Hualien's New Hotel Features a 3-Meter-High "Indoor Climbing Wall" Right Across from the Train Station

Reported and photographed by You [Name] / Hualien




Dubbed Taiwan's first hotel with a 3-meter-high climbing space, "Hualien Shan Zhidao."
%Continued from the unique charm of the region.


Upon entering the lobby, the first thing that catches the eye is the mirror-like marble floor, reflecting the artistically crafted copper reception desk. On one side of the family-friendly counter, there are plenty of design chairs, and the display shelves feature instruments of the Truku tribe. "This is called GAW GAW, a traditional wind instrument of the Truku people," said Chen Fengying, deputy director of Hualien Shan Zhidao, as she gently tapped the GAW GAW. "In Truku culture, women aren’t allowed to touch the instruments!"

It turns out Chen Fengying is of Truku heritage, which suddenly infuses the entire hotel with a unique vitality."Before the design phase, our art director asked me about my ethnicity. I told him I’m Truku, and after researching the tribe, he decided on the hotel’s direction."Storytellers matter. Chen Fengying picked up a wooden xylophone in the corner and played it—the four-tone melody echoed through the lobby, creating a valley-like reverberation in the space.

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▲ The hallway is adorned with landscapes of the Truku mountains and rivers.


▲ The hotel features various artworks.

The hotel space includes traditional Truku fabrics above the elevator, percussion instruments in the corners, and rooms styled in off-white tones. Though calling the subtle differences on each floor "walking into the mountains" might be an overstatement, the tranquility and leisure are certainly palpable.

At the end of the lobby stands a 3-meter-high climbing wall with four routes of varying difficulty, set against a dark green background. Climbing it step by step feels like scaling a mountain and is a rare sight in hotels.


▲ The 3-meter-high climbing wall.

The InYi Cultural & Tourism series of hotels is fascinating—all concepts, inside and out, are decided by art director Huang Weiwei. Each hotel has a distinct style and varied spaces, and Huang Weiwei recombines details to transform the space, infusing the entire layout with an exploratory vitality.The space at "Hualien Shan Zhidao" houses artworks from both local and international artists, displayed in the lobby and guest room floors. Though the styles may differ, they blend seamlessly with the overall "Truku-inspired" ambiance.


▲ %Those who love climbing will find their dream room here.


Five art-themed rooms were also designed based on ideas from indigenous artists—one even frames the mountains across from Hualien Train Station within its window view.Another room features a canvas with three scratch marks—what the reporter thought looked like human fingernails, but Chen Fengying said, "I see them as wild boar marks." Yet another room is decorated with reclaimed fabrics styled like an indigenous suit, resembling discarded car seat cushions—though Chen Fengying insists, "I think it looks more like a relaxed person lying down." In short, whether you see the mountain as a mountain or not, it doesn’t matter—whatever you like is fine.


▲ "Mountain God Arrives" Art Room.


▲ "I Am the Mountain" Art Room.


▲ "Backed by the Mountain" Art Room.

The hotel has a total of 87 rooms spread across 9 floors. Room types include Hualien Shan Zhidao Rooms, Taiwan White Standard Rooms, Grass Jade Executive Suites, Black Dolerite Standard Rooms, Green Serpentine Standard Rooms, Ink Jade Executive Suites, and Toyota Jade Exclusive Suites. Some rooms have hot tubs or bathtubs, some offer mountain views, and others feature uniquely designed corner rooms. The hotel also provides services like bicycle rentals and a game room.

After taking in "Hualien Shan Zhidao," the initial impression upon entering changes. Upon closer inspection of the mountains inside and outside the hotel, it becomes clear that the name "Shan Zhidao" isn’t about the hotel’s physical location—the real mountain lies in the details of your stay and in the heart of the traveler.

%Let the valley echo with the laughter of travelers.


InYi Cultural & Tourism Hualien Shan Zhidao
Address: No. 39, Guolian 1st Road, Hualien City, Hualien County
Phone: 03-8333111
Room rate: from NT$5,500