RAIL TRAVEL HUALIEN
Sunward Plaza
Less than 300 meters from the restaurant is Hualien Cultural Creative Industries Park, at the intersection of Zhonghua and Zhongzheng roads, on the site of what was originally a winery complex. The buildings date from Japan’s 1895-1945 occupation of Taiwan and ooze character. They’re now used by artists and entrepreneurs, and among them you’re sure to find an engaging exhibition or appealing souvenir shop. When it’s time to leave the city, buy a railway ticket for the town of Shoufeng, the fourth stop south of Hualien City. This jaunt, which takes 14 to 26 minutes, never costs more than NT$39. Near the railway station, it’s possible to rent both conventional bicycles and electric scooters from a no-name establishment (look for the sign bearing the phone number 03-822-0797). Alternatively, use an oBike (www.o.bike ). These robust-looking bicycles – easy to recognize, thanks to their orange wheel rims – are now appearing all over Taiwan. To rent one, you need to first download the oBike app (English version available for iOS and Android), register, and pay a refundable deposit by credit card. This allows you then to search for available bikes near you by looking at the app map.
Hualien Cultural Creative Industries Park
mountain waterway, the Baibao River, where you can spot rarelyseen bird species and a great many butterflies. But this watercourse is more than an eco-tourism attraction. It’s a testbed for rivermanagement techniques that achieve human goals, such as holding back sediment without disrupting fragile ecosystems. The low, fish-friendly weirs in place here are strikingly different from the concrete barriers which punctuate many of Taiwan’s waterways. The river can be reached less than 7km from Shoufeng Railway Station. Head north toward one of the area’s most popular tourist attractions, Liyu Lake, on Provincial Highway 9C and look for the bilingual signage. A good part of the ride is uphill; bring your swimsuit and a towel, as you’ll likely want to cool off in the refreshing waters. East from Shoufeng’s train station, less than half the distance in comparison to the Baibao River, and flat all the way, is Fengzhigu Wetland Park. Note that some area road signs call the park “Productive Valley Nature Park.” There are various DIY activities you can join – papermaking is one, handkerchief dyeing another – but you may prefer to bring a picnic lunch, find a quiet spot, and watch the resident water birds instead.
A River for the Ages Once you’ve got wheels, you’re ready to explore. In this writer’s opinion, Shoufeng Township’s No. 1 attraction is a gorgeous
Ice Cream and Sugar Back in Shoufeng town, you deserve a treat after all that cycling. At Fengchun Ice Cream Store, near the railway station, choose from among several flavors of handmade ice cream, including sugarcane juice, created using antique equipment that seems half a century old.
Hualien Cultural Creative Industries Park ( 花蓮文化創意產業園區 ) Add: No. 144, Zhonghua Rd., Hualien City ( 花蓮市中華路 144 號 ) Tel: (03) 831-3777
Fengchun Ice Cream Store ( 豐春冰菓店 ) Add: No. 79, Sec. 1, Shoufeng Rd., Shoufeng Township, Hualien County ( 花蓮縣壽豐鄉壽豐路一段 79 號 ) Tel: (03) 865-1530
Yi Xiang Bian Dumplings
Fengzhigu Wetland Park