Bike Trip from Taitung to Kenting in Southern Taiwan
Two buddies and I on a two day, 96 mile bike trip from Taitung to Kenting in Southern Taiwan. The route, which follows the Pacific Ocean and cuts into the mountains, is a beautiful one. None of us had ever done more than 20 miles on the bike at one time, so the route is manageable for anyone who is okay with working hard and taking frequent rest breaks. We went at the end of January, and I personally thought the weather was just about as perfect as it gets. And at 9 US dollars a day for the bike rental, this is an experience you don't want to pass up!
[Cycling Taiwan] Ride From Hualien to Taitung Day 1 台灣 自行車 花蓮~台東
In today's Cycling Taiwan vlog, we'll be using our rented road bikes (giant fastroad) to cycle along the Taiwan east coast from Hualien (花蓮) to Tautung (台東).
This ride in total is about 200km and so we split it up into 2 days. In the first half, we decided to cycle down the more coastal and scenic route along highway 11.
We (I) didn't really properly research the route, and it ended up being much hillier and zig-zaggy than I had imagined, making us really feel the extra bike load from our panier bags.
Fortunately, we were able to send our main luggage ahead to Taitung by train at a fee of only 150 NTD, which is really cheap!
After cycling down the coast for a while and passing through a few tunnels, the dreaded rain clouds decided to say hello and the ride started to get a bit more difficult.
To get to our hotel for the night, we had to cut through the mountain pass from highway 11 to highway 9, and after descending down the mountain pass into more rain, we were quite drained of energy, but then came across this BEAUTIFUL park (Danongdafu Forest Park 大農大富平地森林園區). Even in the rain it all looked so beautiful with all of the trees and well maintained bike paths.. I really would love to come back and explore this some day, but unfortunately no time today..
After riding in the rain for what seemed like forever without any stops, we finally found a 7-eleven convenience store and grabbed some warm foods. My fingers were actually numb at this point despite starting the ride in fairly warm conditions.
After fueling up and recovering a bit, we continued on along highway 9 and finally made it to our hotel for the night. Time to hit the bed and wake up and do the second half!
Hualien to Taitung road bike cycling route on strava
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Taiwan Cycling Trip | Tour of Hualien by Road Bike + Awesome Bike Path
Welcome to part 3 of our 2018 Taiwan Cycling Trip! After a great ride yesterday through the Taroko Gorge, we decided to spend today cycling around the beautiful city of Hualien (花蓮) with our rented road bikes from GIANT Bicycle Co.
We found a nice bike path along the river which took us to another great bike path along the rocky ocean, which had some pretty stunning views.
We kept riding and unfortunately got stuck in the rain and had to take shelter at a nearby convenience store. We took that opportunity to grab some hot Taiwanese bento lunch boxes and refuel before we continued riding into the mountains towards Liyu Lake.
All in all, a great day of cycling! Hualien is absolutely beautiful with all of the stunning mountain scenery so close.
Our Tour of Hualien by road bike cycling route
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TAIWAN TRAVEL | TAITUNG NATURE BICYCLE TOUR
Taitung is a great place to explore nature and take a bicycle tour around the coastline when you travel in Taiwan. In this video I show you the best place to hire a bicycle and some of the places you can visit. Thanks for watching!
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Taitung at the Glance, Taiwan
Taitung City (Chinese: 台東市 or 臺東市), is a county-controlled city and the county seat of Taitung County, Taiwan. It lies on the southeast coast of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean. Taitung City is the most populous subdivision of Taitung County and it is one of the major cities on the east coast of the island.
Due to the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan, ground transportation to Taitung City is very limited. The city is served by Taitung Airport. Taitung is a gateway to Green Island and Orchid Island, both of which are popular tourist destinations.
Before the 16th century the Taitung plain was settled by agriculturalist Puyuma and Amis aboriginal tribes. Under Dutch rule and during Qing rule, a large part of eastern Taiwan, including today's Taitung, was called Pi-lam (卑南).
In the late 19th century, when Liu Mingchuan was the Qing Governor of Taiwan, Han Chinese settlers moved into the Taitung region. Pi-lam Subprefecture (卑南廳) was established in 1875, and was upgraded and renamed to Taitung State (臺東直隸州) in 1888. In 1887, the island was made an independent Taiwan Province, which included Taitung Prefecture.[2]
During Japanese rule, the central settlement was called Nankyō Village (南鄉新街). Taitō Chō (臺東廳) was one of twenty local administrative offices established in 1901. English-language works from the era refer to the place as Pinan (from Japanese) and Pilam (from Hokkien).[3] Taitō Town (臺東街) was established in 1920 under Taitō Prefecture, and included modern Taitung City and eastern Beinan Township. There were no Americans living here during the Japanese rule.
After handover of Taiwan from Japan to ROC in 1945, it became Taitung Township and in 1976 it was promoted to Taitung City.
City government[edit]
Taitung City government is headquartered at Taitung City Hall which takes the responsibility for the city general administration and all of its other affairs, from folk, education, cultural popularization, negotiation, emergency help, disaster prevention, environmental taxation, cleaning control, finance, public property control, tellership, taxing help, farming and fishing control, wholesale products, marketing and business administration, urban planning, public establishment, tourism, community development, army service administration, welfare, national health insurance program and indigenous administration affairs.
(My 2018 Taitung County) Life in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taitung County
*Hot Air Balloon Festival
*Paradise Farm
*East Coast Ocean Scenery
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Video and Photos taken 2018 8/10 NyLyn
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????TAITUNG TRIP -- DULAN, with BIG COCONUTS... (台東都蘭)
Second day of our trip to Taitung with stops at Liji Badlands, Lalulan Seaside Park, Water Running Up, Dulan Sugar Factory, Tian Mama Restaurant, Moonshine Inn, Jiamuzi Bay, and Low Pressure Guesthouse.
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Restaurant Info:
Tian Mama Restaurant (都蘭田媽媽廚房)
Add: No. 307-2, Neighborhood 35, Dulan Village, Donghe Township, Taitung County (台東縣東河鄉都蘭村35鄰307-2號)
Tel: (0955) 548-965
Cafe Info:
Moonshine Inn (月光小棧)
Add: No. 420-8, Dulan Village, Donghe Township, Taitung County (台東縣東河鄉都蘭村420號之8)
Tel: (089) 530-012
Guesthouse Info:
Low Pressure Surf
Add: No. 99, South Donghe, Donghe Township, Taitung County (台東縣東河鄉南東河99號)
Tel: (089) 896-738
Website:
English and Chinese
Dulan 都蘭
Jialulan Seaside Park 加路蘭遊憩區
Jiamuzi Bay 加母子灣
Liji Badlands 利吉惡地
Taitung 台東
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Also watch the latest video on this channel: {Trip} LALASHAN on the Northern Cross-Island Highway (北橫拉拉山)
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Travel in Taiwan May/June, 2016:
Xiaoyeliu was our first stop inside the East Coast National Scenic Area (eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw), which stretches from just north of Taitung City to just south of Hualien City. Beyond its sheer beauty, this natural stone-sculpture scenic area is highly info-taining for those types – like your writer – thrilled with matters geology-related. Along the shore you’ll find large rock formations – honeycomb rock, mushroom rock, tofu rock, cuestas – and in the visitor center well-crafted models and rock samples introducing the geological features of Xiaoyeliu and the coastal mountains.
A short distance north is Jialulan. This is a seaside art park – and an eco-engineering showcase, on a transformed waste-soil site created during construction of the adjoining air-force base – with works spread out over an expansive grassland. Most are of wood, and most of the wood is of coastline-gathered driftwood, a popular Taitung-artist medium. My favorite installation features a wood-weave shell stuffed full with the human-created detritus that washes ashore in monster storms – things you’d expect, like fishing gear, but also much that’s bizarre. A stethoscope? A calculator?
Another short drive north brings you to small Jiamuzi Bay, at the foot of Mt. Dulan. This is a place of stunning archetypal tropical scenery – the mountain sloping right down to the coast, coconut trees along the shore, attractive coral reefs just offshore, disappearing under frothy waves and then popping up again. This is a popular spot for surfing, snorkeling, and other watersports.
The Water Running Upward attraction, a must-visit spot for the tour-bus crowd, is just south of Dulan village. And just what is it? A long, narrow, shallow irrigation channel comes down from the hills, running through a small sculpted park. And for all the world, it looks as though the gurgling waters defy gravity along this 100m stretch. Real or illusion? We inspected the waterworks from every angle; the stream, counter-intuitively, seems not to slow down or pool up at all. Take the riddle on for yourself with a first-hand gander. (Nevertheless, I give you the answer at article’s end.)
The sprawling, big-shouldered old Dulan Sugar Factory, in Dulan village, one of the coast’s largest Amis-tribe settlements, makes sugar no more. The heritage complex, now protected, is today a place for local and expat artists and craftsmen. There are artist workshops, a cultural-creative boutique, a café, a craft brewery, Taiwanese and Japanese restaurants, a quick-food kiosk, a driftwood stage, and other attractions. The big action is on Saturday nights, when there is free live music, with both local and expatriate talent performing.
On the slopes of Mt. Dulan just to Dulan’s northwest, on a road that leads to the popular Moonlight Inn café (see Stay/Eat/Buy article), is the Dulan Site. The short paths to the spread-out finds on view, which include a sarcophagus and large stones from a long wall used in worship rites, start at roadside and have clear signage. They are from what is called the Qilin culture, and date to about 3,000 years ago. It is believed that the local tribal inhabitants likely moved up here after the coast was hit by a tsunami. Mt. Dulan is revered as a divine presence by the area’s Amis and Bunun tribal groups.
Discover tradition at Buo Ai District Historic buildings
Buo Ai area is not only the central political district of Taiwan, but also a must-see tourist attraction for foreigners. Many old houses are preciously maintained for over one hundred years because of the concentration of political agencies within this location.
Taiwan Cycling Trip: Taipei to Jiufen Historic Street & Shifen Waterfall (九份 + 十分大瀑布)
This is sadly our last cycling vlog from our recent Taiwan Cycling Trip. In today's ride, we'll be riding our rental road bikes from Taipei to Jiufen Historic Street (九份), and we'll be riding through the mountains to get there.
Taipei to Shifen & Jiufen Cycling Route
Our original plan was to do a round trip ride, but we didn't account for the extremely hot temperatures and significant amount of climbing (1,700 meters), so we ended up bringing our bikes on the train back to Taipei from Badu station.
Overall, this was an amazing ride with lots of beautiful sights along the way. One of the other highlights was stopping at the Shifen Waterfall (十分大瀑布). Once we arrived in Jiufen, (which is a famous mountain town known as being an inspirational location for the movie Spirited Away), we ate some delicious Taiwanese food at a restaurant with a beautiful open window view of the nearby ocean and mountains.
Joining along on today's ride is Quinn, whom we met a few days ago randomly while cycling along the Taipei Riverside Cycling Paths on our way back from Tamsui.
All I have to say is wow, the cycling in Taiwan has been amazing and we're really looking forward to our next cycling trip here. Also, a big thanks to Quinn for helping show us around and especially for introducing all of the good foods for us to eat.
We still have a few regular travel and food VLOG videos coming up from this trip, so stay tuned for those.
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☂TAITUNG TRIP -- SANXIANTAI, with REALLY SHITTY WEATHER (台東三仙台)
Final day of our trip to Taitung. We spent some time at the Pisilian Community, which is close to Sanxiantai.
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Bread & Chocolate Warehouse (麵包與巧克力倉庫)
Add: No. 236, Longchang Village, Donghe Township, Taitung County/at 137.8 kilometer marker of Highway 11 (台東縣東河鄉隆昌村236號/海線11號公路137.8K )
Tel: 0909-301-199
Website:
Pisilian Community (比西里岸)
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Also watch the latest video on this channel: {Trip} LALASHAN on the Northern Cross-Island Highway (北橫拉拉山)
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About Pisirian
It is unknown when the Pisirian came to Pisirian. ne thing, however, is known – there were goats aplenty on the spot to greet them. Pisirian sits against the northeast tip of a Coastal Mountain Range spur that juts out into the sea, forming a small peninsula. Wild goats would long come out of the hills to munch on the peninsula-edge grasslands. Just off the headland’s middle is Sanxiantai (“Platform of the Three Immortals”), a major tourist attraction, which once was part of the headland.
The village has been made a place of public art. You’ll come across wood versions of goats everywhere, most moderate in size, a few very large. You’ll also see cute painted-cartoon figures on walls in 11 locations. These are based on the award-winning picture books of the much-loved Taiwan illustrator Jimmy (Jimmy Liao), who wanted to help the community’s tourism-promotion efforts. The direction these characters face shows you where to go on self-guided tours. Among the other sites visited are an open-air workshop, the village-run homestay, and a small stand of areca palms.
The workshop is where “Amis mochi” (made with millet, rice, and sweet potato), traditional-style wedding feasts, etc., have long been prepared. The homestay, beside the cultural center, was long the home of an important fisherman and village leader; before it are low-walled cement tanks the village’s best catch and fry would be showcased in for out-of-town buyers.
Sanxiantai is a small volcanic-rock island of massive black-tinged bluffs said to resemble three Daoist deities, in petrified form, who visited here on an immortal cross-ocean flying journey long ago. You reach it on foot via a long dragon-back-shaped arch bridge. We spent a happy 90 minutes traipsing along the bridge and the island’s easy loop trail. Note that a pleasant bike path to nearby Jihui Fishing Harbor starts at the Sanxiantai parking lot, with rentals available.
Getting There
On Provincial Highway 11, turn toward the coast just north of Chenggong town at the direction sign to Sanxiantai. Along the way is a split (three large shoulder-to-shoulder boulders in the grassy area between), with a sign, again with English, indicating Sanxiantai to the right and Shiyusan to the left. Bear left; Pisirian will appear almost immediately.
Indigenous show part 3 @ Hotel Royal Chihpen in Taitung County, Taiwan
Taiwan - Hualien County - Chike Mountain
There are many varieties of daylilies, but those grown on high mountains are of a better quality. Because Chihke Mountain, which reaches around 900 meters above sea level, has low temperatures, and because daylilies tend to grow slower, and also because of the abundant mists brought about by the clouds, and the red soil that is suited for daylily cultivation, the daylilies grown here are of a better taste. Daylilies are perennial plants, and many of the daylilies currently grown on Chihke Mountain are more than 30-40 years old. Weeding and fertilization need to be done on a regular basis, but otherwise, very little care is needed. However, in August and September of every year, during their flowering season, the farmers need to mobilize the entire family to work hard as they pick, dry and bake the plants.
Taiwan - Hualien County - Liyu Lake
Liyu Lake has a visitor center where visitors can find detailed information on all aspects of traveling. Liyu Lake's shore recreation area has developed a variety of water activities and recreation facilities which are suitable for the whole family. The bicycle path that circles the lake is around 5 kilometers long, and allows cyclists to experience the pleasant natural beauty of the lakes and mountains from their vehicles. The 601 meter-tall Liyu Mountain has many forest footpaths which allow hikers to enjoy the birds, flowers, and scenery, making it one of the best exercise choices. If you are not in a hurry to leave Liyu Lake, there is a fully equipped, up-to-date campsite in beautiful surroundings, just several hundred meters south of the lake. The visitors can experience outdoor recreation with the sky for a ceiling, and the ground for a bed.
HD Welcome to Taiwan National Park From Kingdom of Beetle Taiwan.mp4
HD Welcome to Taiwan National Park From Kingdom of Beetle Taiwan.mp4
[Dji Phantom 2 H3-2D][TaiWan Formosa] in KenTing . TaiTung . Green Island
[TaiWan Formosa] in KenTing . TaiTung . Green Island
Dji Phantom 2 H3-2D Gopro Hero 3 Black Editino by iMovie 11
影片拍攝地點:枋山休憩區 , 台東貓山villa民宿 , 綠島朝日溫泉 , 綠島南寮漁港
Taiwan Free and Easy Tour Videos - Hualien Cycling
Check out part of the 35.3km Hualien Cycling route with natural scenery
Cycling Around Taiwan - Bikepacking Route One - Huan-Dao Bicycle Touring - 環島1號線
Join me on this 1000km bicycle tour around Taiwan on the Haun-Dao (環島). I took the counterclockwise route down the west coast, over the mountainous Shouka climb, and north through the East Rift Valley. Stops at the Mr. Brown scenic area and Taroko Gorge made for an unforgettable trip.
Bike Rental:
mathewbike.com
Mathew and May went out of their way to secure me a bike. Typically you need 2-4 weeks advance reservation. They found me one in about 7 days. Luckily I had no firm departure date. If you are picky about gear then consider bringing your own bike. All the rental bike companies in Taiwan use basic aluminum frames which are adequate for light loads; like a tent, sleeping bag, and clothes.
Season:
Based on the information I read on Paul & Anja's website (link below) I decided on late October and early November. I experienced only two days of rain, but sunburn became a problem. There were rainy forecasts for solid weeks on the east coast before leaving Taipei. This is how I decided on the counterclockwise route. The west coast forecast was dry as a bone. The best antidote for bad weather is more time and a flexible departure schedule.
Distances:
You will hear me say at the end “the tour totaled right near 1000km”. My distance counter got wet on the last leg of the trip and stopped working. I have a picture of it at 985km before it reset itself. That last leg was over 60km so the total was well over 1000km. However the counter started at 85km from cycling around Taipei at the beginning. A trip to Tamsui and Bitan were good warm-ups before the tour. Getting over jet lag is a concern depending where you are from. So, plan for 60-100 km per day over 9 cycling days and you will make the trip on schedule if you follow the downloadable guide below. There are several tangent paths off route one that you can take, including the southernmost point of the island, Kenting, and Taroko Gorge. Whatever you do, don’t skip Taroko.
Other notes:
If you think about deleting the entire west coast from your itinerary, I won’t blame you. Consider the eastern regions between Taipei, Taitung, and Kaohsiung. If you are into hiking, Taroko gorge and the surrounding areas offer several days of activities.
Most cyclist stay at hotels every night on this tour, so camping equipment is not totally necessary. In late October and early November there were always hotel vacancies. The hotel strategy also gets you close to all the exciting food options throughout the country. This is not to be missed! That said, I like to camp when the opportunity arises. The light equipment demands make Taiwan a dream for the road cyclist. Roads are smooth and maintained at a high level. An experienced rider could make the entire journey with a change of clothes and a credit card.
Special thanks:
Tips from Paul & Anja. See the extensive cycling record of this Dutch couple:
Dee Goo Cafe, Tainan:
John Saboe for the excellent general guide to Taipei:
China Unscripted Taiwan. This podcast discusses the delicate position of Taiwan:
Maps:
Cycling Around Taiwan Guide:
I followed this guide most of the way. It was accurate and helpful. There are several tangent routes.
My architectural photography work:
unitedspace.co
Music credits:
Wayne Jones - “A Quiet Thought”
Kevin Macleod - “If I had a Chicken”
Doug Maxwell - “Lao Tzu Ecru”
Thanks for watching!
Bicycling Along the East Coast of Taiwan
3 days From Hualien (花蓮) to Hengchun (恆春), Kending
Once of the most amazing cycling rides I have done with many beautiful views.
Blog description:
????{Trip} HUALIEN EAST COAST the BEST OF TAIWAN! (花蓮東海岸三日遊 )
On this trip, we went to the East Coast of Taiwan and saw a lot of ocean. :)
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WHO ARE WE?
Thanks for asking. We are a small publishing company (Vision) based in Taipei. We produce an English magazine (Travel in Taiwan) introducing you to Taiwan as a travel destination. Read it! Lot of useful information. We also have a website with lots of articles about Taiwan. Visit it! We try to make a video or two every week.
Let us know what you think about this channel and what you would like to see about Taiwan. All the best to you!
Music: The Coconut Monkeyrocket & Martinibomb Split! (
Niushan 牛山
Qingshui Cliff 清水斷崖
Qixingtan 七星潭
Sanzhan River 三棧溪
Shitiping 石梯坪
Yuedong (Moon Cave) 月洞
Qixingtan Star Sea Bed & Breakfast (七星潭星海民宿)
Add: 12, Lane 79, Qixing St., Dahan Village, Xincheng Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣新城鄉大漢村七星街79巷12號)
Tel: 0932-307-912
Website: 7starocean.com
Go to Sea Café Homestay (來去海邊咖啡民宿)
Add: 1-2 Yongfeng Rd., Fengbin Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉豐濱村永豐路1-2號); near the 48km marker on Prov. Hwy 11
Tel: (03) 879-1898
Website: goto-sea.com.tw/ (Chinese)
Sawalian (莎娃綠岸)
Add: 2-1, Ward 4, Gangkou Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉港口村4鄰2-1號)
Tel: (03) 842-1224 / 0920-330-842
Website: makutaay.com/page4.php (Chinese)
Kavalan Cuisine Restaurant (噶瑪蘭風味餐廳)
Add: 42 Xinshe Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉新社村42號)
Tel: (03) 871-1339
Hailang Café (海浪 Café)
Add: 73-1 Lide, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉立德73-1號); near the 58km marker on Prov. Hwy 11
Tel: 0912-935-208
Website: facebook.com/tapalik
Lily Studio (百合工作室)
Add: 15 Guangfeng Rd., Fengbin Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉豐濱村光豐路15號)
Tel: (03) 879-1591
Paterongan (Xinshe) Banana Fiber Workshop (新社香蕉絲工坊)
Add: 42, Ward 2, Xiaohu, Xinshe Village, Fengbin Township, Hualien County (花蓮縣豐濱鄉新社村小湖2鄰42); near 43km marker of Prov. Hwy 11
Tel: (03) 871-1361
Website: pataronang.com (Chinese)
Travel in Taiwan (2015, 7/8)
By Rick Charette
Qixingtan is a landscaped area immediately north of Hualien City. The name means “Seven Star Lake,” but this is in fact a lovely arcing bay of crystalline blue-green Pacific waters, invariably made even more photo-friendly by local fishermen busy on their craft close inshore. The bay’s north end is the north terminus of a breezy seaside bike path stretching 21km to Nanbin Park on Hualien City’s south side. There are bike-rental stations near the bay’s north and south ends. Among the many other facilities are the Stone Sculpture Park, Star Watching Plaza, Sunrise Building (Qixingtan’s sunrises are renowned), children’s playground, and seaside botanical garden. At bikeway-side are signboards explaining the seaside ecology, many with English. Another key draw is the terrific camera-perfect view of distant Qingshui Cliff.
Shitiping. The name means “stone steps.” The dramatically terraced volcanic rock and raised-coral formations here form what looks like a staircase rising out to sea. The sea’s great erosive powers are in visually inspiring evidence here – all about are kettle holes and surging tide pools. The teeming marine life draws fishermen, shellfish collectors, and scuba divers. The distinctive ecology also features such oceanside-adapted plants as screw pine, cactus, and morning glory. There isn’t much shade, so bring water; there’s also ice cream, popsicles, and other cooling goodies available at the visitor center.
Starchasers (as in “movie stars”) will be especially thrilled to learn about the existence of Niushan, where legendary director Martin Scorcese, Irish actor Liam Neeson, and other big names recently did shooting for the movie Silence, scheduled for release in 2016. What you’ll find at the end of a steep, narrow, long-grass-brushed road that leads off the here inland-and-upland coastal highway is a long and dramatically fetching arc beach bracketed by mountains that drop into the sea. The only buildings here are right behind the isolated beach – those of the Niushan Huting, a combination restaurant/café/bar/homestay/campground complex (rainbowiscoming.com/huting; Chinese), owned by members of the Amis tribe, Taiwan’s largest, and beside these a couple of tourist-draw thatch-roof structures from the faux village built for Silence (the rest were being torn down the day we visited). “Niushan” means “cow mountain”; to find the side-road entrance, look for the highway-side “Niushan Huting” sign on a totem pole capped with a steer-head sculpture (26.6km mark).
#Taiwan #Hualien