Spring Festival uncrowded attraction #4 / Free scenic coffee spot — Baiyun Maple Forest Trail in Hualien

Reported by Reporter You T-Ru / Comprehensive Report

The Spring Festival holiday lasts nine days — where’s the best place to go? This time, ETtoday News Cloud has invited domestic travel expert Rou Lu to share eight hidden gems across Taiwan that are not only beautiful but also free from traffic jams during the New Year. Covering northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan, there’s a scenic route for each day from the first to the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. As long as you have a car, you can easily take your whole family on a road trip.

[Hualien – Baiyun Maple Forest Trail]
Located in Hualien, the Baiyun Trail, which connects to the Maple Forest Trail, offers stunning views of the majestic Qingshui Cliffs. Stretching from the north to the south, it provides panoramic vistas of Qixingtan, Hualien Port, Meilisha Mountain, and the entire cityscape of Hualien, creating a refreshing and uplifting experience. With completely unobstructed views, when the wind blows and you look down, the golden waves of rice fields sway — a truly enchanting sight.



▲ Completely unobstructed views reveal the city and rice fields, offering a refreshing and uplifting experience. (Photo provided by Rou Lu. From “Wow！Taiwan Should Be Played Like This: 50 Happy One-Day Light Travel Routes”)

When visiting the Baiyun Maple Forest Trail, you’ll find nine restful viewpoints along the way, all easily accessible by car. Rou Lu especially recommends that visitors bring hot coffee and snacks to enjoy with family at the viewpoints. Not only can you admire the scenery from above, but you can also savor the fragrant blend of coffee and nature in the free scenic coffee spot.


▲ The free scenic coffee spot. (Photo provided by Rou Lu)

Suggested itinerary: Mugu Muyu Ecological Park → lunch on your own → afternoon tea at Fengchun Ice Parlor → Baiyun and Maple Forest Trails, Greek-style sea views → Choco Choco Chocolate → dinner at Benlu Coffee → late-night snack at seaside barbecue