Taitung Travel: Luye Highlands

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

Our almost one-week-long holiday took us to the eastern part of Taiwan, exploring Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. We started our journey by heading north from Tainan and made a stop at Fulong Beach in New Taipei to experience the Sand Sculpture Festival. The drive took us approximately 4 hours. From there, we continued to Yilan, where we visited various attractions such as Toucheng Town, Brick Kiln, Wine Museum, Confucius Temple, night markets, and the Nanfangao Lookout. We spent two enjoyable days exploring Yilan before moving on to Hualien.

During our visit to Hualien, we had the opportunity to experience the breathtaking Taroko National Park for the first time. The scooter ride along the winding roads next to the tall cliffs felt a bit thrilling but was absolutely worth it for the stunning views. We also explored some of the Japanese remains in Hualien, including the Manor House and Pine Garden. Although I personally feel that Hualien may be slightly less captivating than Yilan or Taitung, we still enjoyed our time there.

On our way to Taitung, we made a stop at a beautiful waterfall and also visited Luye Highlands. As we typically visit Taitung more frequently, we didn't plan to stay there this time and decided to drive back to Tainan. However, as it coincided with the beginning of a long weekend, accommodations were fully booked, and traffic started to get heavier. If you're interested, I have many posts introducing other attractions in these three counties, so feel free to check them out. The eastern part of Taiwan is truly a beautiful region to explore.

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On the last day of our journey, before heading back home, we made our final stop at Luye Highlands.

Unfortunately, it was not yet time for the Hot Air Balloon Festival when we visited, but we still made our way to Luye Highlands. It was our last day in the eastern part of Taiwan, and in the afternoon, we began our journey back to Tainan. Due to the Dragon Boat Festival, finding accommodation in the area was quite challenging. While Taidong was still relatively uncrowded, we saw heavy traffic on the opposite side of the road as we drove back from Taidong to Pingdong.

Luye Highlands (鹿野高台)

Luye Highland is a hill located in Taidong's Eastern Rift Valley. It is renowned as one of the most popular spots for hot air ballooning and paragliding. Since 2011, the longest hot air balloon festival in Taiwan has been held here every summer. The festival attracts a large number of visitors, with over 350,000 people attending the inaugural event organized by the Taitung government. The festival has been held annually ever since, except for this year when it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, it will take place from the middle of July.

Apart from the hot air balloons, Luye Highlands offers opportunities for paragliding throughout the year. Lessons and rides are available on-site for those interested. Additionally, there is a spacious grass area at the center of the hill that is open for public use, providing a pleasant space for relaxation and enjoyment.

Address:

955台東縣鹿野鄉永安村高台路42巷145號鹿野高台

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Hualien & Taitung Travel: Hualien to Taitung

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

Our almost one-week-long holiday took us to the eastern part of Taiwan, exploring Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. We started our journey by heading north from Tainan and made a stop at Fulong Beach in New Taipei to experience the Sand Sculpture Festival. The drive took us approximately 4 hours. From there, we continued to Yilan, where we visited various attractions such as Toucheng Town, Brick Kiln, Wine Museum, Confucius Temple, night markets, and the Nanfangao Lookout. We spent two enjoyable days exploring Yilan before moving on to Hualien.

During our visit to Hualien, we had the opportunity to experience the breathtaking Taroko National Park for the first time. The scooter ride along the winding roads next to the tall cliffs felt a bit thrilling but was absolutely worth it for the stunning views. We also explored some of the Japanese remains in Hualien, including the Manor House and Pine Garden. Although I personally feel that Hualien may be slightly less captivating than Yilan or Taitung, we still enjoyed our time there.

On our way to Taitung, we made a stop at a beautiful waterfall and also visited Luye Highlands. As we typically visit Taitung more frequently, we didn't plan to stay there this time and decided to drive back to Tainan. However, as it coincided with the beginning of a long weekend, accommodations were fully booked, and traffic started to get heavier. If you're interested, I have many posts introducing other attractions in these three counties, so feel free to check them out. The eastern part of Taiwan is truly a beautiful region to explore.

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While driving from Hualien to Taidong, we made a few unplanned stops. Following the main road no. 9, we came across a spot with beautiful bald pines, located somewhere near Lichuan Aquafarm.

One of the stops we planned was at Fenghuang Waterfall (鳳凰瀑布風景區), located in the mountains near Fenglin District in Hualien. This area is inhabited by aboriginal people, and there are signs reminding visitors not to pollute the water source. We enjoyed the tranquil waterfall and were the only ones there. We even spotted shrimps, crabs, and fish in the water. 

Along the road, we spot golden shower trees and flame trees in full bloom. These vibrant trees added bursts of color to the landscape, and it was evident that they were popular photo spots as we often noticed people taking pictures.

Address:

1. Lichuan Aquafarm: 974花蓮縣壽豐鄉魚池45號立川漁場
2. Fenghuang Waterfall: 975花蓮縣鳳林鎮鳳凰瀑布風景區

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Hualien Travel: Breathtaking Beauty of Taroko National Park

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

Our almost one-week-long holiday took us to the eastern part of Taiwan, exploring Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. We started our journey by heading north from Tainan and made a stop at Fulong Beach in New Taipei to experience the Sand Sculpture Festival. The drive took us approximately 4 hours. From there, we continued to Yilan, where we visited various attractions such as Toucheng Town, Brick Kiln, Wine Museum, Confucius Temple, night markets, and the Nanfangao Lookout. We spent two enjoyable days exploring Yilan before moving on to Hualien.

During our visit to Hualien, we had the opportunity to experience the breathtaking Taroko National Park for the first time. The scooter ride along the winding roads next to the tall cliffs felt a bit thrilling but was absolutely worth it for the stunning views. We also explored some of the Japanese remains in Hualien, including the Manor House and Pine Garden. Although I personally feel that Hualien may be slightly less captivating than Yilan or Taitung, we still enjoyed our time there.

On our way to Taitung, we made a stop at a beautiful waterfall and also visited Luye Highlands. As we typically visit Taitung more frequently, we didn't plan to stay there this time and decided to drive back to Tainan. However, as it coincided with the beginning of a long weekend, accommodations were fully booked, and traffic started to get heavier. If you're interested, I have many posts introducing other attractions in these three counties, so feel free to check them out. The eastern part of Taiwan is truly a beautiful region to explore.

~ ~ ~

On the forth day, we drove from Hualien City to Xincheng Train Station to rent a scooter nearby. It was our first time visiting Taroko National Park, and it truly left us amazed, albeit sometimes a little scary. I have a fear of heights, so at times I couldn't fully appreciate the views or take pictures. Even in photos, it's challenging to capture the true beauty of this place. The gorge, the river, and the old road—all together create a truly breathtaking experience.

The drive took us about 6 hours round trip, and I felt like there was still so much more to see. We visited Swallow Grotto, which was not easy to capture in photos due to its tall canyon walls. I was too afraid to get closer to the fence and showcase the beautiful river below. We also stopped at an old road, where most places in Taroko have warnings about falling stones. At a few stops, we were able to borrow safety helmets. We also ventured onto a trail that led to a curtain waterfall. Initially, we didn't realize how long the trail was—it ended up being 4 kilometers long. It wouldn't have been a big deal if the weather hadn't been so hot, and I hadn't been carrying my 2-year-old child the whole day. The waterfall was actually inside a tunnel, and visitors were advised to wear raincoats before entering. Finally, we visited the famous Changchun Shrine, where a waterfall flows from it.

Taroko National Park (太魯閣 國家公園)

Taroko National Park is the fourth national park established in Taiwan. It's located in the eastern part of Taiwan, spanning across three administrative regions: Hualien County, Taichung City, and Nantou County. It was originally established as the second-high Taroko National Park during the Japanese occupation from 1937 to 1945. After World War II, it became a nationally recognized scenic spot.

Taroko National Park is renowned for its canyons, steep cliffs, and beautiful scenery. The Taroko Gorge is one of the eight scenic spots in Taiwan. Additionally, the park's mountainous area retains many remnants of the ice age, such as mountain pepper fish.

The term "Tarokit" originally referred to one of the three groups of the Seidke tribe (formerly classified as the Atayal Saidekaya): the Taroko Group (Delugu), Toze Group (Toda), and Tgdaya. Around the 16th century, some tribes migrated from Nantou to the Liwu River and Mugua River areas of Hualien. The inhabitants of Hualien began identifying themselves as "Tarokits." During the Japanese occupation period, the area was referred to as "Taroko" (Tarouge), and the term "Tarokit" was associated with the Taroko people living there.

The origins of the Taroko National Park project can be traced back to the Japanese occupation period. On December 27, 1937, the National Park Committee of the Governor's Office of Taiwan announced the establishment of the "Second High Taroko National Park," which included the current Snow Mountain and Taroko Pavilion, covering an area of 270,000 hectares. The park was abolished at the end of the Japanese occupation period. In 1979, the Executive Yuan approved the "Taiwan Comprehensive Development Plan," which designated Taroko District, Dahengling, Hehuanshan, and the Suhua Highway as national parks and national road parks. The park was officially defined in 1984, and the Taroko National Park project was announced in 1986. The park spans approximately 38 kilometers from north to south, 41 kilometers from east to west, and covers an area of 92,000 hectares.

Taroko National Park is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean on the east and is traversed by the northern section of the Central Mountain Range. The highest point in the park is Nanhu Mountain, reaching an elevation of 3,742 meters. The alpine frigid area above 3,000 meters accounts for 7.2% of the park's total area, while the temperate mountainous areas between 1,000 and 3,000 meters account for 78.4% of the park.

Taroko National Park is characterized by a V-shaped marble gorge with a depth of over 1,000 meters. The thickness of the marble rock exceeds 1,000 meters, and its distribution range spans over ten kilometers.

According to surveys, the park is home to 1,517 animal species. There are at least 46 mammal species, accounting for approximately half of the mammals found in Taiwan. Among them, 15 species are endemic to Taiwan, with the Taiwanese mouse being the most widely distributed. The park also boasts at least 173 bird species, including 24 endemic species in Taiwan. Additionally, there are at least 15 amphibian species, representing half of Taiwan's amphibians, and at least 34 reptile species, accounting for about one-third of Taiwan's reptiles. The mainstream of the Liwu River and its tributaries are home to 21 species of stream fish, including four endemic species. The park is also inhabited by at least 1,150 insect species, with at least 239 butterfly species and 28 endemic species in Taiwan.

Approximately 75% of the park is covered by forests, with natural forests constituting the majority. The largest area is occupied by evergreen broad-leaved forests with widths exceeding 2,000 meters and heights exceeding 300 meters. A total of 2,093 plant species have been recorded in the park.

In 2000, Taroko National Park Management hosted the first Taroko Gorge Marathon, which has become a well-known marathon event in Taiwan. It is held every November and attracts more than 10,000 participants. The Taroko Gorge Music Festival, established in 2002, has also become an important annual music event in eastern Taiwan. To promote mountaineering education, the Taroko National Park Management Office established the National Park Mountaineering School in 2010, with training and activity bases located within the park.

Changchung Shrine (長春祠)

Changchun Shrine, located in Xiulin Township within Taroko National Park, was built to enshrine the construction of the No. 8 Line Zhongheng Road by the engineering staff. Due to the challenging work on the Zhongheng Highway project, casualties occurred. To honor their spirits, the Taiwan Provincial Highway Bureau built the temple in 1958.

The Changchun Shrine is built in the style of Chinese classical Tang Dynasty pavilions and is embedded into the mountain walls to blend with the surrounding terrain. The temple is delicate and solemn, with fresh spring water emerging from the mountain wall, forming a flowing waterfall. Circular walkways provide opportunities to enjoy the canyon and its meandering views. Behind the shrine, there is a stone staircase with 380 steps that leads to Guanyin Cave.

Address:

972花蓮縣秀林鄉富世291號太魯閣遊客中心

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