Taiwan 101: Part 2. Eastern Taiwan

Mugumuyu, Hualien County

Stone Umbrella Rock, Chenggong, Hualien County

View from Dongao Rest Area, Yilan County

Daylilies at Liushidanshan, Hualien County

Hualien and Taitung Counties are finally becoming easier of access, with fast (although famously difficult-to-book) Puyuma trains, and big improvements (still ongoing) in the notoriously dangerous Suhua Highway, and the undisturbed, peaceful nature of this region might eventually change, but for now it remains one of the most enchanting regions of the island. Since the Central Mountain Range is relatively inaccessible from the eastern side, the main attractions of the region (apart from Taroko Gorge) is its rich aboriginal culture, beautiful, often spectacular coastline, and the wonderful East Rift Valley, where not only do two tectonic plates meet, but the ‘join’ can even be clearly seen in a couple of places.

Matai’an wetlands, Hualiuen County

Shakadang Trail, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Aohua Waterfall, Yilan County

Mount Nanhuda, Yilan/Hualien Counties

Taroko Gorge Gridge, Hualien County

Pineapple fields in southern Hualien County

The lower fall at Jinyue Waterfall, Yilan County

The remote Mysterious Lake, Yilan County

Moon Cave, Hualien County

Datong aboriginal settlement, Hualien County

Monument in memory of those who died building the cliff-hugging Suhua highway, Yilan County

Lisong Hot Springs, Taitung County

Walami Trail, Hualien County

Sculpture beneath the Man Rock, Hualien County

Alishi Cold Springs, Yilan County

Water Curtain Cave, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Beach at Fenniaolin, Yilan County

Xingang Waterfall, the highest waterfall in eastern Taiwan at nearly 200 meters

The Qingshui Stream at Mugumuyu, Hualien County

Mysterious Coast, Nanao, Yilan County

The incredible green paddy fields of the East Rift Valley

Wenshan Trail, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Lintienshan, the best-preserved Japanese-era logging station in Taiwan, Hualien County

Golden Grotto, one of Taiwan’s finest river traces, Hualien County

Shitiping, Hualien County

Jiaming Lake, Taitung County

On the Dali-Datong Trail, Hualien County

Suhua Highway view, Yilan County

The amazing Zhuilu Old Trail, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Jinyue Waterfall, Yilan County

Liyu Lake, Hualien County

Rafting the Xiuguluan River, Hualien County

Dongyue Cold Spring, Yilan County

Another view of Water Curtain Cave, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

Phoenix (Fenghuang) Waterfall, Hualien County

Near Dali, Hualien County

Wulu Gorge, South Cross-island Highway, Taitung County

Wenshan Hot Springs, Taroko Gorge, Hualien County

 

Near Lisong Hot Springs, Taitung County