GuishanWhaleWatching
Guishan Whale Watching

Hualien, “where the sun rises after the mountain” is one of the most majestic nature places in Taiwan, amidst mountains of mountains, underground streams connecting the sea with the extremely majestic and pristine nature. But because it is located geographically isolated, the way to getting here is not as popular and easy as going to other provinces. Hualien, Taiwan was surely favored by the God with both of the romantic scenery and the beauty of specific cultures. Please list this place in the newer travel guides! So, what to do in Hualien Taiwan? Let’s check out our suggested 10 must do in Hualien, best things to do in Hualien and top things to do in Hualien to find out the answer!

Suao Hualien Highway
Hualien Coastline
Ruisui Township, Hualien County
Ruisui Township, Hualien County | what to do in hualien taiwan
Qixingtan Beach
Zhongshan Road

Where is Hualien?

Hualien travel guide
| what to do in hualien taiwan

Being surrounded by the towering mountains and endless fields scattering around the island, Hualien’s natural beauty is popular in over Taiwan, attracted local and foreign travelers to visit and visually gaze at the unforgettable majestic views of such beautiful land.

A majestic view of Hualien
A majestic view of Hualien
Colorful Hualien
| what to do in hualien taiwan

Being located on the east coast, faced to the vast blue Pacific Ocean and almost covered the entire mountains, Hualien looks as a beautiful scenery which is from a postcard.

Beautiful Hualien
Beautiful Hualien is as a postcard | top things to do in hualien

By natural beauty, cultural wonders and friendly local residents in combination, Hualien is not only worthy of your visit, but also makes you to leave in difficulty.

Hualien location on the Taiwan map

How to get to Hualien from Taipei?

From Taipei to Hualien by domestic plane
From Taipei to Hualien by domestic plane | what to do in hualien taiwan

Plane: Domestic airlines operate the flight path between Taipei and Hualien with a price from 1633 TWD/one-way.

Train to Hualien | top things to do in hualien

Train: The simplest way is to arrive by train due to around 2-2.5 hours only by train. However, you should book online ticket early about 2 weeks in cases of tickets sold out.

Capital bus counter
Capital bus counter
Route by bus and train to Hualien
Route by bus and train to Hualien
Interior of local train
| top things to do in hualien

Bus and train: If the train tickets are sold out, your option is to travel by bus and then come to Hualien by train. The time to go by bus shall be longer than by train, you shall spend from 4-5 hours.

Shared City Transfers Between Taipei (Nangang) and Hualien by Ubus

Car rental to Hualien
Car rental to Hualien

Private car rental: If you travel Hualien with a team at least 3 persons and would like to visit in one day, you can choose a private car rental service at Klook in order to design the schedule by yourself and be free your travel time.

Hualien Day Tour from Taipei

| best things to do in hualien

So what to do in Hualien Taiwan? Below are 10 top things to do in Hualien, best things to do in Hualien, must do in Hualien that you cannot omit when traveling to Hualien self-sufficiently.

Best things to do in Hualien: Explore the Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge
| top things to do in hualien

The top list “what to do – where to go” for all tourists in Hualien is to explore the Taroko Gorge; it was known as one of seven wonders of Asia. You shall be attracted by the background pictures of flat marble-walled canyons and the bottomless deep tunnels of Liwu river.

Liwu river
Liwu river | best things to do in hualien

Walking along the river to the Tunnel of Nine Turns, or hiking the mountains of the Eternal Spring Shrine to arrive at an old temple, which looks towards the waterfalls.

Tunnel of nine turns
Tunnel of Nine Turns
Suspension bridge up to Eternal Spring Shrine
Suspension bridge up to Eternal Spring Shrine
Eternal Spring Shrine
Eternal Spring Shrine

Eternal Spring Shrine

The word “Taroko”, based on the language of the indigenous Truku tribe, means that wonderful and magnificent. You shall early realize that there is not any better name than Taroko name for this spectacular gorge.

Marble mountains in Taroko Gorge
Marble mountains in Taroko Gorge

Paiyang Fall and Tsingshui Cliff taroko gorge (1)

Taroko Gorge National Park travel to China

Taroko Gorge National Park travel to China

Taroko Gorge Day Trips from Hualien

Top things to do in Hualien: Whale and dolphin watching

Dolphins

Dolphin watching is a popular activity in Hualien; you can get in the boat to the sea to watch the playful dolphins (and one or two dolphins….if you are lucky).

Watching dolphins
Watching dolphins

Dolphins and whales watching

Hualien Whale Watching

You also can enjoy a coastline itinerary by a bicycle; with the fresh green mountains and splendid floral fields on one side, and the vast Pacific Ocean at another side.

Endless fields surrounding Hualien
Endless fields surrounding Hualien
Hualien_City_Coast_Line_Bikeway
Cycling around Hualien

These entire beautiful scenes shall make your cycling in Hualien to be an extremely thrilling experience.

What to do in Hualien Taiwan? Experiences of the Aboriginal’s original culture

A reason for people loving Taiwan in craze is from the aboriginal tribes; with the attractive history and colorful customs, the aboriginal tribes are proud of keeping their cultural heritage, especially Hualien.

Amis tribe
Amis tribe

This is also a reason you are invited to visit some spots such as the Amis cultural village, Amis tribe’s house, and where you can watch the tribe’s traditional dances.

Amis tribal dance
Amis tribal dance
Amis folk's houses
Amis folk’s houses

Best things to do in Hualien: Visit Xiangde Temple

Trail in Xiangde Temple
Trail in Xiangde Temple
Facade of Xiangde Temple
Facade of Xiangde Temple

Xiangde Tepmple revered by local residents is another address that you shouldn’t eliminate; including one pagoda with seven confusing stories, this landscape which insides the mountains, makes you a tranquil feeling.

Trail inside Xiangde Temple
Trail inside Xiangde Temple

Tips for you that when you travel to the religious spots such as Xiangde temple, you should wear elaborate and discreet outfits to express the local cultural respect.

Giant golden Bodhisattva statue in Xiangde Temple
Giant golden Bodhisattva statue in Xiangde Temple | what to do in hualien taiwan

Must do in Hualien: Rafting on Hsiukuluan river

Rafting on Hsiukuluan river

Hsiukuluan river
Hsiukuluan river | best things to do in hualien

Hsiukuluan river is the most favorite spot by adventurers in Hualien. Inside of the green jungle is Hsiukuluan river which possesses a lot of rapids having various challenges. Although you are an amateur or a connoisseur of rafting, you shall find the best experiences.

Rafting challenges on Hsiukuluan river
Rafting challenges on Hsiukuluan river | what to do in hualien taiwan

It is impossible not to mention the majestic mountains and forests at both riversides along the itinerary and the end point is at the vast Pacific Ocean coast. What is the most wonderful thing? That’s you can book your rafting tour on Hsiukuluan river at Klook with the super-low price.

Exciting rafting experiences on Hsiukuluan river
Exciting rafting experiences on Hsiukuluan river | what to do in hualien taiwan

Hsiukuluan River Rafting

Top things to do in Hualien: Check-in at the East Rift Valley

East Rift Valley

There are two focal spots in the schedule of the East Rift Valley day tour. At first, you shall be visited Hualien’s logging operation heritage at Lintian Mountain Forestry Center.

A wild and quiet scene of Lintian Mountain Forestry Center
A wild and quiet scene of Lintian Mountain Forestry Center | best things to do in hualien

This locality was ever a hot place of logging due to its abundant natural forest area; it had been in a state of waste for many years.

Lintian Mountain Forestry Center

When coming here, visitors shall find the unique virtual living corner beside remnant of the lumber industry, for example, the abandoned railways, rusted machineries and tools as well as many architectural buildings remained from the Japanese’s occupation.

Lintian Mountain
| best things to do in hualien

Lintian Mountain

Railway from the Japanese's occupation
| best things to do in hualien

The second stop of the schedule is butterfly valley – home for over 30 varieties of colorful butterflies to live, basically on the camphor trees.

Butterfly valley
Butterfly valley | best things to do in hualien
Butterflies in Butterfly Valley
| what to do in hualien taiwan

Beside butterfly, this area also gathers several natural waterfalls, hills and picturesque scenery. What are you hesitating to explore yet, Living Nomads Team?

East Rift Valley - colorful floral field
East Rift Valley – colorful floral field | best things to do in hualien

East Rift Valley Day Tour

Best things to do in Hualien: Farglory Ocean Park

Hualien Farglory Ocean Park

Hualien Farglory Ocean Park is an ideal destination for travelers to Hualien with children. This is an ecological tourism area combined with the first amusement park in Taiwan.

Hualien Farglory Ocean Park

Almost of all experiences here focus on the marine ecosystem extraction. Therefore, aquarium, dolphin and sea lion shows are the activities that you absolutely cannot omit.

Dolphin show
Dolphin show | best things to do in hualien
Sea lion show
Sea lion show
Watching aquarium
Watching aquarium | best things to do in hualien

merry-go-round riding

You may play roller coaster, skateboarding, merry-go-round riding or cable-way sky pass to satisfy “adrenaline addition” as well as watch all views of the sparkling Pacific Ocean.

Sparkling view of Hualien Farglory Ocean Park
Sparkling view of Hualien Farglory Ocean Park | must do in hualien

A small suggestion for Living Nomads Team: It is usually overloaded travelers in this park at the weekend. To avoid awaiting, please book ticket in advance at Klook!

@klook

Farglory Ocean Park

Top things to do in Hualien: Shout in scream with Paragliding

Paragliding

Paragliding is seemed to be scary, but it’s really scary. However, all worries shall be left while flying at the 680m height from the seawater level, to show a magnificent landscape of Hualien in a closely vision.

Paragliding experience
Paragliding experience | must do in hualien

Although you’d never used paragliding, you should not worry. With the paragliding experience in Hualien at Klook, you shall be flown with a professional trainer. Don’t forget to rent a dash camera to record the most memorable moments.

Paragliding Experience in Hualien

Paragliding Experience in Hualien

What to do in Hualien Taiwan? Zhuilu Old Trail

Beautiful day for a hike
Beautiful day for a hike | must do in hualien

Zhuilu old trail

When talking about Taiwan, people often think about Taipei’s bustle with a bustling night market and festival happening all the year.

Hiking at Zhuilu Old Trail
Hiking Zhuilu Old Trail | must do in hualien

However, the hiking journey along Zhuilu old trail shall open up a perfectly new aspect about this country. Zhuilu old trail was believed to be built by the local aborigines during the Japanese’s occupation period, and is presently under Taroko National Park.

Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park
Zhuilu Old Trail entrance inside
Zhuilu Old Trail entrance inside | must do in hualien
Breathtaking view
Breathtaking view

Hiking on this trail, travelers can watch the wild nature, passed the craggy suspension bridge and gazed the splendid landscapes at many stops. Don’t wait more to discover immediately.

Hike Zhuilu Old Trail
| top things to do in hualien

Zhuilu Old Trail Hiking Experience in Taroko National Park

Best things to do in Hualien: Eat all in Hualien

Sausage dish in Hualien

Local food in Hualien
Local food in Hualien | top things to do in hualien

To try the local delicacies of Hualien, you should visit one of some night markets in Hualien. Zi Qiang night market, where has extremely various foods, at the first BBQ stall, you can try a bit strange but very delicious snacks, such as grilled chicken offal (hearts and livers). Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang, where is located in the night market as well, serves the beloved Taiwanese sausage dishes.

Zi Qiang night market
Zi Qiang night market | top things to do in hualien
BBQ with massive sausage
BBQ with massive sausage
Delicious food
Delicious food | top things to do in hualien

Inside of the golden triangle’s business area of Hualien City is Gong Zheng Bao Zi, a well-known restaurant with steamed dumplings, you can enjoy Hualien city’s noise and dynamic from this place.

gongzheng-baozi-entrance
Gongzheng baozi entrance
Gong Zheng Bao Zi
| top things to do in hualien

Tips for Hualien tourism in this article were surely brought to your full view to this multifaceted city.

Peaceful Hualien City
Peaceful Hualien City | best things to do in hualien

However, in order to have more attractive experiences of Hualien, Taiwan, don’t forget to refer the attractive tourism suggestions and tips in availability at Klook.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Hualien you can refer to

Liyu Lake hualien
Kayaking on Liyu Lake

If you have only 2 days in Hualien, check out our suggested Hualien itinerary 2 days here. And are you looking for more top things to do in Hualien: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Check out here.