Hualien Hualien City is famous for its stone carvings. Every year, it holds an international stone carving festival. This festival has become famous worldwide. Traditionally, visitors have bought marble when they came to Hualien. Unfortunately, marble cutting has begun to have a negative effect on the environment in local mountainous areas. So if you visit, it might be a better idea to buy some jade instead.
It also has pleasant parks, temples, Japanesestyle buildings, and coastline. If you go to Hualien, you must visit Taroko National Park, named after Taroko Gorge. The word Taroko means "magnificent and beautiful" in the local tribe’s language. The park is full of magnificent gorges and cliffs. It is one of Taiwan’s national parks and it’s a great opportunity to experience some of the island’s untouched natural beauty.
Hualien also has some famous foods and snacks, such as mochi (rice cake) and wonton.
Taitung Taitung is the other main city on the east coast. It has a population of around 109,000 people. Visitors should be sure to visit Taitung’s National Museum of Prehistory and Peinan Cultural Park. The Peinan Cultural Park is an archeological site that was discovered by accident during the construction of a railway station in 1980. The park shows how prehistoric peoples used to live thousands of years ago.
If you’re interested in local art, then the Taitung Railway Art Village shouldn’t be overlooked. The Taitung government converted several of the city’s old railway station buildings into exhibition halls for local artists. The end result is a comfortable space that mixes modern art with local history.
There are so many things to see in Hualien and Taitung. They are also noted for their hot springs resources. Zhiben Hot Springs in Taitung County is one of the most famous hot springs in Taiwan. It is a sodium bicarbonate spring and the temperature of the water can reach as high as 85°C.
Taiwan’s east coast offers cultural experiences as well as natural resources. You can also head for one of the offshore islands, Green Island or Lanyu (Orchid Island), from here. You will never be bored when visiting the east coast of Taiwan! Just be sure to go slow and take it easy!