welcome to our HUALIEN travel GUIDE! In this post, you’ll discover a riches of Hualien travel tips including a sample Taipei-Hualien itinerary, things to do, as well as tour recommendations! Nyt!
There is a stating in Taiwan that goes: 花蓮的土很黏. It actually equates to: “the soil in Hualien is extremely sticky.” What it means is that when you set foot in Hualien, you will discover it extremely difficult to leave.
I discovered about it from Amanda, a Hualien-based buddy whom I satisfied on one of my backpacking trips in Palawan. Naturally, I mentioned that I enjoyed my go to to her city so much that when it was time to leave, I was so reluctant to board the train back to Taipei. That’s when she told me about the “stickiness” of Hualien, which has ended up being so legendary that it has ended up being typical understanding in Taiwan.
“When you’re in Hualien,” Amanda said, “it’s so simple to picture what it would be like to stay right here for great as well as think about really doing it.” as well as it’s true. Hualien is extremely livable, one of the most livable cities I’ve been to. Amanda herself is proof of that. She isn’t from Hualien. She moved there years back from Singapore as well as never looked back.
And what occurs to those who handle to get out of it after a visit? Well, they discover it difficult to forget.
WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?
Hualien: understand before You Go
When is the very best Time to go to Hualien?
Where to stay in HualienSearch for more Hualien Hotels
Pocket Wifi Rental as well as data SIM in Hualien
How to get to HualienTaoyuan flight terminal to Hualien
Taipei to HualienBy Train
By Sightseeing road Trip
Things to perform in HualienTaroko Gorge TourTaroko Gorge group Tour
Taroko Gorge By Bus
Hsiukuluan River Rafting
Kayaking at Qingshui Cliff
East coastline Tour
Hualien City Tour
Night Markets
Sample Hualien ItinerariesSample Hualien Itinerary: 4 Days
Sample Hualien budget plan Itinerary: 3 Days
Hualien-Taipei Itineraries
More Hualien tips for the bad Traveler
Our Hualien travel slam Book
Frequently Asked QuestionsIs Hualien safe?
What is tipping policy in Hualien?
Where to exchange money in Hualien?
What is the power socket utilized in Hualien?
Do I requirement a visa to go to Taiwan?
More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:
Hualien: understand before You Go
Hualien can refer to either Hualien region or its political as well as economic center, Hualien City.
I did not understand about Hualien either up until 6 years back when I was in Taipei for the very first time. I asked our guide which part of Taiwan she would suggest that we go to next. Her response came quick: Hualien as well as the east Coast. She even added, “If you might select only one destination in Taiwan, make it the east Coast.”
The largest region in Taiwan, Hualien region occupies much of the east coast, caught between the mighty Pacific ocean as well as Taiwan’s central mountain Range. This outstanding place provided both the city as well as the rest of the region their reputation as a location to get up close as well as personal with nature. Whether it is the mountains or the sea that makes you tick, you’ll effortlessly discover Hualien enjoyable. house to more than 9000 native people, Hualien City likewise has the largest population of aborigines in Taiwan.
For tourists, Hualien City is widely known as the gateway to Taroko Gorge. Those who desire to check out the famed national park spend their nights in Hualien City. It’s likewise a fantastic addition to any type of Taipei itinerary since it offers a total 180-degree experience. While Taipei is busy as well as almost psychedelic, Hualien is calm as well as almost sedating. Hualien City looks as well as behaves more like a little town than a city, which I discover irresistibly charming.
Here are more things you requirement to understand about Hualien.
Language: Mandarin. basic Chinese as well as Taiwanese Mandarin are mainly mutually intelligible. however Hakka as well as Formosan languages are likewise acknowledged national languages. many street indications are bilingual: written in Chinese characters with English translations. however most establishment indications are written in Chinese only.
Currency: new Taiwan dollar (NT$, TWD). NT$ 100 is around USD 3.25, EUR 2.83, SGD 4.5, PHP 175 (as of September 2018).
Cost of travel: Low. Taiwan in general is a quite affordable destination. There are lots of budget plan choices when it comes to food as well as accommodations.
Modes of payment: most establishments prefer money payment, however many of them likewise accept credit history card transactions.
Electricity Info: 110V, 60Hz. type A sockets are most common. Plugs have two flat pins. type B, with an additional hole for a grounding prong, is likewise usual.
When is the very best Time to go to Hualien?
December to April. Hualien enjoys kind of a cross between a tropical rainforest climate as well as a damp subtropical climate.
Graph courtesy of world Bank
December to April. generally dry as well as cool. January as well as February are the driest as well as coldest months.
May to September. hot as well as wet. July as well as August are the rainiest yet most popular months. It’s likewise when Taiwan is hit by typhoons. prevent this period if you can assist it.
October to November. shoulder months. Not as soaked as well as hot as the past five months, however generally comfortable.
If you look at the precipitation pattern above, it is extremely similar to the Philippines however much cooler.
Check the weather condition before your trip so you understand what clothes to pack.
Where to stay in Hualien
The finest location to stay in Hualien? somewhere close to Hualien Train Station, which is at the center of the city. staying near the train station ensures that key attractions like Taroko Gorge are quickly accessible to you.
Here are the top budget plan hotels as well as hostels on Agoda.
Shining forest Hostel. inspect rates & Availability.
Bayhouse Comfortel Hualien Hostel. inspect rates & Availability.
Mini Voyage Hostel. inspect rates & Availability.
Fairy tale B&B. inspect rates & Availability.
Together B&B. inspect rates & Availability.
Sleeping Boot Hostel. inspect rates & Availability.
Search for more Hualien Hotels
Pocket Wifi Rental as well as data SIM in Hualien
You can make your life easier during your trip by staying linked to the Internet. If you’re entering Taiwan via Taoyuan Airport, you have two options: lease a pocket wifi or purchase a regional data SIM.
Pocket Wifi Rental is more practical since you just requirement to link to the device, which can fit as much as 5 gadgets at once. Klook’s wifi rental service likewise provides unlimited 4G data without any decelaration to 3G. You can pick it up at Taipei Taoyuan Airport. The number of offered units so reserve one as soon as you can.
You can likewise buy a Welldone 4G SIM Card that will provide you unlimited data without fretting about roaming costs. Each sim likewise enables unlimited incoming calls. It likewise includes calling credit histories (NT$300 credit history for 5 days, NT$150 credit history for 7 days, NT$100 credit history for 10 days). If you buy online, you can pick it up at the airpot when you arrive.
✅ RESERVE A POCKET WIFI HERE
✅ RESERVE A 4G SIM CARD HERE
How to get to Hualien
Hualien has its own industrial airport, Hualien flight terminal (HUN). Although it can likewise handle international, it currently serves mainly domestic flights (to as well as from Taipei–Songshan, Kaohsiung, as well as Taichung).
Most tourists visiting Hualien go into Taiwan with Taiwan Taoyuan worldwide Airport, which is directly linked to numerous major cities in the world.
If you’re coming from Manila, AirAsia offers the cheapest year-round ticket, sometimes as low as USD33 for a seat. other airlines don’t even come close. The catch is, the flight leaves just before midnight. (In situation you’re wondering: This publish is NOT sponsored by AirAsia. cost comparison websites just expose they offer the lowest fares.) Here’s a quick scan on Traveloka.
If you’re coming from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, AirAsia shares the budget plan crown with Scoot as well as JetStar. However, some flights need transfers in one more ASEAN city.
✅ browse FOR TAIPEI FLIGHTS
Taoyuan flight terminal to Hualien
The finest method to reach Hualien from Taoyuan flight terminal is to integrate the flight terminal MRT to Taipei primary station as well as then the TRA Train to Hualien. Yep, you’ll have to make a stop in Taipei very first to catch a high-speed train. Here’s exactly how to do that.
Your destination should be Taipei primary Station.
By flight terminal MRT. Both Terminals 1 as well as 2 have their own station: A12 station for terminal 1 as well as A13 for terminal 2. operating hours: 6am to 11pm. travel time: 37 minutes (if Express). Fare: NT$160.
Med buss. To book a ticket, go to the Bus Counters near the Arrival section of the terminal. You’ll discover it easily. There are a great deal of bus indications around the airport. Fare varies depending upon bus company, however it’s within the NT$125-145 range. travel time: about an hour.
To get from Taipei primary station to Hualien, comply with the steps below.
Taipei to Hualien
Med tog
At Taipei primary Station, there are lots of trains that you can take to get to Hualien so it will all depend upon your most practical schedule. The fastest trains are operated by Taroko reveal as well as Puyuma Express.
Travel time: around 2 hours 10 minutes.
Fare: NT$440 one-way
To see the train timetable or to book tickets, inspect out this site. If it’s peak season, you may want to book in advance. Otherwise, no need. I traveled in low season as well as I didn’t have any type of issue protecting a ticket at the station on the day itself.Tips! pick a seat on the left side of the aisle so you get a fantastic view of the Taiwanese coast! I discovered myself taking great deals of pics throughout the journey.
There’s a cheaper method of doing this: taking the bus to Ludong as well as then taking the train from there. however it involves a transfer with longer travel time. I would still select the reveal train over it.
By Sightseeing road Trip
Here’s one more fantastic method of reaching Hualien. Klook offers a sightseeing carpool service from Taipei to Hualien. By joining this, you’ll be sharing a vehicle with other passengers as you make your method to Hualien City. Along the way, you’ll be making stops to see some scenic areas including the following:
Image provided by Klook
Jiufen Old Street
Yilan Jimmy Park
Nanfang-ao view Platform
Qingshui Cliff
When is it smart to take this carpool tour instead of the train?
If you haven’t been to Jiufen prior to the trip, this is a great choice since it will make a stop at Jiufen Old Street.
If you plan to tour Taroko Gorge DIY-style, you may want to think about this as well only since Qingshui Cliff is a bit difficult to reach on your own by public transportation. having a vehicle service that will take you there can make your life easier. however if you’re joining a Taroko Gorge group tour, this may not be for you. most pre-arranged Taroko Gorge tours include a stop at Qingshui Cliff so it may be redundant.
✅ RESERVE A SLOT HERE!
Things to perform in Hualien
Taroko Gorge Tour
Officially named Taroko national Park (太魯閣國家公園), Taroko Gorge is a 19-km-long canyon along the northeastern coastline of Taiwan. The area is completely packed with marble, a product of the tectonic clash between the Eurasian as well as Philippine plates. The limestone metamorphosed into marble as the plates required the site to increase half-a-centimeter a year over 100 million years. one of the eight national parks in Taiwan, it offers visitors magnificent views of its tough landscapes.
You can tour Taroko Gorge in three ways: by taking the bus (DIY-style) as well as by joining a group tour. right here are the details of each, together with their pros as well as cons.
Taroko Gorge group Tour
What’s fantastic about joining a group tour is, you don’t requirement to concern about anything else. just show up as well as a service vehicle will take you to the key spots. You don’t requirement to concern about memorizing bus routines or missing the last bus.
Qingshui Cliff
One thing that I appreciate about tours is that Qingshui Cliff scenic area is frequently included in the itinerary. Qingshui Cliff is not simple to reach by public transportation on your own, so having a trip to get there skips the difficult part. Some tours likewise make a stop at a few attractions along the method that are outside of Taroko Gorge.
The downside, of course, is you don’t have manage of your time as well as since most tour itineraries are usually packed, you spend restricted time per stop.
Still, this is a fantastic option for those traveling with youngsters or senior citizens since it eliminates standing in line waiting on the next bus.
Klook’s Taroko Gorge tour itinerary includes the complying with sites:
Qingshui Cliff scenic Area
Buluowan Plateau
Swallows’ Grotto (Yanzikou Trail)
Tianxiang
Changchun Shrine (Eternal spring Shrine)
Qixingtan scenic Area
✅ inspect rates or RESERVE A SLOT HERE
Taroko Gorge By Bus
The cheapest method of sightseeing in Taroko Gorge is by taking the bus. The beauty of taking the bus is, you have overall manage of your time. Unlike with group tours, you may select to stay longer at a specific stop if you feel like it. You may avoid a site if it doesn’t rate of interest you. as well as in situation you missed it, it’s cheaper.
Two bus business operate around Taroko national Park. Hualien Bus business controls Buses 1133A, 1133, 1126, as well as 1141, which all begin at Hualien Station. Taroko Bus business operates Bus 302, which departs from Xincheng Station. All these buses travel to Tianxiang area inside the Taroko national Park as well as then make their method back to their origins.
Both business offer day passes that tourists may utilize to enjoy unlimited rides. right here are the routines as well as rates:
BUSES FROM HUALIEN station (Bus 1133A, 1133, 1126 1141)
The tickets can be bought at the bright orange building next to Hualien train station.
First trip from Hualien: 06:30am (1126), 7:00am (1133A)
Last trip from Hualien: 03:10pm
Last trip from Tianxiang: 05:00pm
1-Day Pass: NT$ 250
2-Day Pass: NT$ 400
BUSES FROM XINCHENG station (Bus 302)
First trip from Xincheng: 07:10am
Last trip from Xincheng: 05:10pm
Last trip from Tianxiang: 06:00pm-06:50pm
1-Day Pass: NT$ 150
The pass issued by one bus business can’