TW
Hualien
Gateway to Taroko
Gateway to Taroko
Taroko Gorge and Shakadang Trail (free; Taroko Taxi from Hualien city from TWD 500 return (25 min); the best 4.4km riverside marble gorge trail through turquoise Liwu River pools and 200m marble canyon walls; best at 9am for the finest turquoise tributary canyon light before the midday Taroko tour buses) is the best marble gorge experience in East Asia.
💡 Taroko Gorge and Shakadang Trail (free; Taroko Taxi from Hualien from TWD 500 return (25 min); the finest 4.4km marble gorge riverside trail; the finest turquoise Liwu River pools and 200m canyon walls; best at 9am before the midday Taroko tour buses).
Eternal Spring Shrine (free; the finest waterfall-backed memorial shrine carved into a Taroko gorge cliff face; 10 min from the Changchun bus stop) and the Tunnel of Nine Turns (free; the finest 1.2km pedestrian gorge tunnel walk through carved marble cliff and mossy canyon walls; the finest marble canyon overhang photograph from the elevated walkway) are the finest Taroko gorge heritage and tunnel experiences.
💡 Eternal Spring Shrine (free; the finest waterfall-backed gorge cliff shrine; 10 min from Changchun bus stop) and Tunnel of Nine Turns (free; the finest 1.2km pedestrian marble cliff gorge tunnel; the finest marble canyon overhang photograph from the elevated walkway).
Qingshui Cliff (free; the finest 800m Pacific Ocean marble coastal cliff dropping sheer into the Pacific on the Suhua Highway; 30 min north of Hualien city) and the East Rift Valley (free; YouBike from TWD 5 per 30 min; the finest rice paddy and mountain backdrop rift valley cycle circuit accessible from Hualien city) are the finest coastal cliff and valley experiences in Hualien.
💡 Qingshui Cliff (free; the finest 800m Pacific Ocean marble coastal cliff on the Suhua Highway; 30 min north of Hualien city) and East Rift Valley (free; YouBike from TWD 5 per 30 min; the finest rice paddy rift valley cycle circuit from Hualien city).
Liyu Lake (free; 10km south; 30-min YouBike or 10-min Grab from TWD 80) and the Dongdamen Night Market (free; nightly from 5pm; the finest Hualien Amis mochi from TWD 40; fresh Hualien seafood and aboriginal street food) are the finest lake and night market experiences in Hualien.
💡 Liyu Lake (free; 10km south; 30-min YouBike or 10-min Grab from TWD 80) and Dongdamen Night Market (free; nightly from 5pm; the finest Hualien Amis mochi from TWD 40; fresh Hualien seafood and aboriginal street food).
Hualien dining combines Amis Aboriginal cuisine with Pacific Ocean fresh seafood: the Dongdamen Night Market Amis mochi (the best hand-pounded mochi rice cake in any accessible Taiwanese Amis aboriginal night market stall; from TWD 40 per mochi at any Dongdamen Night Market stall; nightly from 5pm); the Hualien scallion pancake (the best fresh-fried scallion flatbread in any accessible Hualien city street snack; from TWD 40 at any Hualien city street vendor); fresh Pacific Ocean seafood at Xingang Fish Market (daily 5am–9am; the best Pacific Ocean fresh tuna, marlin, and wahoo from TWD 100 per kg); and taro ball dessert (yuanzi tang; from TWD 60 per bowl at any Hualien city dessert shop).
The Taroko Inner Gorge (Zhuilu Cliff Trail; free permit required; taroko.gov.tw; apply 30 days ahead) is the finest hike in Taiwan.
Scooter rental from Hualien Station (NT$400–600/day; valid with most international licences) is the only practical way to reach Taroko’s inner gorge attractions. Park buses are slow.
Hualien Fuyuan Night Market (Guangfu South Road; Tue–Sun from 5pm) is where locals eat. Significantly cheaper and more authentic than Dongdamen Night Market, which is designed for tourists.
Qixingtan Beach (15 min by scooter; free; faces east over the Pacific) gives the finest Taiwan Pacific sunrise. The dark pebble beach and black-and-white lighthouse are unique in Taiwan.
Taroko Gorge Shakadang Trail (free; Taroko Taxi from TWD 500 return (25 min); 4.4km marble gorge trail; best at 9am). Eternal Spring Shrine (free; waterfall-backed gorge cliff shrine). Tunnel of Nine Turns (free; 1.2km marble cliff gorge tunnel; the finest marble overhang photograph). Return to Hualien by 5pm. Dongdamen Night Market (free; from 5pm; Amis mochi from TWD 40; fresh Hualien seafood).
💡 The Taroko Gorge day (the best marble gorge experience in East Asia; book a Taroko Taxi from Hualien city (from TWD 500 per vehicle return; 25 min to Taroko Village); arrive at the Shakadang Trail trailhead at 9am (the finest 9am early-morning Shakadang Trail before the midday Taroko tour buses; the finest turquoise tributary canyon light at 9am; 4.4km return along the marble gorge) → Eternal Spring Shrine (the finest waterfall-backed gorge cliff shrine) → Tunnel of Nine Turns (the finest 1.2km marble cliff gorge tunnel; the finest marble overhang photograph).
Qingshui Cliff (free; Suhua Highway; the finest 800m Pacific Ocean marble coastal cliff; self-drive or Grab from TWD 150 return; 30 min north). East Rift Valley YouBike circuit (YouBike from TWD 5 per 30 min; the finest 15km rice paddy and mountain backdrop cycle from Hualien city). Liyu Lake (free; 10km south; 30-min YouBike). Hualien taro ball dessert (yuanzi tang; from TWD 60 per bowl at any Hualien city dessert shop).
💡 The Qingshui Cliff and East Rift Valley day: rent a scooter (from TWD 400 per day at any Hualien city scooter rental) or hire a Taroko Taxi (from TWD 600 for a half-day circuit); Qingshui Cliff (the finest 800m Pacific Ocean marble coastal cliff on the Suhua Highway; 30 min north of Hualien city) → East Rift Valley YouBike (from any Hualien city YouBike station; TWD 5 per 30 min; the finest 15km Hualien city to Liyu Lake rift valley cycle through rice paddies and mountain backdrop) → Liyu Lake (free; the finest mountain lake accessible from Hualien city by bicycle).
Penang is the most affordable single Malaysian UNESCO heritage destination: the Georgetown street art (free), the hawker meal.
The Georgetown street art + Penang Hill funicular (MYR 30) + Kek Lok Si (free) + full hawker circuit.
The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (10 Lebuh Farquhar; the 1885-founding single Penang heritage hotel: the Raffles-equivalent single Penang colonial hotel; the Noel-Coward-and-Rudyard-Kipling single literary-guest Penang hotel; MYR 350–1,200/night)
Taroko National Park official site (taroko.gov.tw) for Taroko trail conditions, trail closures (after typhoons and earthquakes), and the permit requirement for overnight wilderness trails; check current conditions before hiking (all major day hike trails — Shakadang, Eternal Spring, Tunnel of Nine Turns — do not require a permit).
Free
Hawker food guide — where to find the best char kway teow and laksa.
Free
Explore more of Taiwan’s extraordinary cities and landscapes.