By MOOK Traveler Christopher, compiled and reported
The Huatung Valley boasts Taiwan’s rich natural ecology and breathtaking scenery. Located in Yuli Township, Hualien, there lies a remnant of a Shinto shrine from the Japanese colonial period, built in the 3rd year of the Showa era (1928), which served as an important center of Shinto faith for southern Hualien at the time. Although the main structure of the shrine was demolished after the war and its former glory did not survive, two torii gates and several stone lanterns remain. Walking along the wooden pathway feels like stepping into a time tunnel. Travelers exploring Hualien and the Huatung area next time might consider a historical site pilgrimage.
A Japanese-era Shinto shrine remnant in Yuli Township, Hualien (Image source / Huatung Valley National Scenic Area Administration)
The Yuli Shrine was built in the 3rd year of the Showa era (1928) and was an important center of Shinto faith for southern Hualien at the time (Image source / Hualien County Government, photo by Huang Jiarong)
The main structure of the shrine was demolished after the war, but two torii gates and several stone lanterns remain (Image source / Huatung Valley National Scenic Area Administration)
Approaching the main hall through the second torii gate of the Yuli Shrine ruins, the temporary wooden walkway and the rows of stone lanterns on both sides resemble a scene from Hayao Miyazaki's animated film "Spirited Away" (Image source / Hualien County Government, photo by Huang Jiarong)
The Yuli Shrine was demolished after the war (Image source / Hualien County Government, photo by Huang Jiarong)
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