel’s Western cuisine head chef, Wang Zeqing, drew inspiration from Jimmy’s picture books and used locally sourced Hualien ingredients to design a variety of desserts that blend flavors like those in “Hug” or feature vibrant colors like those in “In the Afternoon of Spring,” allowing guests to not only see and embrace Jimmy but also taste him.
For example, one dish is green sauce snails. Locally farmed snails from Hualien are cleaned and simmered for two hours until tender and chewy, then combined with charcoal and toast. Using French culinary techniques, the snails are “hugged” and finally topped with a green sauce capsule. When eating, squeeze the green sauce into the snail, filling your mouth with a taste of spring.
The Hualien Howard Plaza Hotel now offers special rates for Jimmy-themed rooms, including one night’s stay, two meals, and afternoon tea. For two people, the price is NT$4,999 plus 10%; for families traveling together, it’s NT$7,999 plus 10%. Every afternoon, the hotel also offers Jimmy story tours and the “Embrace the Lion, Gather Love” activity, where children can enthusiastically hug a large lion mascot.
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★ Hualien Howard Plaza Hotel / No. 2 Yongxing Road, Hualien City / 03-8225198 / http://hualien.chateaudechine.com
★ Sufan Marine Culture and Arts Foundation / No. 148, Yanliao, Shoufeng Township, Hualien County / 0912132751 / http://jonathansufoundation.blogspot.tw
★ Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation / No. 81, Zhongmei Road, Hualien City / 03-8246700 / www.kuroshio.org.tw