Things to do & places to visit in Hualien, Taiwan

Most people come to Hualien to visit the Taroko Gorge. And with good reason—it's simply beautiful. With rope bridges over rivers, hiking trails with astounding views, and temples cut into the mountainsides, it's an unforgettable place. Feel the full power of the ocean at Shihtiping, a two-hour drive from Hualien, where the waves crash into the rocky shore.

Hualien #5 destination in Taiwan 2023. The average rating score is 4.36 based on 13.9k traveler reviews, of 227 attractions. Timezone: Asia/Taipei, current date and time: Friday, May 10, 2024, 14:32.

Top things to do (37)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Island Life Taiwan Adventures & Experiences (364 reviews)
- Great fun all around
Cultural Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

With Alan as our guide, my husband and I had a really enjoyable tour and the best time. There was just enough time for every activity - some walks, some hikes, some rest, some uphill and downhill steps, with views and scenery. Our group size of 7 (4 Aussies, 2 New Yorkers and 1 Indian expat based in Malaysia) was just nice. Alan has a good-natured and patient manner, and kept us informed and amused. He took many pictures of us which he shared after the tour. The emails we wrote to make the booking were also answered very promptly, which we appreciated. I highly recommend this tour for anyone with 8-9 hours to spare at Taroko Gorge. See more..
5.0 Dolphin and Whale Watching-Turumoan Company (216 reviews)
- An amazing trip!
Friday: 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM Dolphin & Whale Watching

十分令人驚豔的一趟旅程多羅滿從行前導覽到船程途中的解說都十分專業，能學到許多與鯨豚及海洋保育有關的知識。雖然運氣不佳，我們未能碰上鯨魚，但也遇到了一大群的飛旋海豚，至今都忘不了親眼看見海豚在眼前躍出水面的感動且店家為寵物友善，可攜帶我們可愛的夥伴動物與美妙的海洋生物們碰面，絕對是人生中難忘的一趟旅程！ From the pre-trip guide to the explanations during the boat trip, we learned a lot about cetaceans and marine conservation.　 Although we were unlucky not to encounter whales, we did encounter a large group of spinner dolphins, and we still can't forget the feeling of seeing the dolphins jumping out of the water in front of us. The store was pet-friendly and we could bring our lovely companion animals to meet the wonderful sea creatures, which was definitely a trip of a lifetime! See more..
5.0 Amazing Taiwan Tour (126 reviews)
- Hehuanshan, Taroko Gorge and East Coast Tour
Friday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Private Tours • Day Trips

We went as a group of 4, it was super memorable! Ivan is such a great guide, always made sure we were comfortable. He drives super well, especially up to Hehuanshan, and always shared with us the history of Hualien. He was very accommodating and made sure we had a great time by customising the route for us. My friends also proposed on this trip and he brought us to all the photo worthy spots (he chose the timings when it was less crowded. He was super detailed and we had so much fun! We are very impressed by his love and enthusiasm for the country. Thanks Ivan for the wonderful trip. Will definitely be back and engage Ivan again! See more..
5.0 Hualien Outdoors (121 reviews)
- Old Zhuilu Trail
Canyoning & Rappelling Tours • Climbing Tours • Eco Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours

I engaged Matt upon reading all the reviews people made here, from my very first email to him. He was very eager to answer all my questions and help me in answering questions about Hualien. Finally when i had met him for the hike itself he was on time to fetch me and he had much knowledge about Hualien and the gorge itself.. All in all i would highly recommend his services if you are looking to do something special in taroko. His prices may seem steep but i assure you that it will be money very well spent!! See more..
4.5 Taroko Gorge (2.631 reviews)
- A beautiful intersection of Mountain and Sea
Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails

Taroko Gorge is a special place, with a beautiful atmosphere. We spent 2 days in the National Park - the first day deciding to opt for the shuttle bus (which cost us maybe $150) to explore the Shakadang Trail, walk around a bit and Tanxiang. While the second day we had an awesome experience with Tonny (who privately showed us around the park). Tonny was awesome - we always felt safe with his driving, he spoke great english and took us everywhere we wanted and more (as well as helping us understand the history of the place). We definitely recommend checking out the Cliffs (just outside the park), Shakadang as well as 'The Water Curtain' but theres so much more to see and some longer hikes for those who want to do them (as well as Hehuanshan mountain nearby if you want multi-day exploration). Thanks Tony (you can contact him on +886 916 993 938 to book him) for the awesome help as well as thank you to the awesome nature of Taroko! See more..
4.5 Taroko National Park (1.391 reviews)
- Wow, great natural scenery. Definitely worth a visit.
Spent More than 3 hours National Parks

A convenient and most economic way to get to Taroko National Park is by taking a train to Hualien or Xincheng (which is closer to Taipei, takes 2.5 to 3 hours one-way and costs around 400 TWD or US$ 13). There are inexpensive shuttle buses from both Hualien and Xincheng stations that stop by every attractions. My favorites are: Jiuqudong (九曲洞) and Xiaozhuli walking trail (小錐麓步道) which is connected with the Zhakadang walking trail (砂卡礑步道). Jiuqudong offers the best scenery and photo ops. The two aforementioned walking trails offers good, challenging exercises and some good scenery along the way. The Changchun Shrine (長春祠) is a waste of time; so is the the park headquarter and visitor center stop, unless you want to take a break at the restaurant there, where the food is surprisingly good and reasonably priced. I wanted to go to the Swallow Cave (燕子口) too, but it was closed that day. See more..
4.5 Chishingtan Scenic Area (1.150 reviews)
- Beautiful pebble beach by the Pacific Ocean
Bodies of Water • Beaches • Parks

A beautiful stretch of pebble beach with stunning scenery that makes for a great stroll ... just be careful of getting sunburnt! See more..
4.5 Qingshui Cliff (878 reviews)
- Spectacular highway is carved into cliff
Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations

We took this route as we had a helpful driver. It is well known that the East Coast of Taiwan is mountainous, but I had never gone on anything like this highway before. It was certainly worthwhile. The view was spectacular, looking out over the Pacific Ocean, with the road clinging to the side of the cliff. It was a bit hair-raising at times. This is one of those construction projects they do so well in Taiwan, making something out of nothing. It's certainly worth the trip. See more..
4.5 Shakadang Trail (332 reviews)
- See my overall review on Taroko Gorge page or my post on the forum for how to plan.
Spent 1-2 hours Hiking Trails

A very nice start to the day of exploring Taroko national park. The trail itself only takes around 2 hours round trip, despite the map on the buses claiming this takes 4-6 hours. It is very picturesque, the water is so blue and you really get a feel for the beauty of Taroko. Would absolutely recommend fitting this into your day itinerary. See more..
4.5 Zhuilu Old Trail (230 reviews)
- Clouds are fine but rain is not!
Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails

This trail is beautiful and not difficult of your an experienced hiker, like if you frequently visit Yosemite in California or any hike in the PNW. TripAdvisor seems populated mostly by older tourists who are inexperienced hikers, who describe steep vertical ascents as hard. But it's not, if you're modestly fit. Two hikers on our group were 65 years old! Granted, they cycle on average 20km a day and hike regularly... Good for them. But you can't avoid clouds on Zhuilu Old Trail. I mean, our guide was named Cloud (雲 in Chinese), so we were definitely out of luck. So don't be discouraged if that's what you see. They tend to come and go, and when they dissipate it's romantic. You also can't avoid occasional mosquitos, wasps and even monkeys. The only thing that makes this trail hard is rain. It get steep and muddy and slippery on many surfaces. So watch the forecast. But clouds... Fine. See more..
4.5 Yanzihkou Trail (Swallow Grotto) (213 reviews)
- Calm Walk
Spent < 1 hour Hiking Trails

This was our kids' first trip to Taroko National Park, so we had to visit the Swallow Trail. The trail used to be the main road; however, now it's the pathway for tourists. The path is easy to walk and gorgeous. I can only speak for the view today, in the winter time, but slight overcast gave it a Chinese painting feel. We had young kids with us, but I suggest taking your time and enjoy the sight and sounds. Mostly enjoy the sight and quiet. See more..
4.5 Shihtiping (207 reviews)
- Such a paradise!
Bodies of Water • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Shihtiping is a scenic harbor and fishing village between Hualien and Taitung. See more..
4.5 Mukumugi Valley (186 reviews)
- Beautiful scenery and refreshing swimm
Valleys

I'm so surprised such a great place and not crowded at all. I took the bus at 10.20 from Hualien to Tungmen , 53NTD. There is a return at 15.20 , 17.10 and 17.40 . You get off at the last stop, and it's just behind the police station , where you need to fill out a form, I wasn't asked for the passport , but take it with you in any case. They will give you a permit , which you will show at the entrance. You reach the first pool after about 1,5 hour walk, (including some stops) there are a few places where you can stop and buy food & drinks. You will pass through a tunnel , and when you see a bridge keep on the middle road. There are more pools if you continue after the first one. the second and third one was really amazing. 4th one was ok , I didn't look further. ( The numbering is according to me , hope didn't miss any in between ). So definitely worth going , I went on a cloudy and a bit rainy day , was still amazing See more..
4.5 Su-Hua Highway (182 reviews)
- Spectacular trip along the cliff
Scenic Drives

The Su-Hua Highway runs 118 km (73 miles) between Hualien and Su'ao on Taiwan's west coast. The highway is one of those spectacular feats of engineering for which Taiwan is well known. I have done this trip several times, it never ceases to amaze me; the highway clings to the cliff high above the Pacific Ocean -- make sure you have a good driver! See more..
4.5 Sixty Rock Mountain (178 reviews)
- Daylily takes all of your sorrow you don’t need it.
Mountains

Sixty Rock Mountain, pronounced as “Liu-Shi-Dan Shan” in Chinese. It’s all season welcomed while the flower season is from July to late September. The flower there is Daylily, pronounced “Jin-Chen Hua” in Chinese. The flower could be cooked or made as tea, and even as herbs. But there’s one thing should be noted that once the flowers are blooming they are not eatable. There are many ways to get there. You could take trains from Taipei to Fuli Station then order a taxi directly to this location. Or you could just rent a car. For me, this time, I drove on my own from Kaohsiung. It took me almost 5 hours to there. However, it’s worthy. I spent 3days there, enjoy the fresh air, kind people and comfortable b&b. And of course, I took a lot of photos there. Since the way to the mountain isn’t dangerous for driving the sedan or suv. It’s totally fine for solo trip or family trip. After getting back from there, I can’t wait to make my next trip there again!! See more..
4.5 Baiyang Trail (163 reviews)
- A nice hike though several tunnels and along the gorge
Hiking Trails

This is an easy hike through the gorge. You will go through several tunnels as you travel through the mountains. You probably should bring a flashlight. In between the tunnels, you will have great views down into the gorge. There are also signs explaining local flora and fauna. At the end, there is a tunnel that has a "water curtain" which is a heavy flow of water coming into the tunnel. Apparently, the tunnel constructors ran into a aquifer when they built the tunnel, which leads to a substantial flow. Bring a rain jacket with a hood for the water curtain. The floor of the tunnel has a stream flowing through it, but it is fairly smooth and you can walk it barefoot comfortably. You could also bring a pair of waterproof boots. The water curtain tunnel is also quite dark, so here a flashlight is really helpful. See more..
4.5 Qixing Lake Binhai Bicycle Road (157 reviews)
- Nice rocky beach
Biking Trails

This beach is not for swimming, strong waves, it's nice for relaxing at the beach, walk or cycle along it or even walk your pets. The beach is covered with colourful rocks/ stones, they look fancy, but you are not allow to collect them. This is not a sandy beach, I repeat. You can also buy something to eat nearby or have a family picnic here. People do sell rocks at the beach and remember to keep the receipt as proof if you ever buy any. Kite flying is also common here. See more..
4.5 Cave of Water Curtain (146 reviews)
- Take a torch
Caverns & Caves

Cave of Water Curtain is quite an adventure. You have a good time getting through the water. Best to take some bathers and a torch. Asian ladies are often a bit shy about taking off their clothes. The Cave of Water Curtain is in Taroko Gorge, summer is better than winter. See more..
4.5 Lintienshan Forestry Culture Park (92 reviews)
- Hylomania!
Speciality Museums • Forests

Go into the woods, and find a place to rest your soul. Go into the woods, and feel the history. Go into the woods, and worry about nothing else. Lin Tien Shan (previously known as Morisaka) is not just about stewed pig foot. The vast logging field is living evidence left from the colonial period. Can't imagine a considerable amount of wood was shipped out to Japan every day...That was fifty years ago. That was history. That was part of history in Taiwan which will never be forgotten. It's a great place for hiking, but you should watch out for possible falling rocks. See more..
4.5 Lushui Trail (63 reviews)
- Exciting suspension bridge in Taroko Gorge
Spent 1-2 hours Hiking Trails

This trail is fun and exciting as you will pass on a suspension bridge that will not take more than 8 people at a time. So you will need to queue up and wait for some time for your turn on the rope bridge. At all times on the bridge, ensure that there are no more than 8 people on it.. on the bridge you can enjoy views on both sides all the while trying to balance yourself.. haha, fun exciting experience for sure ! The views of Liwu river below on either side are beautiful with clear water and rock formations. See more..
4.5 Mugua River Valley (54 reviews)
- Go for a swim
Valleys

You need a permit to go the 10 km up in the gorge. There is a limit on 300 per day. First you get the permit at the police station on the way in - a bit futher up you deliver the permit at a check point. Enjoy the view and find a place there you can climb down to the river - plenty of places where you can take a swim. See more..
4.5 Chihkeshan (52 reviews)
- The stunning scenery because of the season .
Observation Decks & Towers • Scenic Walking Areas • Ranches

In July to September every year , the orange daylilies in Chihkeshan will blossom . The scenery of the flowers is very stunning and spectacular . You can take picture with these flowers at close range . In January and Febuary . Though the orange daylilies wither but the cherry trees blossom . When you walk along the road , you can see the cherry trees both sides of the road . There is a giant stone in the depths of the mountain . We call it “千噸石龜”（Thousand Tons Turtle Ston）. Because its shape is like a giant turtle . There is many kind of food make with orange daylilies , like fry orange daylily、orange daylilies soup . If you want to take a trip to Chihkeshan , please be careful when you up the mountain . Beacause the road is narrow . Remember to bring a coat with you . The weather in the mountain is cloud . At last , you had better check the map before you go into the mountain . There is a lot of paths . You may get lost in the mountain . See more..
4.5 Sixty Stone Mountain - Mt. Liushidan (46 reviews)
- Fabulous Flower Sea
Friday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Overheard a tour guide saying that the mountain top view is far better. Now I fully understood what he meant. Standing on mountain top, you look down 360 degree to explore the golden flower sea with different backgrounds to make the views more gorgeous & magnificent. We are lucky to come here earlier to avoid the crowds, thus we can relax to fully enjoy all the fabulous views as we wish. Definitely a must do activity if you come to Hualien during the flower season. See more..
4.5 Walami Trail (43 reviews)
- Shhhhh
Hiking Trails

Wasn't sure whether to review this place because it is one of the most beautiful places we visited in Taiwan, but has somehow remained off the tourist trail. There was hardly anyone here which made our experience so much better. The trail is so beautiful with sweeping views, awesome suspension bridges, tranquil waterfalls, and wildlife all around. To get here we biked from Yuli. The bike ride itself was as beautiful as the hike. Be warned though, the last 6km of the road to the start of the trail is all uphill. The benefit of this was we saw a bunch of monkeys in the trees by the road that we would have missed in a car. Hopefully this place remains off the tour bus route, it would be a shame if it went the way of the Taroko Gorge. See more..
4.5 Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail (42 reviews)
- Tunnel a star turn
Friday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Caverns & Caves

This place is temporarily closed See more..
4.5 Danongdafu Forest Park (37 reviews)
- Place of Serenity
Forests

This is the most ideal place in central Hualien for many reasons. First, it has a massive patch of green land where you can go biking. You can weave into the woods or enjoy the sun by renting a bike nearby. There is a bike rental next to the National Forestry Bureau office, but it is not always open. Me and my wife rented bikes at the Sugar Cane Factory and rode all the way here. If you want to do this, you need to ask the staff at the tourists' center (inside the sugar cane factory) and you'll be given a simplified biking map. Moreover, starting March, there will be fireflies-observing field trips (usually free) offered and organized by the Forestry Bureau. Check with the staff in the office for more information. Have fun! See more..
4.0 Eternal Spring Shrine (438 reviews)
- Sight Worth Visiting
Monuments & Statues

The Shrine is worth a visit even if just a quick stop. The short trek to the Shrine isn't very difficult or impressive, but the view of the waterfalls from the parking lot is unique. It's not often you'll see this kind of view. We didn't get a chance to go any higher or further, but I believe the path to the top was closed due to safety reasons.. See more..
4.0 Liyu Lake (434 reviews)
- Beautiful lake, peaceful surroundings
Bodies of Water

We visited Liyu Lake after lunch during our visit to Hualien, and booked a motorboat to take the 5 of us around the lake for about half an hour. The lake itself is lovely - relatively quiet surroundings, with ample opportunities to observe the local flora and fauna against the mountain backdrop. The locals are friendly, and you can also book kayaks or paddleboats to go around the lake, or rent bicycles to visit the nearby area. There is also a quirky little display of inflatable ducks on one part of the lake. See more..
4.0 East Gate Night Market (429 reviews)
- Variety Food Street
Spent 1-2 hours Flea & Street Markets

We did enjoy to have street food at this market with clean place. It was amazing to see dazzling sunset view and night market lights on nighttime. The most favourite local street foods are xiaolongbao dumplings (小籠包) and Green onion pie (炸蛋蔥油餅) See more..
4.0 Farglory Ocean Park (330 reviews)
- Holiday in Farglory Ocean Park
Parks

I went here with my family on last holiday. The fountain at the entrance and the elevator in front of the entrance are also lovely. The dolphins, sea lions, and seals here are very cute, and every trainer works very hard. The aquarium is also decorated beautifully. We can see many underwater animals; I also saw my favorite starfish and Nemo fish there. I also take the cable car, because I like the feeling of looking down in the sky. We also have lunch at the restaurant, although it was a little expensive, we still feel very happy. We have a very good time in Farglory Ocean Park. 我和我的家人在海洋公園玩得很開心，這裡的海豚、海獅、海豹都很可愛，每位訓練師也都很賣力地在表演。水族館的動物也很多，我看到很多我喜歡的魚，纜車也很棒。如果還有機會我一定會再去一次。 See more..