Taiwan Family Trip: Hualien

After exploring Taichung and Nantou, we set off for Hualien, marking part 2 of our 11-day family adventure in Taiwan.

Where we went in Hualien

Taroko National Park

We started our visit to Taroko National Park with the walk across the dramatic red bridge to Xiangde Temple. The misty day made the red pop out even more intensely.

Then it was on to Buluowan Suspension Bridge (formerly known as Shanyue Suspension Bridge). The views were stunning with towering cliffs surrounding us.

There was also a Visitors Center near the bridge’s entrance with several Atayal Cultural Center displays, which were very interesting to see how life was back then.

Before we made our way through the tunnels along Taroko Gorge, we had to wear helmets to protect ourselves from any falling rocks. The helmets would probably be useful for small rocks only, but some safety is always better than none!

Along the way, we could look out through the naturally-formed holes in the tunnels to admire the river below, winding its way through the gorge, framed by the intricate rock formations carved by time and nature.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate as we hoped. Midway through our walk, the rain came down in torrents, forcing us to call our driver for an early pick-up. We dashed through the downpour to the nearest shelter and waited, sad that we had to cut our journey short, but at least we got some great photos!

Chongqing Market

One of the highlights of any trip for us is visiting traditional markets to see how the locals shop and feel the true pulse of local life.

And Chongqing Market was no exception! From fresh fruits and vegetables to meats (including the more unusual innards) and even clothing and accessories, it was a bustling, lively spot where we could soak in the colourful, chaotic atmosphere.

Liyu Lake

Liyu Lake offered a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, and we took a swan boat to explore the calm waters of the huge lake.

We had the choice of an electric boat or a manual pedal boat, so to make the decision more fun, we turned it into a game. The 4 winners would enjoy an easy, leisurely ride on the electric boat, while the 3 losers would have to pedal and work off their lunch.

My dad and I lost… But it was actually pretty fun (albeit tiring) pedalling against the wind to try not to get pushed back to the port. We almost got stuck trying to get too close to a heron perched in the trees as we were too focused on getting close and trying to make as little noise as possible that we droven into too-shallow waters!

Lu Fung Taiwan Jade Workshop

Our driver took us to the Lu Fung Taiwan Jade Workshop, where we were introduced to a unique experience – “fishing” for raw jade stones in a river. Standing in the chilly water and bending down to search for jade was not easy at all. I couldn’t tell the difference between jade and regular rocks, so I didn’t find a single piece.

After our river “fishing” adventure, we visited the workshop to get the jade stones polished and transformed. The jade master looked through all our pieces and announced that only WJ and my dad’s finds were jade – all the others were regular stones.

We were all disappointed because we couldn’t proceed to the next step – polishing our jade pieces! So we could only watch enviously as WJ and my dad went through the many steps to transform their jade into the shiny pieces that we often see in jewellery stores.

Dongdamen Night Market

If you’re tired of the hectic, tourist-heavy night markets in Taipei, Dongdamen Night Market is the total opposite. It was much more relaxed, with fewer crowds but still plenty of local flavor.

We wandered through the stalls, tried some street food, and even played a few games, winning some fun prizes along the way. It was a nice, low-key evening to end the day after a busy day of exploring.

Qixingtan Scenic Area

The scenery was beautiful (and lived up to its name), but it was a bit hard to fully enjoy it with the wind threatening to knock us over any second. The gusts were so strong, I was literally pulled backwards by the wind a couple of times!

ATV on Manbo Beach

What better way to enjoy the dramatic black sands of Manbo Beach than riding an ATV across it? With the sea stretching out on one side and the mountains looming in the distance, the view was stunning – but the ride itself? Even better.

I had a minor mishap during one of the wild water plunges when I lost my slipper. But luckily, it was just a cheap pair that I had bought the night before specifically for the ride for less than $2!

Before the ATV action began, we even had a mini photoshoot with props around the area. The staff barked out a lot of pose instructions, and while WJ and I were a little stiff, it was still pretty fun.

Qingshui Cliff

We wrapped up our short Hualien adventure with a visit to Qingshui Cliff, a spot known for its breathtaking views. The cliffs drop dramatically into the ocean, offering a truly spectacular sight.

We tried to enjoy a snack by the cliffs, but the wind had other ideas—our mochi snack quickly turned into a flying powdery mess! Lesson learned: intensely windy places are not the best place for powdery treats.