Taiwan also has its version of Cambridge beauty — Hualien’s top 5 European-style photo hotspots

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Hualien boasts countless majestic and spectacular landscapes, making it the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle, allowing both body and mind to relax. Below are five selected European-style spots in Hualien that not only feature exotic architectural designs but also offer magnificent scenery comparable to Europe, making them ideal for photography and light travel getaways.

1. National Dong Hwa University
Dubbed the most beautiful university in Taiwan, National Dong Hwa University features three artificial lakes — East Lake, Hua Lake, and Little Hua Lake. The picturesque waters create an ambiance so reminiscent of the University of Cambridge in England that it attracts many visitors for photos and has even served as a filming location for popular idol dramas.

2. Sun Square
Located about a 15-minute drive from downtown Hualien, Sun Square features colorful rainbow houses in a Southern European style. Its exotic European architecture outlines a romantic coastal vibe, complemented by various cute ocean-themed painted walls, making it feel like a Taiwanese version of a small French village infused with maritime charm.

Once a traditional and somewhat chaotic fishing port, Hualien Fishing Port has in recent years gradually transformed into a multifunctional tourist attraction. The architecture of Sun Square presents a Southern European Mediterranean style, creating a striking contrast with the adjacent Hualien Fishing Port. Unlike typical noisy and crowded places, this spot offers a more relaxing and leisurely atmosphere, where you can converse with nature and enjoy the comfort brought by sunlight and sea breeze.

3. Siba Elementary School
Nestled within Taroko National Park, Siba Elementary School is not only the only elementary school inside the national park but also the first institutional forest experimental elementary school in Taiwan. Having won Taiwan’s Architecture Award and been ranked among the “Top 100 Featured Elementary Schools” by a weekly magazine, Siba Elementary School has no walls — the entire mountain forest serves as its campus. Its unique geographical location and diverse cultural background have made it the only elementary school in Hualien County to implement a dormitory-based educational system.