Hualien is located in the eastern part of Taiwan, bordering the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Central Mountain Range to the west. Nestled between mountains and sea, it boasts numerous natural scenic spots. When visiting Hualien, staying at a local farmstead to experience the laid-back lifestyle of the locals is a must. This time in Hualien, we stayed at one of the top leisure farms in the area – Changfeng Farm.
Spanning 726 hectares, Changfeng Farm offers visitors the chance to explore its grounds by bike while admiring the diverse flora and fauna. The highlight has to be the sloths from South America—they’re absolutely adorable and heart-meltingly cute.
The farm is vast, making biking the best way to get around and see it all.
Beyond the farm itself, the cottages here feature charming European-style architecture, and the facilities on-site are comprehensive. In addition to standard accommodations, there’s also a hot spring complex where guests can soak in the thermal baths or try the hot stone bath. It’s the perfect spot for a holiday getaway.
Apart from Changfeng Farm, Hualien is home to several other leisure farms. One we visited this time was Jizheng Ranch, which currently raises over 600 cows. Since the milk is produced on-site, it naturally lends itself to their famous milk hotpot.
Fresh milk paired with hotpot ingredients creates a wonderfully complementary flavor. But I think the most important factor is the freshness of the ingredients—because that alone can elevate any dish significantly.
With its beautiful mountains and scenery, Hualien is truly a gem. Spending a day at a leisure farmstead here, immersed in nature, is the perfect reward after a busy workweek.
Text & Photos by Daneil @ A Half-Told Story of a Travel Journalist