Hualien County

Hualien County is on the east coast of Taiwan.

Tourist Information Site
The county has an official multilingual guide site.

Regions
There are 13 townships and settlements in Hualien, each with its own character and charm:

Cities

 * – Touristic centre of the Hualien County and base for exploring the nearby Taroko Gorge.
 * (光復)
 * (Rueisuei) – Ruisui is most famous for its hot springs; however, there are tons other things to do as well, see below.
 * – The final village inside of Taroko Gorge most tourists will encounter.
 * – Mostly a farming area, with a historic hiking trail nearby, the Walami trail, once used by the Japanese to keep on eye on Aboriginal villages in the mountains. Many sections have been wiped out, but you can do the first part as a day trip.
 * – Mostly a farming area, with a historic hiking trail nearby, the Walami trail, once used by the Japanese to keep on eye on Aboriginal villages in the mountains. Many sections have been wiped out, but you can do the first part as a day trip.

Other destinations

 * – An impressive canyon, long. The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area.
 * – The highest mountain of Taiwan, is in Nantou County, and is also the name of the related national park in Hualien County.

Get in
Go to the Taipei Train Station (not to be confused with Taipei Main Station, the MRT station). Take the Ziqiang Train to Hualien, which is about a 3-hr trip from Taipei.

There are also cheap 50-min flights to and from Hualien from Songshan Airport, which is easily accessible from the MRT.

By bus
The bus station heading south to Taitung is to the left as you come out of the Hualien Train Station. Buses travel down the scenic Highway 11, and usually transfer in Jing Pu, near Big Harbor and the famous Big Red Bridge. Try the homemade dumplings at the noodle shop in Jing Pu while you're waiting.

By train
Trains travel down the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area and are perhaps the most convenient way to travel from Taitung to Hualien. Spend a few days slowly making your way down this area. The sightseeing is the best in Taiwan for those that love nature and beauty.

Do

 * Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.
 * Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.
 * Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.
 * Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.
 * Rent a scooter and hit the road on Highway 11. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien County can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personable (they will stop when you say 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparison to the experience of driving yourself.

Go next

 * Sun Moon Lake – A beautiful lake nestled among tall mountains, just a few kilometres south of Puli and the main reason why many people come to Puli, a picturesque and relaxed town in Nantou County. This lake is one of Taiwan's most popular resorts.
 * Hehuan Mountain – A beautiful mountain range and decent hiking spot half way towards Taroko Gorge.