The first thing I did after booking for tickets to Taiwan was to research on recommended places to visit. Out of the hundred spots, Hualien caught my attention the most. These images (1) (2) convinced me that I need to see the place no matter what.
There are two options going to Hualien. First is to take a plane from Taipei. The travel time is only about an hour but it will cost thousands of NT dollars. The second one is to take a train. The travel time is 2 1/2 hours but it costs a lot cheaper (440NT or about 660 pesos) and you’ll get to see beautiful scenery along the way.



Let the trip to Hualien begin!


Upon arrival, we went to the Visitor Information Center, our meeting place with our tour driver from Merry Travel and Tours (I’ll post another blog entry on how to book for the private van tour). The private half-day tour from 11AM to 5PM cost only 1980 NT dollars (about 3,000 pesos) for the three of us. Best deal!
Half-day Taroko Gorge tour itinerary:
- Pick-up at Hualien Railway Station
- Swallow Grotto Trail
- Tianxiang (Lunch)
- Cimu Bridge
- Eternal Spring Shine
- Chishingtan Beach


Our Taroko journey starts here!

Lunch at Tianxiang
Bridges everywhere.. why don’t we try crossing a hanging bridge for a change?


Next stop is another bridge, Cimu bridge (Motherly Devotion Bridge)!

Finally saw this…



Off to our last stop, Chisingtan beach… ;____;

Time to say goodbye to our very friendly tour driver…

Goodbye Hualien!
