Hualien, Taiwan – 30 Things To Do Guide + Photos 2026

Hualien 花蓮 on Taiwan’s east coast is a cool combination of natural wonders and city attractions – just two hours away from Taipei by train, Hualien is the gateway to Taroko National Park, beautiful beaches plus an epic food scene of its very own.

Whilst many travellers might consider bypassing Hualien until Taroko National Park’s trails fully reopen,  this would be a shame as there are so many things to do in Hualien including so much scenery and beautiful surroundings.

hualien underwater ocean animal street art

Hualien highlights include several cultural and creative parks, the hillside Pine Garden, coastal trails plus Dongdamen Night Market, one of Taiwan’s biggest and best night markets – or you can stay overnight in Taroko National Park at Silks Place Taroko hotel like we did in early 2026.

From how to get to Hualien to recommended restaurants and favourite local food stalls like the deep-fried Egg Scallion Pancake yellow truck, here is our guide to the best things to do in Hualien.

We last visited Hualien and Taroko National Park in February 2026 – at the time of our visit, all of the major Taroko Gorge National hikes and trails were still closed but you can access Taroko via road several times a day between 6.30am and 5.30pm.

This article was originally published on 1 September 2024.

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How to get to Hualien from Taipei by train

The best way to reach Hualien from Taipei is to take the train.

You can take a TRA express train from Taipei Main station or from Songshan station to Hualien station (Taroko Express or Puyuma Limited Express trains). High speed rail trains do not travel on this route.

TRA express train to Hualien

The journey takes just over two hours and costs NT$440 (Hualien train prices correct as of early 2026). You can check the timetable on the Taiwan Railway website.

This route is popular so we advise booking your tickets in advance.

Non-express trains are also available – they cost around the same or slightly less (NT$440 on the Tze-Chiang Limited Express and NT$340 on the Chu-Kuang Express), but they take around 3-4 hours.

Hualien station
Hualien station

You might like – Our guide to Hualien Train Station, including where to get Taiwan Railway Bian Dang bento boxes to eat on the trains


How to get around Hualien

Downtown Hualien is very walkable and we used buses to get to and from Hualien Station to the main city areas.

Local taxis are also available – interestingly, at the time of writing in early 2026, Uber in Hualien is still not available (but lots of metered cabs can be found at the train station).

Taiwanderers Tip

Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.

Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >

Hualien accommodation

Budget – Mid-Range ($$)
Hualien Holiday Hotel (Formerly Park City Hotel)
Basic but comfortable hotel located within walking distance of many downtown attractions. The hotel also has laundry facilities and an included buffet breakfast. We’ve stayed at Hualien Holiday Hotel in 2024 and 2026 and it is good value for money, plus clean and well maintained. 

Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com

Hualien Holiday Hotel

Luxury ($$$)
Le Meridien Hualien Resort
Sleek and stylish 5 star hotel with outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and restaurant. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com

Check out the best hotels in Hualien via booking.com or agoda.com

Check out all our Taiwan city hotel guides including Ximending hotels >

Taroko National Park Accommodation

Luxury ($$$)
Silks Place Taroko

One of the most unique hotels in Taiwan and the only luxury hotel open in Taroko National Park, Silks Place Taroko has to be one of our most memorable stays ever.

A 5* hotel in an incredible natural setting, escape the city and get back to nature (but with all the comforts) at Silks Place Taroko (you can self drive or take the hotel shuttle from Hualien).

From the rooftop pool to the fantastic facilities, wonderful food to the outdoor cinema, there is much to enjoy here – and some of the rooms even have terraces directly overlooking Taroko Gorge.

Here is our detailed review of Silks Place Taroko with more photos (we stayed in early February 2026).

Check Silks Place Taroko rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com


Things to do in Hualien

1. Dongdamen Night Market

We start our things to do in Hualien guide with a visit to Dongdamen Night Market (map), an alfresco affair with around 100 to 150 food stalls open on our last visit in February 2026.

Easily one of the best Taiwan night markets, Dongdamen Night Market has several alleys of food stalls, plus live entertainment, fairground style games stalls and covered eating areas.

There is so much food here, from tasty Taiwanese tidbits like coffin bread to international food stalls like Brazilian pies to German pork knuckle and corn on the cob.

There are also vegan and vegetarian stores at Hualien Dongdamen Night Market – and yes, you can buy stinky tofu too!

We really enjoyed the coffin bread stall, where we had beef and scallion / green onion filling inside hollowed out deep fried bread for NT$65 – it is a heart attack waiting to happen but very tasty.

On our latest trip, we tried a great guo bao stall and an omelette stall. There are also lots of sit down outdoor restaurants where you enjoy your meals under a huge tent / marquee out back including several sizzling Taiwanese iron-plate steak stalls with spaghetti and fried egg (usually around NT$190 per sirloin steak).

The amount of Dongdamen Night Market stalls since our first visit in 2024 and latest visit have definitely dropped – they have been struggling since visitor numbers dropped to Hualien after the closure of Taroko National Park so please do go and support them.

The food is delicious and the night market has such a wonderful atmosphere. It is open daily from 6pm to midnight.

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2. Taroko National Park and Taroko Gorge

As of early 2026, there is good news and bad news on the Taroko National Park front (map). Whilst it remains one of Taiwan’s most beautiful natural parks and Highway 8 is now reopen between 6.30am and 5.30pm daily, sadly much of it is still closed to the public whilst damage from the recent earthquake is repaired.

For instance, Changchun Shrine, one of Taroko’s most famous landmarks will not fully reopen until 2029.

When we drove on Highway 8 into Taroko National Park in early 2026 as part of a stay at Silks Place Taroko, all of the major hikes and trails were still closed – Buluowan Terrace and the Tunnel of Nine Turns will reopen later in 2026. Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto Trail and Baiyang Trail will not be reopened until 2031.

Spanning the Liwu River and one of Taiwan’s nine National Parks, we were lucky enough to explore Taroko National Park in early 2024 just a couple of weeks before the earthquake struck on 3 April 2024.

One of the most easy and popular day trips from Hualien, Taroko Park is one of our Taiwan highlights and full of incredible vistas, mountain views, giant gorges and rocky trails.

We will continue to update this article as Taroko National Park slowly starts to reopen – and you can always see Taroko National Park in 2026 either through a stay at Silks Place Taroko like we did earlier this year or via a small group tour (although their access is still quite limited).

3. Pine Garden Hualien

One of Hualien’s most popular attractions with a solemn history, Pine Garden (map) stands high on the hill looking out over Hualien and was formerly the home of the Japanese military officials in the Taiwan under Japanese rule period (日治時期).

Built in the early 1940s, the Pine Gardens and buildings have hardly changed over the years – in the rear garden, there is also a ‘Little Wooden House’ which was originally a meeting room for Japanese officers.

The garden area also has an eco pond created by volunteers with a poetry theater stage installed on top of the pond – there are regular readings and recitals held here.

You can walk around the main house with an exhibition on the upper levels (in the former commanders office) and there is a Pine Garden Camelia Cafe on the ground floor, plus a couple of gift-shops.

Underground and behind the gift shop, there is a tiny air-raid shelter to explore (don’t go inside if you are claustrophobic!)

The Hualien Pine Gardens are open daily from 9am to 6pm (closed the second Tuesday of each month and Lunar New Year’s Eve) – a small admission fee applies.

4. Hualien Creative and Cultural Industries Park

A former wine factory, Hualien Creative And Cultural Industries Park (map) is a nice space and place to walk around although we found it a little TOO quiet on weekdays.

There is a bit more life at the weekends when the Niang indoor market opens in one of the old warehouses (11am to 5pm).

Hualien Creative and Cultural Industries Park

There are lots of nice little nods to its former wine factory days including metal wine bottle sculptures and bottle top numbers for all the businesses here.

Hualien Creative And Cultural Industries Park has a cute cafe open every day plus a gift shop and information center and it is a handy, free toilet stop.

That said, it was one of the least impressive cultural parks we’ve encountered in Taiwan with not that much to do.

Hualien Creative and Cultural Industries Park
Weekend market

Love Taiwan cultural parks? Check out our guides to Huashan 1914 Creative Park or Songshan Cultural Park in Taipei


5. Qixingtan Beach

A little out of town from Hualien City, Qixingtan Beach (map) is a popular port of call at the start of most Taroko National Park and Tarako Gorge tours departing from Hualien.

Qixingtan Beach Taiwan

One of the most popular beaches in Hualien, this is not a swimming beach (it is forbidden due to the strong tides) but great for walking or watching the fighter jets taking off from the nearby military base (soooo loud).

Qixingtan Beach Taiwan fighter jet

Nearby, there are lots of seafood and food vans lining the main road plus colorful wall murals of sea life and Taiwan aboriginal tribes.

Or try this one-day tour to Qixingtan, Ji’an Qingxiuyuan and Liyu Lake (departing from Hualien Railway Station) >

6. Hualien Martyrs Shrine

Free to visit and opened in 1981, Hualien Martyr’s shrine (map) is one of the biggest shrines in Taiwan and reachable via a nice riverside stroll from downtown Hualien.

Prior to this shrine, the area was home to a former Japanese shrine that was built in 1915 but torn down in the 1970s.

Hualien Martyrs Shrine

A grand and imposing building built like a Chinese Palace, it can be seen for miles around –  Hualien Martyrs shrine was one of the quietest places we visited in Hualien (well, apart from the gardener’s leaf blower) and we only saw one other tourist whilst we were there.

Hualien Martyrs Shrine

Be sure to check out the intricate carvings on the stairs, as you walk up higher into the shrine – the views looking back across to Hualien city center are also magnificent.

Randomly, we also spotted what seemed to be abandoned children’s rides and fairground style attractions in the woods behind.

7. Zhou Jia Xiao Long Bao Steamed Dumplings

Love Taiwan’s dumplings? Good, because you are in for a treat at Zhou Jia (map) – this is one of our favorite dumpling restaurants in Hualien; it is easy to spot as it is right next to Hualien’s ‘rainbow road’.

Zhou Jia Xiao Long Bao Steamed Dumplings Hualien

At ‘Zhou Jia Xiao Long Bao Steamed Dumpling’ shop, you can watch the chefs handmade and steam the dumplings before your very eyes and this place is so popular with the locals – we were lucky to squeeze in with some others on the last available table.

Zhou Jia Xiao Long Bao Steamed Dumplings Hualien

Service is brisk and 10 baozi dumplings cost just NT$60 or 10 chive dumplings for NT45.

We had both sets which meant we had a HUGE lunch for NT$105 between us – all the condiments including soy sauce and ginger can be found at the back of the seating area. Highly recommended!

8. YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park

A small row of shops, cafes and cute craft stores, YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park (map) is more a small shopping street than a cultural park – that said, it still had more going on than the Hualien Creative And Cultural Industries Park.

YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park Hualien

The best cafe here is the musical themed ‘Miss You Radio’ cafe (“想你電台”), complete with vinyl LP walls, cassette covered corners and cool music drifting through the coffee shop – the decadent desserts here are also a treat.

YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park Hualien
YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park Hualien

9. ‘Champs Elysees at Sunrise Crossing’ 日出香榭大道

One of the most Instagrammable things to do in Hualien on a sunny day, this crazy paved sidewalk (map) is affectionately referred to as the ‘Champs Elysees at sunset’ – oh la la!

Champs Elysees at Sunrise Crossing Hualien

This is a pedestrianized walking street in Hualien (sometimes also called Sunrise Avenue) where you’ll often see people doing Instagram selfies and poses in colorful clothes.

It leads from the city southwards towards Ji’an Coast Park and seems pretty quiet in the day-time.

Find on 日出香榭大道 Google Maps >

10. Hualien golden triangle shopping area

There is no shortage of shops in Hualien from local family-run stalls to famous brands like Starbucks, Adidas, H&M and Taiwan’s very own NET fashion store.

Hualien golden triangle shopping area

The main shopping area in Hualien is known as the Golden Triangle, covering the three streets: Zhonghua Road, Zhongzheng Road and Zhongshan Road.

This is one of the best places to get food and groceries, plus there are various dessert shops, cafes and clothing stores.

Hualien golden triangle shopping area

11. Ye Xiang Bian Shi restaurant

On our latest Hualien trip in early 2026, we visited Ye Xiang Bian Shi 液香扁食 (map) – a simple restaurant that was absolutely packed with locals. They only sell one dish – pork wontons in soup for $NT80 a bowl.

Ye Xiang Bian Shi restaurant Hualien

We paid at the front of the store and were shown to some empty chairs at a communal table. About 15 minutes later they bring you your dumplings (our receipt was labelled ‘foreigner’ so the staff knew to bring the food over to us rather than call our order number – haha)!

The wontons were really nice, and on the table were various condiments to bling up the rather bland soup (chilli paste, vinegar, pepper etc) – a fun local Hualien restaurant that we highly recommend.

Ye Xiang Bian Shi restaurant Hualien

12. Taipingyang Park

Hualien’s coastal trails and parks are one of the best free things to Hualien – Taipingyang Park (map) is one of the nicest places to catch some sea breeze, see some sculptures, skim stones or look back towards Hualien’s cityscape set against a mountainous backdrop

Taipingyang Park and beach Hualien

There are lots of trails to explore plus a seafront children’s playground area – it is popular with local families for picnics plus joggers and cyclists.

13. Deep-fried Egg Scallion Pancake (Yellow Truck)

We’ve found our deep fried foodie heaven in Hualien! Deep-fried Egg Scallion Pancake Yellow Truck 炸蛋蔥油餅 黃車 (map) – we’ve read that this food stall always had long lines so we were pleasantly surprised to turn up and be served straight away.

Deep-fried Egg Scallion Pancake (Yellow Truck) Hualien

The super friendly stall owner took our order and we both opted for the spicy scallion pancakes with egg inside for $NT45 – oh my they were incredible!

You have to be very careful eating it so as to not get runny egg yolk over your clothes (we saw lots of egg yolk splats on the ground), but it is worth the effort. 100% would return again.

Deep-fried Egg Scallion Pancake (Yellow Truck) Hualien

14. Chung Hua Public Market

A quick mention of Chung Hua Public market (map), a daytime grocery and market place that is mainly frequented by locals and a minute’s walk from Hualien Creative And Cultural Industries Park.

Chung Hua Public Market Hualien

It has around 30 or so stalls, mainly selling fresh items like fish, vegetables and meats – it also seems to be a popular place for old ladies to catch-up and gossip.

Other day time markets in Hualien include Zonghe Market and Chongqing Market.

Chung Hua Public Market Hualien

15. Hualien Old Railway Line

Part of the former Taitung to Hualien railway line which closed in 1982, this strip of old railway sidings and track (map) has now been transformed into a small shopping area, complete with coffee shops, cafes and several interpretive plaques.

Hualien Old Railway Line

It is quite cool to walk along an actual old railway line that is very much in the heart of Hualien, plus local street artists and painters have drawn murals in the local area.

Whilst possibly not worth a special visit, a visit to Hualien’s Old Railway Line could easily be combined with Hualien Creative And Cultural Industries Park and the Golden Triangle shopping area, both nearby.

Hualien Old Railway Line

16. Gong Zheng Bun Store 花蓮公正包子店

Another Hualien food recommendation, Gong Zheng Bun Store (map) is an amazing xiao long bao and steamed bun store which is renowned locally – we went based on the strength of the online reviews and were not disappointed.

Gong Zheng Bun Store 花蓮公正包子店 Hualien

The bun store is easy to find as huge clouds of steam escape from the bamboo steamers out front – join the queue and fill out the tick box form with the buns / soy milk and black tea you want. You are then given a numbered ticket and you are called when your buns are ready.

Individual xiao long baos cost just NT$7 each (correct as of March 2026) or there are various steamed dumpling sets available – there are several tables outside to eat food but they’re often busy.

You can find Gong Zheng Bun Store 花蓮公正包子店 on Google Maps here >

Gong Zheng Bun Store 花蓮公正包子店 Hualien

17. Hualien Starbucks Container Store

OK, we know encouraging you to go to Starbucks whilst in a vibrant setting like Hualien is sacrilege but hear us out…

This is one of the most unusual Taiwan Starbucks as it is the first container Starbucks Cafe in the whole of Taiwan, on the outskirts of Hualien (map).

Hualien Starbucks Container Store

Located at Hualien Bay Mall a little out of the main city, this container caffeine machine comprises almost 30 recycled shipping containers – and yes, they have exclusive mugs and merchandise unique to this one store.

It was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, who is also responsible for the Tokyo Starbucks Reserve Roastery, said by many to be the most beautiful Starbucks in the world.

Hualien Starbucks Container Store Taiwan

A short 10 minute bus ride from downtown Hualien, this probably isn’t worth a special trip to be honest but if you have several days in Hualien or it is rainy, it’s an ok diversion.

Hualien Starbucks Container Store

The area immediately around the container cafe is kind of like a ghost town with abandoned shops and an eerily quiet mall next to it, which contains the world’s longest indoor slide (!).

Try this half day Hualien tour that also visits the Hualien STARBUCKS container store and Liyu Lake >

Hualien Starbucks Container Store Taiwan mug

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18. Hualien Gangtian Temple

Gangtian is Hualien’s largest shrine and a classic Taoist temple close to Hualien Baseball stadium. Free to enter (although donations are appreciated), Gangtian temple is dedicated to Matsu, the deity of the seas and fishing.

The Gangtian Temple in Hualien (map) is several stories high with several other smaller shrines and buildings attached on the sides – the temple is around a 30 minute walk from Hualien Train Station.

19. Giant Hualien Mickey Mouse Head

One of the most unusual things to do in Hualien, the fake (and some would say BAD) Mickey Mouse head (map) is a short walk from Hualien Martyr’s Shrine, located on the edge of Meilun Shan Park.

mickey mouse head statue Hualien

It is looked after by the Hualien Rotary Club and was likely set-up to promote a nearby (non Disney) theme-park that has closed down nearby.

People often pose for pictures in front of it but be aware there is a very busy road in front, on a blind bend. So be very careful when taking pictures.

Weirdly, the Hualien fake Mickey mouse is so iconic, we’ve even seen models of it for sale in a food and souvenir store along Dihua Street in Taipei!


You might like – 20+ things to do in Keelung including Keelung Night Market


20. Pacific Park Hualien and Beibin Park

For brews with views and seaside snacks, head to Pacific Park (map), close to Hualien’s best known surfing beaches.

chill chill beachside bar hualien
Chill chill beachside bar

Here you’ll find ‘chill chill’ beachside bar (cocktails ahoy) and Qiaoyun’s, serving seafood dishes and beef noodles. Alas when we visited ‘chill chill’ cafe they were playing Michael Buble but we won’t judge!

The palm-tree lined park also has sports activities like volleyball courts plus some cool street art and installations like a giant fish leaping over a massive dragon.

Pacific Park Hualien
Pacific Park Hualien

21. Hualien Whale Watching

Other than Taroko National Park, one of the main things to do in Hualien is go whale-watching.

Hualien is home to around 20 species of whale and dolphins and is one of Taiwan’s best whale-watching spots. There are several tours available and you can usually get out onto the water for less than NT$800

And if you don’t see any whales on your trip, most companies allow you to return for free, so definitely try to do this on your first day in Hualien in case you spot nothing and want to try again.

Please note whale-watching in Taiwan is seasonal and the best time in Hualien for whale-watching is March to October (peak season is May to September).

Book your Hualien whale watching trip through Klook or KK Day.


22. Dessert Alley / Hualien Pineapple Cake street

Looking for some traditional Taiwanese desserts like pineapple cake or pomelo pastries? Then head to Dessert Alley along Zhongshan Road in Hualien’s Golden Triangle area, for some tasty treats and succulent sweets.

DESSERT shop Hualien

There are several dessert shops on the same stretch including a pineapple pastry shop, sweet potato mochi store and more – many of these are individually packaged so they make great gifts and souvenirs to take home and share.

Head to the area around No. 195號, Zhongshan Road for all these sweet treats.

DESSERT shop Hualien

23. Settle Down craft beer bar

Another reason to enjoy Hualien at night is this cute and compact craft beer scene, which we discovered near our hotel (Hualien Holiday Hotel) – cheers to Settle Down Hualien (map).

They have around 12 draft beers on mainly from Taiwanese breweries like Flow, Ugly Half, Heisha and Taihu, priced around $NT200-280.

Settle Down Craft Beer Bar Hualien

Most cities have independent craft beer bars and breweries and we’ve noticed craft beer strength in Taiwan is generally quite high – for instance, some of the beer ABVs here are 8.88% and 9.99% – so it makes for a fun night in Hualien!

Prices vary greatly too between cities and breweries but Black Drongo is one of the less expensive ones we’ve been to with 500 ml / large beers costing around $NTD 200 to 230 (around £5 / $6USD / $9 AUD).

24. Far Eastern Hualien Shopping Mall

Close to our hotel (Hualien Park City Inn), one of Hualien’s largest shopping centers is Far Eastern mall (map) with several floors of big brands, chain restaurants and even a huge Hualien supermarket.

Far Eastern Hualien Shopping Mall

Whilst nothing special, it has big shops  and international brands like UNIQLO, Daiso, H&M (quite small), Bose, Nitori and MUJI – there also lots of food places including the likes of McDonalds, Mister Donut and more.

UNIQLO Far Eastern Hualien Shopping Mall

25. Hualien Famous Pepper Cake

Located around the corner from YouYiTsun Cultural and Creative Park, this is the BEST place in Hualien to try Taiwan’s famous pork pepper cakes (map).

Hualien Famous Pepper Cake - pork pepper buns

We’d read about queues around the block on Google Maps but when we visited on a rainy Saturday afternoon, it was quiet (so it may be local workers queuing on weekdays).

Run by a couple, these perfect pepper cakes cost just $NT55 for the original pork pepper bun.

We loved the sesame seed crunch on the top but personally, we found the pork inside not as juicy as others we’d tried, like the Fuzhou pork pepper buns at Raohe Night Market or Shilin Night Market in Taipei.

Find Hualien Famous Pepper Cake 揚名胡椒餅 on Google Maps here >

Hualien Famous Pepper Cake - pork pepper buns

26. Ajussi Hualien 24 Hour Noodles

Hungry in Hualien at night? If its very late and all the restaurants and Dongdamen night market is closed, ajussi-阿啾西拉麵圖書館-花蓮民國店 24 hour noodles (map) might be your salvation!

Ajussi Hualien 24 Hour Noodles Hualien

Popularised in South Korea, there is now an unmanned 24 hour instant ramen shop in Hualien called Ajussi that operates an honesty policy (well that and a lot of CCTV cameras) – we’ve seen many of these 24 hour ramen shops in Taipei at night before not Hualien so this is a welcome addition.

Ajussi Hualien 24 Hour Noodles Hualien

An inexpensive evening meal usually costing around NTD$40-$60 (plus any extra topping or side costs), you usually get to choose from a vast range of instant ramen noodles which you then add boiling water to. They even have a frozen protein fridge too (costs extra) and free sides section – very cool and a very cheap Hualien meal.

Ajussi Hualien 24 Hour Noodles Hualien

27. WinWin Fried Chicken Hualien

Fried chicken joints are numerous in Taiwan but on our first trip to Hualien, we thought WinWin Fried Chicken (map) might be the best Taiwanese fried chicken we’ve tried. However, when we revisited again in 2026, it wasn’t so good so either our tastes have changed or maybe just try it for yourself and see.

Hidden away in Hualien’s back-streets next to Hualien City God / Chenghuang Temple (花蓮城隍廟), this is popular for takeaway chicken and has a steady stream of FoodPanda and Uber Eats food drivers picking up huge quantities of chicken.

WinWin Fried Chicken Hualien

We went several times on our first Hualien trip (yep, it was that good) for their boneless fried chicken pieces (NT$140 for a huge portion) – but only once this time as we found so many other places to try.

Find Win Win Fried Chicken on Google Maps here >

28. Hualien Lantern Festival

If you happen to be in Hualien for Lunar New Year, try and catch the Hualien Lantern Festival held in Taipingyang Park every night (in 2026, Lunar New Year occurs in February).

Hualien Lantern Festival Taiwan

The park is festooned with colorful lanterns, giant dragon and animal light sculptures, illuminated tunnels plus an hourly light and fountain show (the latter was a bit naff).

Along the various Hualien lantern festival exhibits, there are lantern making workshops and volunteers give out free gifts like a cardboard cut-out dragon and a Chinese lantern squeezy stress ball (one of our most unique Taiwan souvenirs ever)!

Another popular Hualien festival held every summer in July at the Dongdamen Square is the Hualien Summer Festival, usually taking place over several nights with dozens of performers.

Hualien Lantern Festival

29. Hualien Railway Cultural Park & Eastern Railway Site

2026 update – much of the railway park is now closed due to damage during the earthquake but several shops and the 花莲铁道电影院 cinema here are still open. Much of the site however is sadly taped off and closed down since our first visit, including the vintage waiting rooms and museum.

There are several creative and cultural parks in Hualien but we think the best and most interesting is Hualien Railway Cultural Park and the Eastern Railway Site next door.

The former offices and storage area for the Hualien to Taitung Railway that closed in the 1980s, the site was reopened in 2003 as a protected historic building and now you can walk around the former waiting room, warehouse and also see the old locomotive.


You might like – Themed 7-Eleven stores in Taipei guide >


30. Other things and tours to do in Hualien

Hopefully we’ve given you a good overview of all the best Hualien highlights, but if you are still looking for more Hualien activities, try these recommended Hualien tours:


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