Hualien’s New Attraction: A Colorful Staircase with 4 Koi Fish “Swimming Against the Current”

Reported and photographed by You T-Ru / Hualien

Four large koi fish are painted swimming up the staircase, transforming it into a sea of azure blue. This is the “Striving Upstream” painted staircase located next to Futian Temple in Youli Beibin Community, Hualien City. It’s the newest and most talked-about tourist spot, and is very popular among visitors.

▲ Hualien’s “Koi Fish Staircase.”


▲ The large-sized koi fish are surrounded by various sea creatures painted on the surrounding walls, with 3D angles perfect for photos.


Turning off the road toward Futian Temple and passing through the archway, the azure-blue staircase immediately comes into view. The stairs are painted with four large koi fish, while the surrounding walls feature various sea creatures swimming around, plus some 3D elements ideal for photography. This is Hualien’s newest painted staircase. Since its completion in April, the temple has even created special “Striving Upstream” charms—visitors can get one simply by checking in. Over the past three months, it has attracted numerous visitors for photos, successfully becoming a new tourism hotspot.


▲ The temple has also specially made “Striving Upstream” charms.

It’s understood that this “Striving Upstream” design was inspired when Youli neighborhood chief saw a koi fish-painted staircase online, leading him to invite experts to redesign and paint it. The total cost was around NT$100,000. Recently, some netizens accused it of being a copy. However, the direction of the koi fish and the overall design differ from the original. Regardless of the controversy, the “Striving Upstream” painted staircase remains highly popular with tourists, with many making special trips just to take photos and check in.

As for the Korean “Koi Fish Staircase” that inspired the neighborhood chief, according to Korean media reports, too many tourists were attracted after the painting, which angered local residents who then painted it back to its original look. It no longer exists and has returned to being an ordinary staircase. For those wanting to see a “Koi Fish Staircase” again, only Hualien’s “Striving Upstream” version remains.