Every corner is meticulously crafted — a converted family home in Hualien as a cozy and comfortable homestay

Text & Photos /Mazi Little Rabbit

Traveling with like-minded friends is the most fun. Margo organized a trip to Buluowan Shan Yue Inn in Taroko, Hualien, and friends like Yunyun, Albert, and Ye Fang... joined in too. When I heard we were going to my favorite Shan Yue Inn and spending time with these great friends, I immediately raised my hand. I even brought my dad along to explore a different side of Hualien and Taitung with this bunch of crazy travelers.

My travels are usually pretty spontaneous. It all started with just going to Shan Yue Inn, but since I happened to be back in Tainan, I figured why not take my dad and hop on the South-Link Line straight to Yuli in Taitung. We soaked in hot springs at Shuigeyue, admired the flower fields in Fuli, strolled down Chishang Boulevard, and savored the delicious taste of lily spring in clay pots. The next day, we headed straight to A’Gu’s Shop in Jian, Hualien, to meet up with everyone, then went to Yunshan Water for photos, stayed overnight at Shan Yue Inn in Taroko, and the following day visited Tianxiang and Xibao Elementary School (some friends went to Baiyang Trail). On the evening of the third day, we returned to Hualien City to have dinner at Old Times before everyone went their separate ways.

%The small space is designed with a warm social vibe/p>

Since I wasn’t sure which date I’d be staying until, aside from booking Shan Yue Inn with Margo, I asked a friend to recommend a place for the night of the third day. That’s how I ended up bringing my dad to stay at 【Weitian Rainbow】, a seaside homestay near downtown Hualien. My first impression upon arrival was exactly as my friend had described — 【Weitian Rainbow】 felt really cute, with the building’s side wall featuring my favorite Mondrian-style geometric color blocks. I’d even stayed at Hualien’s Hanperton Hotel before because of this style.

%Although it may look like a typical guesthouse from the outside, during construction, they actually moved the interior walls inward, making the actual indoor space much larger than it seems. The atmosphere here is your own personal paradise./p>

%The dining area isn’t very large and might feel a bit cramped when full, but the host is a young and stylish man. He has a large DSLR camera and has taken tons of photos of the guests. You can tell he puts a lot of thought into the details. We chose to stay here mainly for the cozy environment and great photos./p>

%Although the hosts seem quite young, both of them are very thoughtful. They even prepared meals for us. Most of the food was cooked by the boss himself, including breakfast, coffee, setting the table, serving dishes, and clearing up... everything was handled by the owner./p>

%Located in a quiet alley in northern Hualien, you can hear the ocean from the guesthouse, and the sea breeze is quite refreshing. Because it’s in an alley, it’s not easy to find at first. I got lost when I came, but the host personally came out to guide me in. It’s really convenient to get around./p>

%Not only is there open space nearby for parking, but the homestay also has a garage for storing bikes or scooters, which is perfect for cycling around Hualien. I attended the Hualien Bicycle Harvest Festival before — I should’ve stayed here then. Having a place to park your bike is really important./p>

%Aside from the dining area, there’s also a small kitchen where you can buy ingredients and cook for yourself. The owner also prepares dinner here. We had dinner here one evening and the atmosphere was really nice./p>

%The dining area is a bit small, but the meals prepared by the owner are all home-cooked and very tasty./p>

%The bathrooms are not inside the rooms but are located in the hallway./p>

%The bathrooms are cleaned very thoroughly, and every corner is spotless./p>

%The homestay has a few other rooms too. Aside from the common areas and bathrooms, the rooms are private. Some rooms are themed, and you can see pictures of the other rooms on their official website./p>

%The room we booked was the triple room, but the other rooms were all fully booked, even by guests from Shanghai./p>

%The triple room has three double beds. The space isn’t too cramped and there’s a small sofa to sit on. The balcony outside is also really comfortable./p>

%We chose this room because it was easy for my friends to come and go./p>

%The atmosphere inside the room is really clean and simple, giving off a very relaxing vibe./p>

%From the room, you can see the ocean, which is something the owner particularly likes. There's also a small terrace outside./p>

%The rooms also have storage shelves where guests can put their belongings./p>

%The design of our room also had some special touches. I didn’t expect such a small place to have so many thoughtful details./p>

%The owner also provides towels for guests./p>

%One thing that really impressed me was the breakfast, which included handmade salad. The boss made it all himself, and the taste was really good./p>

%The coffee here is also really good. It’s not overly bitter or acidic./p>

%The salad served at lunch was all made by the boss himself, and the flavors were quite good./p>

%There are also many photo spots nearby, which I found out after arriving. I’d definitely recommend this place to others./p>

% Some seats on the second floor also have power outlets, USB ports, and even power strips, so you can charge your devices easily.

% There are also some bookshelves where you can read books at the bar.

% I also found that there are coffee beans from all over the world here, and the owner is super passionate about coffee. The latte art is also very good. The atmosphere is cozy, and the owner of the coffee shop is super friendly. Every time I come to the coffee shop, I feel very relaxed. It's not expensive either, and you can go check it out.

Hualien City Seaside Homestay [Sweet Rainbow Homestay]
Official Website: http://www.sweetrainbow.com.tw/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E5%BE%AE%E7%94%9C%E5%BD%A9%E8%99%B9%E6%B0%91%E5%AE%BF/318608018163923
Reservation Hotline: Miss Yang 0911 698 676 (Please call between 11:00~23:00 for reservations)
Homestay Address: No. 12, Lane 12, Beibin Street, Hualien City
E-mail: jsk4682@yahoo.com.tw

Hualien Sweet Rainbow Homestay is quite comfortable and cozy. Compared to other general homestays, you can tell the owner has put in a lot of effort. The breakfast is also delicious. The young female owner is really adorable. I recommend everyone to stay here when visiting Hualien. However, the homestay has limited rooms, so remember to book early~

% There are also some cute decorations in the room, actually from the owner’s own design, but they are very suitable for the atmosphere.

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