Hualien and Taroko: A Guide to the East Coast

Hualien is the big city of the east coast, and for years the only reason to come was one thing: Taroko, a gorge of marble cliffs cut by a turquoise river. The April 2024 earthquake changed that, and these days you need to plan the visit with your eyes open.

The good news is that the whole east coast is beautiful, well beyond the park. The Qingshui Cliffs, the pebble beach, and the open ocean are worth the trip on their own.

What to see

Qingshui Cliffs — a wall hundreds of metres high dropping straight into a turquoise sea, one of the most dramatic views in Taiwan. Lookout points along the main road let you pull over and shoot.

Qixingtan Beach — a pebble beach curving against the ocean, a good spot for sunset and an hour of quiet. The Dongdamen night market in the city centre gathers the local food, including dishes from the indigenous peoples of the east coast.

How to visit Taroko

As long as public transport inside the park is limited, the most convenient way is a rental car or a guided tour that adapts to what’s open. Tours from Hualien to Taroko update according to the state of the trails and the road, and save you the headache of planning on your own in a shifting situation.

Getting there and where to stay

The train from Taipei along the east coast takes about two to two and a half hours, and counts as one of the prettiest in the country. In the city itself it’s convenient to sleep around the train station or in the centre near the night market. You can compare hotels in Hualien ahead of time.

From here you can return to the main guide or plan with the itineraries.