Explore the Most Beautiful Beilang Boulevard in Eastern Taiwan – The 40-Year-Old Embracing Couple Trees

Reporter Chen Zi-Yin / Special Report

Takeshi Kaneshiro shot a promotional ad for EVA Air, once again showcasing the beauty of Eastern Taiwan and making Beilang Boulevard in Chishang a popular tourist destination. Why not embark on a “Floral & Eastern Countryside Adventure” this week? Journey through Hualien and Taitung to not only experience the coastal splendor of Eastern Taiwan but also the freedom and relaxation found in the countryside, adding a colorful travel touch to your rare weekend getaway.

Heading to Eastern Taiwan, many people’s first stop is Hualien’s most beautiful coastline“Qixingtan (Seven Star Lake)”, which is Hualien County’s only “county-level scenic area.” It is famous for its crescent-shaped bay and is also known as the “Crescent Bay.” Paired with the lush greenery of the Central Mountain Range, it resembles a painting unique to Hualien. Many visitors make it a point to see this blue-sea-and-sky wonderland when in Hualien. If you’re not in a rush, you can also explore nearby fishing villages and shops, enjoy fresh seafood, and stroll along scenic walking paths as you await the sunset at Qixingtan. At night, the light-pollution-free Qixingtan takes on an especially enchanting beauty—on clear nights, you can see a sky full of stars and a bright moon, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing, all offering a truly blissful experience.


▲ A must-visit spot in Hualien, Qixingtan enchants with its mountain-fringed blue sea and sandy shore. (Photo / Courtesy of Hualien County Government official website)


▲ The beauty of sunrise at Qixingtan. (Photo / Courtesy of Hualien County Government official website)

Finding a comfortable homestay is essential for a great trip. Hualien’s“Cypress House”is located in Ji’an Township. As the name suggests, it incorporates Japanese architectural concepts and extensively uses cypress wood throughout, filling the space with a fragrant aroma. The outdoor café area offers guests a chance to relax amidst nature. The homestay also features a wine-tasting area where you can enjoy not just coffee, but also fine drinks.

  
▲ Cypress House has become somewhat of a local favorite in Hualien. It was initiated by the second-generation members of a Hualien timber family who couldn’t bear to see the timber market decline, so they forged another kind of dream.


▲ Interior view of a double room at Cypress House.

After a cozy night at Cypress House and a delicious breakfast, head to the classic, indigenous-flavored“Ji’an Railway Station”in preparation for your journey to Taitung. Ji’an Station is a relatively small station, so it’s usually not crowded, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility of an old-time railway stop. The approximately two-hour drive will take you to Taitung’s“Chishang Railway Station”, once the bustling hub of the local commercial scene. The name “Chishang,” meaning the homeland of rice, is well-known among Taiwanese, but have you actually visited Chishang Township? As citizens of Taiwan—the kingdom of rice—it’s a must to come and experience being surrounded by endless rice paddies.

Not far from Chishang Train Station stands a famous tree known as the“Couple Trees”— a pair of chinaberry and banyan trees that have been embracing each other for over forty years. That’s why many visitors to Chishang Township make sure to see these “deeply loving trees.” Next to the couple trees is a well known as the“First Well of Chishang”, said to be around eighty years old, which once supplied drinking water to the railway staff and local residents—a place of special meaning.

In Chishang, you can also observe the well-known geological feature known as the“Chishang Fault,” also called the Jinyuan Fault. Located in the Chishang Plain, some surface evidence of fault compression can be seen at Dapo Elementary School in Chishang Township.


▲ The “Chishang Fault” can be seen at Dapo Elementary School. (Photo / Courtesy of Dapo Elementary School website)

Next, you might consider visiting the natural wetland"Dapo Pond."This area is home to numerous birds and fish. The "Chi" in Chishang Township refers to Dapo Pond. The famous "Chishang Lunchbox" originated here — it’s said that in the early days, it was made with fish and shrimp from the pond and Chishang rice, then packed as meals for travelers. Although fish and shrimp are no longer used in the dish today, the fame of the "Chishang Lunchbox" has endured.


▲ Serene Dapo Pond is the most valuable ecological treasure. (Photo / From the official website of Taitung County Government)

After taking in the beauty of nature, head to a place with a bit more "human touch" —Qiuju Soap Workshop.The shop is named after its owner, Chen Qiuju. She first worked at Chishang Junior High School and one day noticed that the school's "waste oil" was being poured onto the land outside. This inspired her to find a purpose for the waste oil. Later, learning that it could be turned into eco-friendly soap, Chen Qiuju dove into the soap-making business. When visiting Chishang, don’t forget to bring home a couple of these eco-soaps — they’re made with nothing but a pure heart concerned for the environment.

After buying soap and reflecting on the caring hearts of the local women, make your way to"Jinyuan Laundry Pavilion."You’re sure to feel something special here. Jinyuan Village is a traditional Hakka settlement, and this laundry pavilion was once a place where mothers came to wash clothes. It’s a nostalgic shelter with deep heritage value, now also a unique attraction. The surrounding area has also developed into the "Jinyuan Countryside Club."

  
▲ Left: Soaps made by Chen Qiuju, each with a heartwarming story and entrepreneurial journey behind it. Right: The charming Jinyuan Laundry Pavilion was once a gathering spot for women to chat and do laundry. (Photo / Left from Qiuju Soap Workshop’s Facebook page, right from Taitung County Government Tourism Website)

The rice-field-covered Chishang Township boasts endless stretches of paddies. At Fuzhen Weir in Chishang, there’s a spot to admire the lush green fields —"Daguan Tower."Viewing the vast green fields from here is truly refreshing. Additionally, this is a branch of the "Pond Weir Bicycle Path," so you can also enjoy cycling here.


▲ Daguan Tower offers breathtaking views of endless green rice fields. (Photo / From Taitung County Government Tourism Website)

Finally, visit Taiwan’s most beautiful road —"Borlang Boulevard."The very first commercial for Borlang Coffee made this rural road famous across Taiwan. Looking down the straight road, you’ll see the majestic Central Mountain Range in the distance, set against the surrounding rice paddies. The scenery changes slightly with the seasons, and even during the "green season," the shades of green vary. In autumn, when the fields turn golden, the view resembles something you'd expect to see abroad — it’s indescribably beautiful.


▲ Taiwan’s most beautiful road, "Borlang Boulevard," takes on different appearances through the seasons, its grandeur leaving everyone in awe. (Photo / Courtesy of photographer Tsai Wen-li)

Eastern Taiwan is a place many travelers long to revisit. With its mountain ranges close to the coastline, the area offers a unique blend of mountains and sea, with dramatic ridgelines visible up close — quite different from the west — and every scenic spot comes with its own captivating story.

Qixingtan
Address: No. 5, Lane 79, Qixing St., Dahan Village, Xincheng Township, Hualien County

Hinoki Residence
Address: No. 58, Cihui 1st St., Shengan Village, Ji’an Township, Hualien County
Phone: (03) 854-6006

Taiwan Railways Ji’an Station
Address: No. 200, Nanchang Rd., Ji’an Township, Hualien County

Taiwan Railways Chishang Station
Address: No. 30, Tiehua Rd., Chishang Township, Taitung County

The First Well of Chishang
Address: No. 30, Tiehua Road, Chishang Township, Taitung County

Chishang Fault (Jinyuan Fault), Dapo Elementary School
Address: No. 87, Qingfeng Village, Chishang Township, Taitung County

Chishang Dapaidi Pond
Address: Km 322 on Provincial Highway 9, Chishang Township, Taitung County

Qiuju Soap Workshop
Address: No. 191, Ren’ai Road, Chishang Township, Taitung County
Phone: (089) 861172, 0933-486656
Business Hours: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Jinyuan Laundry Pavilion
Address: Jinyuan Village, Chishang Township, Taitung County

Chishang Daguanlou
Address: Jinxin Second Road, Chishang Township, Taitung County

Chishang Brolin Boulevard
Address: Chishang Township, Taitung County

%家猿厣舷缥?行牡那?虻赝技/span>

View larger map