Countryside features

Si Hua

Hualien city

The Pine Garden

The Pine Garden was built in 1943 as an office of the Japanese Aggressor troops. It was an important commanding center in Hualien. In 1947, the ROC army headquater used the garden as a leisure center for the American military officers. After that, it was managed by the National Property Administration and the Veterans Affairs Commission of Executive Yuan till now. The Hualien council listed the garden as a featured historical site.

Photo: News of leisure, have an afternoon tea with pine leaf at the Pine Garden EpochTimes Visit the Pine Garden

Yuli

Chike Mountain

There is a 3000ha. of daylily on Chike Mountain, the main and largest daylily farm in Taiwan. The harvest season is July and August. At the end of summer the golden daylily shines all over the mountain. Every year, the town holds the daylily exhibition at the Chike terrace. The golden flowers shine brilliantly with each other on the hills and attracts many tourists to hike up to the mountain to appreciate the beauty. It is a good place to go for relaxation and flower appreciation with few good friends on a hot summer day.

Photo: Chike Mountain--an autumn with golden sunshine

Juisui

Wuhe Tea Garden

Walking in the Wehe Tea Garden is marvelous. There are various fruit trees planted in the garden with sweats shining under the sun. The soil is nurtured with organic fertilizers, which provides proper water preserving, no need to worry about any drought. All the tea and fruit trees are strong enough to defend from pests. The Tian He Tea produced in Wuhe is light is taste and fragrant. It is so light that you can barely smell or taste it, but it doesn't change its taste after brewing a few times. Each brewed tea leaf looks delicate and pretty as if it's dancing. It will make you addict to it and leave a nice fragrance in your mouth.

Photo: Wuhe Tea Garden from Xuite Wuhe Tea Garden from Flickr

Fengbin

Shitiping

This is the south end of the Shiti Bay at Fengbin. The rocks stretches in the ocean like stairs so it was called Shiti (rocky stairs). Shitiping lengths a kilometer with rocks in various strange shapes. The magnificence is able to compare favorably with Yeliu at the north shore. There are two layers of wave-cut platforms and uplifted coral reefs can be found everywhere. The sticking out potholes create some unique form on the ground. On the rocks are many types of seaweed, screw pines, cactus, beach morning glory etc.

Photo: Shitiping from Travel King, Shitiping from Three Old Men's Touring the Island on Flickr

Shoufeng

Liyu Lake

The Liyu Lake is about 104ha., in a narrow oval shape. It is the largest inland lake in the eastern Taiwan. The highway surrounding the lake is approximately 5 kilometers. Tourists can enjoy cycling around the lake to enjoy a fresh and healthy holiday.

Since 2002, the Liyu Lake was managed by the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Administration. With planning and designing, the administration provides various activities in this area, such as water bikes, boats, and trails in the woods. The water in the lake comes from underground continuously the whole year. The beautiful scenery changes in each season tremendously like a dreamy paradise and attracts a lot of tourists.

Photo: [gogo]travel on Roodo

Sincheng

Cisingtan

Cisingtan connects Taroko National Park, the east coast, and the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area. In addition to the abundant natural scenery, there is a straight formed by cliffs and a beautiful bay. You can observe the Chingshui Cliff from Cisingtan. In the evening, you can see the fireworks from Sincheng and Chongde areas. There are more scenic spots in these areas that provide leisure and knowledgeable tours. Cisingtan scenic area is run by cycle lanes. There are different scenic spots along the 21-kilometer journey from Hualien City to Cisingtan, passing through Nanbin Park, Hualien Port, and Siba High Ground. The Hualien council also built the Rock Sculpture Park, Star Viewing Square, Brilliant Sunrise Building, and the amusement park. There are also signs to explain the sea life near the fishing ground. The windbreak area is also expanded to a beach botanical garden. Many different species exhibit here, both animals and plants. It is worth to take an educational tour to this area.

Photo: Chike Mountain from Huatiencu B&B, Sunrise at Cisingtan on Backpackers

Fonglin

Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort

The Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort is well facilitated, such as the European gardens, lodging cabins, the grand field, Jurassic Park, herbs and flowers gardens, cute animal farm, dairy cattle pasture, leisure farm, bird park, fishing ground, celebrities planting area, boating at Liubo Lake, Liyu viewing on the zigzag bridge, dragon fish fountain, remote-controlled boating area, and swans. This is a European-styled complex combines nice tribes of aborigines, agricultural farming and cultivating. The range includes a grand field and Sihsiu Lake. You can follow the path along the lake to enjoy the scenery of the lake and the mountain. You can also go to the grand field to fly the kites or Frisbees, and enjoy the freedom in the mother nature.

Photo: Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort from lohas Taiwan farm on Picasa, Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort from 282 Car Rental

Ji'an

Chinghsiu Temple

During the time the Japanese immigrated to Hualien, due to the growing population in Yoshino, the Japanese immigrant Kawabata Mitsuru raised funds to build the Yoshino Shrine of Koyasan Shingon and enlarged it with the wooden dormitory for lecturing, meditating, and healing. The structure of Yoshino Shrine followed the traditional style of Koyasan, the frame of the building was made by woods and covered with iron sheets. There are corridors around the shrine, flowers and plants grow in the garden, the environment is quiet and peaceful. After Taiwan was retuned in 1945, the Japanese immigrants were sent back to Japan. The shrine then was named Chinghsiu Temple. The central deity Acala Vidyaraja was moved to the side room, Gautama Buddha and Guanyin took the main room.

Photo: Chinghsiu Temple by The Cabin in a Misty Night

Guangfu

Vataan Wetland

udeng River passes through the Vataan Wetland, which is the area where the Amis settled and occupied. It is the largest wetland in Hualien. The pure water from The Central Mountain Range forms the wetland in Vataan. Both Fudeng and underground springs are the life of Vataan Wetland.

The ecology of Vataan Wetland is abundant and plenteous. The birds here, such as common moorhen, cinnamon bitten, yellow bitten, white-breasted waterhen, ring-nacked pheasant, white-rumped munia, and scaly-breasted munia, have made this wetland a major bird-viewing area. Even the very rare migratory pheasant-tailed jacana flew here from the north in the winter. Recently Vataan is famous for the leisure lotus farm in the summer, and the viewing season ends in October. Therefore, Vataan has earned a name of the beautiful village of lotus. The best way to tour Vataan Wetland thoroughly is to cycle. There are cycle lanes organized well in this area. The broad field with very few cars makes cycling the wetland quite enjoyable.

Photos: Amis' philosophy of happy green life on Fun Nature of ChinaYes, Shin Liu Restaurant in Vataan Wetland

Siolin

Taroko National Park

Taroko National Park is famous for the grand and vertical marble cliffs. The sceneries are beautiful everywhere. The park is located between Hualien, Nantou, Taichung, and Yilan. Most of the residents are the Atayal. There are 27 of the hundred mountains in Taiwan. Some scenic spots are quite famous, such as Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, and Tiansiang. Moreover, the trails are also quite well-known internationally. For example, Shakadang Trail, Lyushui Train, and Baiyang Trail.