Beautiful mountainside cliff with clear blue waters in Hualien, Taiwan
TOTALLY GORGE-OUS

Cruise to Hualien, Taiwan, China

Best known for its verdant wilderness, Hualien city is also rich in cultural heritage. Cruise to Taiwan and start your adventure at Taroko Gorge, north of the city in the national park of the same name: See the stunning canyon with marble walls, take in views of the Pacific from the Qingshui Cliffs, and see the remnants of a 13th-century village inhabited by the Atayal, an indigenous Taiwanese tribe. Later, relax on the half-moon-shaped gulf at Qixingtan Beach, or see the influence left by Japanese rule from 1985 to 1945 at Karenko Shrine.
National Language Mandarin
Currency Accepted New Taiwan Dollar (TWD)

Things To Do in Hualien

A wooden bridge to help people cross over a stream in Taroko Gorge National Park in Hualien, Taiwan

Between Marble Mountains

A wooden bridge to help people cross over a stream in Taroko Gorge National Park in Hualien, Taiwan

A wooden bridge to help people cross over a stream in Taroko Gorge National Park in Hualien, Taiwan

Between Marble Mountains

The marble walls of Taroko Gorge can reach over 300 feet high and are surrounded by green bamboo forests. Be sure to stop at the beautiful Eternal Spring Changchun Shrine, built to commemorate the 226 workers who died when building the highway to get here from Taipei.

A white monumental building called the Tropic of Cancer in Hualien, Taiwan

Know Your Geography

A white monumental building called the Tropic of Cancer in Hualien, Taiwan

A white monumental building called the Tropic of Cancer in Hualien, Taiwan

Know Your Geography

The Tropic of Cancer crosses through Taiwan, including through two townships near the city of Hualien. Visit one of the Tropic of Cancer Markers to commemorate being right on top of one of the five major latitude circles on the planet.

Japanese Style Wooden House in Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park, Hualien, Taiwan
Japanese Style Wooden House in Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park, Hualien, Taiwan

Celebrate Indigenous Cultures

At Hualien County Indigenous Museum, you can see displays of crafts, art and traditional clothing from Taiwan's native tribes. Check out cultural performances on the weekends. Cruise to Taiwan to learn more about the area's history and culture at the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park.

Traditional Taiwan food is steamed dumplings served on a table in a wooden dish with chopsticks
Traditional Taiwan food is steamed dumplings served on a table in a wooden dish with chopsticks

Local Cuisine

The street food scene is Hualien rivals the world's best. Seek out a lao pai, a crisp scallion pancake with an oozy poached egg inside. Head to the Gong Zheng Bao Zi district for xiao long bao, steamed pork dumplings with fragrant broth and pork inside. For dessert, try mochi, a sweet rice cake that harkens back to city's period of Japanese rule.

Red coral necklaces is something you can find shopping in Hualien, Taiwan
Red coral necklaces is something you can find shopping in Hualien, Taiwan

Shopping

A marble ornament or jewelry, perhaps even using the rare Hualien rose marble, is a local treasure. You can also bring home red coral jewelry or patterned textiles made by the Hualien indigenous people. For an affordable souvenir during your Taiwan cruise, pick up a box of the peanut nougat beloved by Taiwanese people so you can bring a taste of the country back home.

Insider's Tips
Insider's Tips
1 You'll find very little English in Hualien — Mandarin is the native language here.
2 The beaches are pretty, but the large waves and undertow make them better for experienced surfers rather than swimmers.

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