The Hualien Fuyuan “Fire Station” Transforms into a Homestay – Just 400 NT per Person!

▲ The Hualien County Fuyuan Fire Station provides dormitories as homestays for just 400 NT per person per night. (Photo / Eastern TV News)

Reported by Xiao Kezheng and Xie Yilun of Eastern TV News in Hualien

Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and this time there’s a 9-day holiday. Have travelers decided where to go yet? If you’re planning to visit Hualien, besides hotels or homestays, there’s a unique option: the staff dormitory of the Hualien County Fuyuan Fire Station. That’s right, a fire station. While the facilities are basic, the cost is only 400 NT per person. Plus, for those who want to get closer to nature, you can also camp at 20 schools in Hualien for just a 50 NT cleaning fee per person.

Staff are busy making beds and arranging quilts, because soon tourists will be checking in. But did you know? This isn’t your typical homestay—it’s actually a government-run fire station. These rooms are the dormitories provided for trainee firefighters. Because during the Chinese New Year period, homestays in eastern Taiwan are in extremely high demand and often fully booked months in advance, the Fuyuan Fire Station takes advantage of the off-training season to open up these rooms for public accommodation.

The fire station dormitory has a total of 7 rooms and 50 beds. The best part? The price is incredibly affordable—just 400 NT per person. And it’s very safe—no need to worry about fire safety inspections. The only thing to note is that each room requires a minimum of 4 people. Either gather a group of four, or two people can pay the rate for four.

If you want to save even more money, there’s another new option: getting close to nature by camping at schools. Setting up camp at a school is super economical—just 50 NT per person per night, no matter how many days you stay. Classrooms used during the day turn into sleeping quarters at night, and toilets serve as shower facilities. Though the amenities are simple, some schools even offer hot water. With such low prices, it’s quickly attracting visitors from all over Taiwan.

In the Hualien area, only 20 schools are open to the public this year. Those who want to experience the joy of camping should book early, or these spots might be just as hard to get as homestays.