01 / Hualien after dark
Good food, familiar songs, and a slower evening.
My recommendation for Hualien is to take it easy: eat, wander, and spend an evening at Dongdamen Night Market.
The buskers made the atmosphere so good, especially when you recognised the Chinese songs. It’s the kind of place where I wanted to hang around rather than rush to the next stop.
02 / Saved places
A food list for another visit.
There were plenty of food options I didn’t get to try. These are saved suggestions from my notes, rather than reviews of places I ate at.
For next time
- Yi Wei — breakfast restaurant
- 留海
- Piatto
- Old Banyan Tree Restaurant
- Qi Feng Noodle House
03 / A day in Taroko
Taroko, as we experienced it in 2023.
We booked a Klook tour for Taroko. At the time, I found the bus timings and the spread of stops less convenient for the places we wanted to see, so the tour made things easier for us.
A little time by the coast.
04 / Saying yes
Scared of heights. Still said yes.
I’m really scared of heights, so I usually avoid activities like this. But paragliding across the paddy fields in Hualien caught my attention.
Before take-off, you have to do a little run down a hill. That was hella scary for me. But once it happened? Such a sick experience.
A paraglider descends over green fields with forested hills behind.
Believe that seeking a little discomfort here and there does allow you to grow as a person.
My recollection is around S$140 including a GoPro video in 2023. That is what I remember from the trip, not a current price.
05 / On the map
A few places on the east coast.
A few places that make up this chapter. Pick a place on the map or in the list to explore.
Approximate locations for this design preview. Scroll the page freely; use + / − to zoom the map. Map tiles need an internet connection.