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Hualien County
Tropic of Cancer monument
Traditional Chinese	花蓮縣
Transliterations Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Hūalián Xiàn - Tongyong Pinyin Hualián Siàn - Wade–Giles Hua-lien Hsien Min - Hokkien POJ Hoa-liân-kōan

Hualien County 花蓮縣 Abbreviation(s): Hualien (花蓮)
County seat	Hualien City
Region	Eastern Taiwan
County Magistrate	Hsieh Shen-shan (謝深山)
Cities	1
Townships	12
Area
- Total	4,628.57141 km² (1 of 25)
- % water	1.0 %
Population
- Total	341,504 (Jan. 2009) (20 of 25)
- Density	73.78/km²
Symbols
- County flower	Lotus (Nymphaeaceae)
- County tree	Peepul (Ficus religiosa)
- County bird	Maroon Oriole (Oriolus traillii)
Official websites	(Chinese)

Hualien County is the largest county in Taiwan and is located on the mountainous eastern coast of Taiwan. It contains the island's largest port. It is the starting point of the Hualien-Taitung Line and the terminal point of North-Link Line of TRA. For the Provincial highway System, Hualien has the connection of Suao-Hualien Highway, Hualien-Taitung Highway, Hualien-Taitung Coast Highway and the Central Cross-Island Highway. Hualien County also contains part of Taroko National Park and Yu Shan National Park.

Its capital is Hualien City.

History

Hualien was originally called Kilai(奇萊) by aborigines. In 1622, the Spaniard first arrived to mine for sand gold and called "Turumoan"(多羅滿).

Hualien was one of the last places on Taiwan to be settled by the Han Chinese during Qing Dynasty in 1851 because of its isolated location. The former name of Hualien was "Huilan"(洄瀾 "eddies") in official record during Qing Dynasty because the river in Hualien flows into the Pacific Ocean, creating a whirling effect.

During the period of Japanese Occupation of Taiwan, the Japanese discarded the name "Kilai" as its Japanese pronunciation sounded like "disgusting", changing the official title to "Hualien". Before the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II in 1945, the Governor-General of Taiwan migrated a large number of Japanese here for the improvement of agriculture and farming.

After the Taiwan Retrocession, the government of Republic of China reinstituted the political system followed by the Constitution of the Republic of China. In 1951, Hualien was the first county in Taiwan to carry out the local autonomy law.

It was mostly modernized in the 1960s. For now, Hualien is the most important region in eastern Taiwan as well as the one of five main life circle regions in Taiwan. (Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung)

A great white shark was caught off Hualien County on May 14, 1997. Reportedly almost 7 meters in length and weighing 2500 kg, it is the largest specimen ever recorded.

Population

Hualien County has 340,000 inhabitants and is divided into 1 city and 12 townships. Its late development means that many aboriginal cultures such as Ami, Atayal, Bunun, Truku, Sakizaya and Kavalan are well-preserved. Aborigines make up one-forth of the population of Hualien County (about 90,000). The Hakka people comprise about 30% of inhabitants.

Administration

Some towns have Japanese names because these towns were named by Japanese during the Japanese ruling period from 1895 to 1945.

Transportation

• Hualien Airport
• Taiwan Railway Administration - North-Link Line and Hualien-Taitung Line
• Provincial Highway No.8 (Central Cross-Island Highway)
• Provincial Highway No. 9 (Suao-Hualien and Hualien-Taitung Highway)
• Provincial Highway No. 11 (Hualien-Tung Coast Highway)
• Provincial Highway No. 14
• Provincial Highway No. 16
• Provincial Highway No. 23 (Fuli-Tungli Highway)
• Provincial Highway No. 30 (Yuli-Chengbin Highway)
• County Road No.193
• Hualien Port
• Heping Cement Port

Education

According to the Department of Education of Hualien County Government, Hualien County has 6 universities (or colleges), 15 high schools, 35 junior high schools and 151 elementary schools. Some elementary schools have been closed for years due to low enrolments or their location in remote districts.

External links

• Hualien County Government Website (Chinese) (English)
• East Coast National Scenic Area
• Taroko National Park

Administrative divisions of the Republic of China (Otherwise known as Taiwan). Central municipalities Taipei City · Kaohsiung City Taiwan Province Counties Changhua · Chiayi · Hsinchu · Hualien · Kaohsiung · Miaoli · Nantou · Penghu (Pescadores) · Pingtung · Taichung · Tainan · Taipei · Taitung · Taoyuan · Yilan · Yunlin Cities Chiayi · Hsinchu · Keelung · Taichung · Tainan Fujian Province Counties Kinmen · Lienchiang (Matsu Islands) Note: On December 25, 2010 the pink highlighted administrative divisions are scheduled in restructuring or merger into Central municipalities status. See the various entries.

Cities and townships of Hualien County County seat: Hualien City Cities Hualien City Urban townships Fenglin · Yuli Rural townships Fengbin · Fuli · Guangfu · Ji'an · Ruisui · Shoufeng · Xincheng · Xiulin · Wanrong · Zhuoxi

From Wikitravel

Hualien (花蓮; Hūalián) [1] is a city in Taiwan situated near the spectacular Taroko Gorge.

Understand

Located on a strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Mountain Range, Hualien is considered one of the most pleasant cities in Taiwan. Many tourists visit the city to enjoy the scenery and fresh air and also to tour the famous Taroko Gorge, which is located a few miles north of the city.

The Visitor Information Center for the Hualien area is located in front of Hualien Station (right side). Tel: 886-3-8360634, it is hosted by Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism College, that has been authorized, by the Hualien County Government since December 2004, to operated and manage the Visitor Information Center (VIC) at Haulien Airport as well as the Hualien Railway Station. These two centers provide general services such as tourism guide and tour bus information, home-stay information, bi-lingual traveling brochure, travel inquiry, emergency handling and so on.

• There are frequent trains from Taipei, and depending on the type of train, the journey can take between three and a half to four and a half hours. The train follows the coast for part of the journey, and the left side of the train offers the best views.

• Domestic airlines connect Hualien with all of Taiwan's major cities. It a thirty minute flight to Hualien from Taipei's Sungshan Airport.
• There are currently (Dec. 2009) also irregular (charter) flights to Yonaguni Island and Ishigaki Island in Okinawa (Japan), possibly the only international service from this city, and a regular service to Ishigaki Island is being planned.

• The city center is small and easy to negotiate on foot, although scooters are available for rent several places around town for about NT$400 a day.
• Hualien is a small city without an extensive public transport system, and so it is worth considering taking taxis to areas outside the city center. NB: Hualien station is at least a thirty minute walk from the center of town.

• Beibin Seashore Park, Nanbin Seashore Park and Meilun Seashore Park. A scenic area of palm trees and landscaped greenery that runs the full length of the city's foreshore. The views over the Pacific Ocean are especially spectacular at sunrise.
• The Abode of Still Thoughts. This small Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount North Jialiwan is the original facility of the world-famous Tzu-zhi Buddhist foundation. In keeping with the foundation's ideals, the temple is very simple, and incorporates a Japanese style garden. Information on Tzu-chi's international activities is also available at the temple.
• Yenpin Prefectural Temple, near Zhongyang Road, sec 4. Established in the Qing Dynasty, this is the oldest temple in Hualien.
• Pine Garden, Zhongmei Road (near the river). A peaceful garden with 63 pine trees.
• Chishingtan (七星灘), north of Hualien City (follow the bike path from Nanbin Seashore Park). Excellent vistas of the ocean, delicious seafood, friendly people, and a special goat restaurant specializing in goat milk coffee. The beach isn't popular for swimming, though, as the tides and currents are quite dangerous, the bottom drops off steeply, and doesn't have much sand (mostly pebbles). It is important to stay near the coast.
• Hualien County Stone Sculpture Museum[2] at the Hualien County Cultural Center displays both traditional and contemporary stone sculptures. Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission fee: NT$20.

• Seawhale Ocean Tours English Website. Seawhale Ocean Tours is located at #96 Shi Ti Harbor, in the most pristine past of Taiwan about an hour south of Hualien on Highway 11. Our area is breaming with high adventure activity. We are the founder's of Whale and Dolphin Eco-Tours in Taiwan, and our clean azure oceans are the best for spotting these amazing creatures. Located on the mouth of the Siouguluan River basin, we also sport the best White Water River Rafting in Taiwan, from Rueisuei to Big Harbor. Or let us take you out deep sea night fishing for squid and flying fish! Would you like to get away from the big city crowds and the over-crowded tourist attractions? Come and experience a natural retreat with our American tour guide living in Taiwan 18 years and let him show you why Taiwan was once called Formosa, Beautiful Island! Check out this season's Triple X Tours on our website. We have pick up and return service to Hualien or Taitung.
• Hualien Ocean Park [3]. Hualien's biggest man-made tourist attraction. As well as ferris wheel and cable car, the park contains eight zones that introduce different aspects of ocean and marine life. Kids, in particular, will have great time here but for adventuous travellers or people wanting a more viable experience, there are many places one can go that are much cheaper and provide a better experience of the 'real' Country of Taiwan. Open: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM, Sat&Sun 8:30-5PM. Admission: adult 890NT$, under 19 790NT$

• Mandarin at Tzu-Chi University, 701 Jung-yang Road, sec. 3. Tel:856-5501 Ex.7689. (email: [4]) [5]

• Woven cloth. Hualien is a good place to pick up hand woven cloth in traditional aboriginal designs.
• Muaji (mua-ji) This candy made of sticky rice is a specialty of Hualien.
• Stone Hualien's stone market is near the old bus station on Mingyi Road, and they sell everything from jewelery to tea-pots all carved out of stone.

• Zhu tung fan (竹筒飯) - rice steamed in a bamboo tube is a specialty of the local aborigines.
• Muaji (麻薯) - glutinous rice filled (or sometimes covered) with various flavors, such as peanut, sweet red and green bean paste, sweet sesame paste, coconut or fruit.
• Wonton (餛飩) - Hualien's wontons are very famous throughout Taiwan

• LAGUARDIA, Best breakfast shop in Taiwan Hands down. Amazing Hamburgers. Try the bacon Cheese beef burger or the Cod burger. Super fresh! Across the street from the Big post office near the train station on Chung Shan Rd.

• Tosca Pasta, 95-7 Jung Mei Road: European style restaurant with european prices
• Irrawaddy Myanmar Restaurant, 11-1 Min Chuan Rd., 03-831-0077, favorite restaurant of many foreigners in Hualien. Awesome food!

Drink

Hualien has an abundance of tea houses, cafes and bars, and also many stores specializing in locally produced tea.

• Cafe Jade (璞石藝文空間), 8 Ming-li Road (花蓮市明禮路8號) Tel:+886 3 834-5968. A spacious and very pleasant art cafe offering regular live music and art exhibitions. Open:Mon-Thurs 8AM-6Pm Fri-Sun 8AM-10:30PM
• Wang Ji Tea House, 565 Jong-Shan Road (中山路565號).

• Amigos Hostel, No.68, Guolien 2nd Rd. Tel:+886 3 8360243, Email: tim_chi@ms94.url.com.tw, [6].. Offers dorms - NT$450. Very clean hostel, free wireless internet, close to train station, complimentary breakfast, and incredibly friendly and helpful staff.
• Formosa Backpackers Hostel, Place you can call home, 600 books of English library, beautiful Art Deco living room with exhibition show all year around, and room with tropical garden, friendly staff. Twenty minutes walking distance from the train station and conveniently located in the city. Even thought we still the cheapest hostel in town with best quality. NT$400 (Student NT$350). Free WIFI, Books, Tea, etc. Address 206 Jian Guo Road Hualien City. Call 0913-810828, email formosahostels@yahoo.com.
• Hualien Student Hostel, 40-11 Kungyuan Road. Tel:+886 3 832-4124. Offers dorms and twin rooms.
• Police Hostel, 15 Shuren Street (behind the main police station). Tel:886 3 834-9433~5. Officially for officers of the law, this clean and pleasant hotel is also open to the public. Twin room - NT$1,000, double bed with single bed - NT$1,300.
• Yi-Hua Daily/Monthly Apartment Accomodation for rent, located in downtown of Hualien, convenient transportation, price from NT$1000/1600 for one room. Cheap Budget for backpacker, Contact: Jackie Email: jape811@hotmail.com

• Ching Yeh Hotel, 83 Kuolien-1 Road, Tel:833-0186. Near the train station. From NT$1,300.
• Hua Tong Hotel, 165 Minkuo (Minguo) Street, Tel:+886 3 834-7568. A pleasant and centrally located hotel.
• Your majest B&B(King Hotel), No.13, Jieyue St., Tel:+886 38 322-666, Email: joe.hi@msa.hinet.net, King Hotel. Opened in January 2008, featuring quirky rooms decorated in individualistic styles. Mid-week rate from NT$1,500 do not include breakfast. Close to night market and general downtown. Deep bathtubs good for soaking sore muscles. All rooms have ethernet, but wifi is limited. Friendly, helpful staff - if you have a Mandarin speaker in the party.
• The Rosestone Inn, 48, Haibin Avenue. Tel:+886 3 854-2317, E-mail: rosestone@gmail.com, [7]. Built in the style of a traditional Chinese house with courtyard.
• Fisherman's Inn, #10 Chong Shan Rd. Sec. 1, Lane 115, Jian, Hualien, Contact: Zac Harper Tel:+886 9555-37142, Email: zacattack1313@gmail.com, English Website. Weekend and weekday prices are the same, NT$2240/2640 for two person rooms, and NT$3040 for our 4 person room.

• Bellevista Hotel, 18 Shanling, Yanliau Tsuen, Shoufeng Shiang, Tel:+886 3 812-3999 Fax:+886 3 812-3988, [8]. A sprawling resort-style hotel offering spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean.
• Parkview Hotel, 1-1 Lin-Yuan, Tel:+886 3 222-2111. One of Hualien's most luxurious hotels.

• Taroko Gorge
• RueiSuei Hot Srings and the Siouguluan River Basin - Rueisuei's pristine natural beauty is a must to experience during a trip to Hualien. Rueisuei Hot Springs originated from the upper stream of Hongye Stream. The water from Rueisuei Hot Springs is alkaline sodium carbonate, perfect for osmosis detox and cleansing, with a pH ranging between 6 and 7. The high altitude of Rueisuei Hot Springs offers a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and plains. Rueisuei Hot Springs have helped boosted tourism in Rueisuei, and Rueisuei Organic Farms, especially the dairy products, is loved by all who visit. Rueisuei is of course the most famous for its hot springs; however, there are tons other things to do as well. Soak in the Hot springs for an evening, then wake up in the morning and River Raft down the incredibly beautiful Siouguluan River basin down to Big Harbor, where you can then hop on a yaght at #96 Shi Ti Bay and head out whale and dolphin watching. The seafood in Shi Ti Harbor is the freshest in Taiwan, caught twice a day by local (mostly aborigines) fishermen and delivered fresh to your plate!

• Hehuan Mountain - About a four hour drive fron Hualien City, it is a fantastic journey through the wonders of Taroko Gorge and past, ending in a treeless, absolutely different ecosystem. Hiking available ranges from easy to hard, and can be hiked on one day or multiple days, depending on the route you choose. English literature is available but very basic. It is possible to just set out on a trail and see where it takes you. Being a (mostly) treeless environment, it is difficult to get lost, but beware of the dangers of high altitude hiking - most peaks are above 3000 meters.
• River Valleys - The might of typhoons and heavy rains have, over millions of years, carved out of the soft bedrock magnificent river valleys. If you find a river valley (Mugua RIver, for example) and follow it and hike along some tributaries, you are in for a wonderful adventure. No gift shops or 7-11's here, just the wonders of Taiwan.
• Tongmen - south of Hualien City, between Jian and Liyu Lake, lies Taroko's little brother. It is a village along the Mugua River, and boasts a 'scaled down' version of Taroko, but with scaled down geology also comes scaled down tourists and people. It is a very pleasant way to spend a day or weekend, and there are excellent swimming opportunities not available in Taroko. A lot of it is paved, or cement, so it is drivable. Stop at the entrance where there is a police guard (friendly and happy to see foreigners enter the pride of their village) show your passport and pay a fee (at this time it was about $150) no matter how big or small the group, and they wil direct you on your way. The road forks - one takes you to the Tongman hydro plant, the other takes you to a scenic and more rustic river valley where swimming and adventure await. Both are, however, well worth your time.
• Highway 11 - Rent a scooter and hit the road. The beauty of the coastline in Hualien can be enjoyed from this gorgeous stretch of highway. Although many buses and cars are also drawn here and many cite this as a cause for safety concerns, this is by most accounts false. Take care, drive responsibly, and always be careful when around traffic, but do not let anyone deter you from this drive. Pack a lunch and picnic on the coast with the turquoise ocean lapping at the coastline below. Buses and Taxis will take you along this road also. Taxis are more personalble (they will stop when yousay 'stop') but buses are much cheaper. However, both pale in comparrison to the experience of driving yourself.

• Area code: The Hualien dialing code is 03. For calls made from overseas, dial: +886 3 XXXXXXX