Taiwan
Hualien and Taroko
East-coast base for marble canyon views, sea cliffs and Indigenous food. Stay 2 days. We have mapped 1 sight, 4 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 8
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
1 See · 4 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Shop
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
from our route notes
30°C / 85°F avg high
21°C / 71°F avg high
about 251 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Hualien and Taroko
8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
1 sight worth building a day around in Hualien City.
Photo: 松園別館 · Google
Outdoors
4 outdoor spots for fresh air across Xiulin, Xincheng and Shoufeng. All 4 are free to visit.
Photo: puiling pp · GoogleOutdoorsTaroko Gorge
Marble canyon carved by the Liwu River; only some sections and trails have reopened since 2024.
Tip Check official notices for Highway 8 access windows and which trails are open.
Photo: Fred Hsu · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsQingshui Cliffs
Sheer cliffs plunging into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway.
Tip Morning light is best; view from the Chongde area.
Photo: 蔡明陽 · GoogleOutdoorsQixingtan Beach
Crescent pebble beach with mountain views north of Hualien city.
Tip Strong currents; it is for walking, not swimming.
Photo: 藍Baby · GoogleOutdoorsLiyu Lake
Mountain-ringed lake with cycling paths and pedal boats south of the city.
Tip Ride the loop path early on a rented bike.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Hualien and Taroko in Hualien City.
Photo: joe fatchow · GoogleEatDongdamen Night Market
Large night market with an Indigenous food section serving grilled meats and millet wine.
Tip Look for the Aboriginal street section for local dishes.
Photo: Ringo Lin · GoogleEatGongzheng Baozi
Round-the-clock steamed bun shop famous for small pork buns and dumplings.
Tip Good for a cheap breakfast before Taroko.
Shop
Markets and shops worth the detour in Hualien City.
Photo: Kai-Ping Fang · GoogleShopHualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park
Converted winery buildings with craft shops, galleries and cafes.
How to fit Hualien and Taroko into a trip
Hualien and Taroko is stop 3 of 4 on our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route. Follow it as-is or lift Hualien and Taroko into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 4
Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko
Night markets, mountain towns and marble cliffs
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Oct – Dec, Mar – May
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Jiufen and Pingxi
- Next: Tainan
Getting here and onward
- Jiufen and Pingxi to Hualien and TarokoJiufen and Pingxi is about 127 km / 79 mi away in a straight line
- Hualien and Taroko to TainanTainan is about 178 km / 111 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Hualien and Taroko month by month
Average daily highs run from 21°C / 71°F in January to 30°C / 85°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 251 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan21° / 71°F average high
- Feb22° / 72°F average high
- Mar23° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr25° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
- May28° / 82°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun29° / 84°F average high
- Jul30° / 85°F average high
- Aug30° / 85°F average high
- Sep29° / 84°F average high
- Oct27° / 80°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov25° / 77°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec22° / 72°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Hualien and Taroko weather and the best time to visit →
Near Hualien and Taroko
3 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Hualien and Taroko questions, answered
How many days do you need in Hualien and Taroko?
Our route notes suggest 2 days in Hualien and Taroko. On our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route it is stop 3 of 4 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 12 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Hualien and Taroko best known for?
East-coast base for marble canyon views, sea cliffs and Indigenous food. Stay 2 days. Standouts on our list: Pine Garden (Japanese-era military building in a pine grove overlooking Hualien port); Taroko Gorge (Marble canyon carved by the Liwu River; only some sections and trails have reopened since 2024); Qingshui Cliffs (Sheer cliffs plunging into turquoise water along the Suhua Highway).
When is the best time to visit Hualien and Taroko?
Our Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route is best Oct – Dec, Mar – May. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (30°C / 85°F), the coolest in January (21°C / 71°F) and the most rain in August (about 251 mm).
What are the best things to do in Hualien and Taroko?
Start with Taroko Gorge, Qingshui Cliffs, Qixingtan Beach, Pine Garden and Liyu Lake. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 1 sight, 4 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Hualien and Taroko?
Our picks: Dongdamen Night Market (Hualien City); Gongzheng Baozi (Hualien City). Look for the Aboriginal street section for local dishes (Dongdamen Night Market).
What is near Hualien and Taroko?
The closest destinations in our guides are Taipei (about 116 km / 72 mi), Jiufen and Pingxi (about 127 km / 79 mi) and Tainan (about 178 km / 111 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Hualien and Taroko with your crew
Open the Taipei, Jiufen & Taroko route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.