ATTRATIONS
周邊景點
Pine Garden
Pine Garden, formerly known as the “Military Department” office in Hualien Harbor, was built in the late World War II and opened on April 1, 1942. It is connected with the neighboring “Broadcasting Bureau” (established on May 1, 1944, now Hualien Station of China Broadcasting Company), “Coastal Radio” (Long-distance Telecommunications Administration, now Chunghwa Telecom), and waterworks (Meilun Water Purification Field of the Taiwan Water Company). With a direct view of the mouth of Meilun River on the North Coast Beach, it possesses the advantage of a natural commanding height, overlooking the Meilun River inlet, Hualien Port, and the Pacific Ocean. It can easily control the ships entering and leaving the sea to the south and the takeoff and landing of aircraft at the South Airport, becoming an important military command center of the Japanese army in Hualien during the war.
During the Japanese occupation, this area was used as a relaxation resort for high-ranking military officers, and it is rumored that Japanese kamikaze troops will also receive “Gozen sake” from the emperor when they go on expeditions, adding a lot of imagination. After the end of the war, the place was taken over by the Nationalist army, managed by the army headquarters in 1947. It was once the leisure and vacation center for officers of the US Army Advisory Group. After the severance of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the place was transferred to the State-owned Property Bureau in 1977, and the next year it was handed over to the management of the Executive Yuan, Veteran Administration, which retains its management to this day.
Pine Garden’s large pine forest, propped up like a green umbrella, has emitted a romantic atmosphere with the azure coast and tranquil sky for a hundred years. In addition to pines, Pine Garden also has many native plants, such as blood trees, ferns, miscanthus, ficus and so on. Of those, the entanglement phenomenon of Ficus is the most special, and Ficus banyan roots of various sizes penetrate cement walls to reach into buildings and continue going in to spread. The aquatic plant pool in the backyard is even more interesting. The intertwining of natural ecology and historical space has made Pine Garden a very special place of unique aesthetics. (Data source: Pine Garden official website)
Keishun-in
The former name of Keishuin is “Shingon Soyoshino Bu Kyobu Kyosho”, and the main gods Koho Master Kukai, Fudo Myeongwang and Bishamon Tenno, and a stone stele of “Bright Mantra A Million Times” about 2 meters high is erected in the temple, and 88 statues of gods from Shikoku, Japan. The mission institute was built in 1917 (Taisho 6), during the Japanese occupation era, the Japanese government selected a relatively less developed area in Taiwan, such as Hualien, to solve the problems of rural overpopulation, arable land, and food shortage, and established Yoshino Village (Yoshino Migrant Village) in today’s Ji’an Township. For Japanese immigrants living in poverty, Yoshinobu Shrine was one of the religious centers of local Japanese immigrants at that time.
In 1945, the Nationalist government came to Taiwan, and the Japanese were repatriated to their hometowns according to law, and the Yoshino Cloth Institute of the Shingon Sect was renamed Qingxiuyuan, which is still used today. and the main gods worshiped in the courtyard were changed to Shakyamuni Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva to meet the desire of the Taiwanese people. The architecture and furnishings in the courtyard have retained their heritage, such as the statue of King Fudo, Baidu stone, 88 Guanzi Buddha, Guangming Mantra Stone Stele, Hand Water House, small bridge, pond, swimming fish, flowers, plants, and trees have all retained their Japanese garden style.
Often fallen into disrepair over the years, it was repaired in 1964 and 1972, but its condition was still less than satisfactory. In 1997, it was classified as a Class III historical monument of the county, and restoration of the monument ensued. In August 2003, the Hualien County government carefully completed the overall restoration and restored the historical, cultural, and religious 88 Buddha statues to their original appearance, preserving a historical heritage of great tourist and cultural value for Hualien Ji’an. Keishu-in is the only Japanese Buddhist temple in Eastern Taiwan, and it is also the only national monument of above-ground buildings in Hualien County. It is one of the must-see attractions for Japanese tourists visiting Hualien. (Data source: Wikipedia)
National Dong Hwa University
Donghua University is located in Shoufeng Township, Hualien County, and has recently merged with Hualien Education University. Therefore, it has an additional campus in Meilun. If Tunghai University has an ancient oriental charm, then Donghua University has the European style and elegance. The European architecture and the vast campus constitute a watercolor painting located in the Huadong Longitudinal Valley. When people set foot in the university, they feel like they have come to Little Europe. The campus has a complete, diverse ecology, and in the early years, it was common for hares to gallop around the campus. Even today, if you watch out, there will still be small animals around from time to time! Donghua is almost always on the list of the most beautiful campuses in Taiwan. The artificial East Lake and the natural hidden Hua Lake are like reflective pools for the elegant architecture on the campus. The lakes, the mountains, the unique blue sky and white clouds of Hualien, and the central mountain range in the distance intertwine into a most natural and beautiful picture. (Data source: National Dong Hwa University)
Shin Kong Mega Leisure Farm
Shin Kong Mega Leisure Farm was originally situated on reclaimed land in a river, and when the company acquired this land in 1974, much of it was nothing but gravel and boulders. The company had overcome unthinkable difficulties in the process of making the land more hospitable to the cultivation of crops.
At that time, in order to have enough soil for growing crops, siltation was carried out during the rainy season, and the river water was directed into more than 8,000 hillocks, accumulating the thickness of the topsoil bit by bit. After the soil reaches a certain thickness, the hillocks are then flattened into large areas of cultivated land. This painstaking process alone took more than 20 years.
During that time, the area was hit by many severe typhoons, leading the river to overflow its banks and embankment, washing away our hard-earned topland and returning our farm to its initial state of gravel. Our crops were badly damaged as well, but the farm staff was not discouraged. They picked themselves up and did what needed to be done to restore the farm. Presently, the farm is covered in lush grass and decorated by vibrant flowers. All this is the result of the hard work of the staff at the farm. (Data source: Shin Kong Mega Leisure Farm)
Qixingtan Scenic Area
Qixingtan is the only county-level scenic area in Hualien County. The name may conjure up a star-shaped lake terrain, but when you first arrive at Qixingtan, you will definitely be confused by the crescent-shaped bay. Also known as the Crescent Bay of Qixingtan, it is a blue gravel bay, the end of which pushes against the towering central mountain range. The panoramic view of the mountains and the sea in one spot has mesmerized many visitors.
Located on the shore of a northeast corner of Xincheng Township, Qixingtan features a fascinating curving bay. The sea is clean and blue, and the gravel in the waves is clearly visible. Originally the place was just a quiet small fishing village, but its unique natural environment, simple scenic trails, seaside pavilions, sun and moon pavilion, star-watching plazas, and other facilities have made it a desirable destination where tourists can enjoy the blue sea and blue sky. The beach without light at night is the best spot for stargazing, moon watching, or simply listening to the singing of gravel and waves. (Data source: Qixingtan Scenic Area)
Farglory Ocean Park
Hualien, known as Taiwan’s Back Mountain, is a magnificent treasure with a world-class landscape. In order to allow more people in the world to enjoy these beautiful mountains and water, a top international leisure destination was built which called Hualien Farglory Ocean Park. It has embodied the themes that center on the ocean. It integrates intellectual and emotional characteristics such as leisure, entertainment, health preservation, education, environmental protection, and culture. It is expected to take Hualien as a starting point to lift up the overall quality of leisure activities in Taiwan, take people’s conservation and health preservation to new milestones, and leave an unspoiled spot in Taiwan. (Data source: Farglory Ocean Park)
Carp Lake
Located in Hualien Shoufeng, Carp Lake is the largest inland lake in the Hualien area, with a particularly charming lake and mountains, and it is a quiet sanctuary known to locals and tourists alike. Located at the northernmost point of Huadong Longitudinal Valley National Scenic Area, it is a dammed lake formed by the tributaries of Papaya Creek and Hualien Stream, and is famous because of the carp-shape mountains on its side. A local saying goes, “There are carps on the Carp Mountain, and there are carps swimming in the water,” which is an apt portrayal of the scenery.
The water of the lake comes from the underground spring, which is clear all year round, on which water activities abound, like pedaling on the lake, swimming, or holding the dragon boats competition. From time to time, there are splendid performances on stage by the lake. In addition, every year during the firefly season in April, speckles of sparkling light can be seen on the bank of the lake. By the lake, there are water parks, camping areas, bicycle and people trails for the enjoyment of tourists. So take your family or lover to stroll here for a beautiful life. (Data source: Carp Lake)
Golden Triangle Business District
The Golden Triangle business district, encircled by Zhongshan Road, Zhongzheng Road, and Zhonghua Road, is the most lively and prosperous area of central Hualien, and is the result of combining the surrounding “Gouzaiwei”, “Yixin Street”, “Guangfu Street”, “Dayu Street” and “Old Railway Commercial District”. It is one of the most important shopping places for residents in the eastern region. After enjoying the abundant natural beauty of Hualien during the day, the “Hualien Golden Triangle Business District” is perfect as a venue for evening activities.
In the “Hualien Golden Triangle Business District”, there are many businesses, not only well-known chain fast food restaurants, beverage shops, and coffee shops, but also business bases here; Located next to Heping Road and Linsen Road, there are also large merchandiser such as “Far Eastern Department Store” and “Carrefour Supermarket.” In terms of leisure and entertainment, in the ‘Three Middle Lots’ (Zhongshan Road, Zhongzheng Road, Zhonghua Road) and Railroad Station, there are a variety of fashionable clothing, goods, cinemas, amusement and recreational facilities, baseball and softball fields, and bowling alleys, etc.
Every city has an area that attracts local people or tourists as an evening spot, and the most lively area of Hualien City is the “Hualien Golden Triangle Business District” on Zhongzheng Road, Zhonghua Road, and Zhongshan Road. When you come back to Hualien, don’t forget to plan some evening activities at the diverse “Hualien Golden Triangle Business District”. As you shop there, you can further learn about the local customs and people of Hualien. (Source of images and text: Sifangtongxing)
a-zone Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park
Hualien Cultural and Creative Park, which was renovated from Hualien’s old distillery, is one of the five major cultural and creative industries parks promoted by the Ministry of Culture in Taiwan. Located in the heart of central Hualien, the park sits on a vast piece of land, and buildings of the former distillery still dot the park, but, after the transforming renovation, the campus now is a fragrant field for brewing creative culture. The park’s unpretentious looks preserve much of the former distillery’s character. It is a nice spot for tourists to take photos, visit, and walk around.
All kinds of plants in the park have been transformed into spaces for art, inserting culture into the shells of old factory buildings. The exhibition halls, small theaters, warehouses, and offices all appear old and new as well as old and young at the same time. This park is also the venue where many important art and cultural activities in Hualien are held. Interested tourists may wish to take a look; maybe there are unexpected surprise exhibitions to greet you! (Source of images and text: Hualien Tourism Information Network)
Hualien Far Eastern Department Store
The Hualien Far Eastern Department Store building features a glass exterior with a local wood grain grille. With a stone square in the lobby and a 47-meter-high aboriginal totem tower and an image of sails of a large ship standing at the main entrance, the Far Eastern Department Store is a landmark building of Hualien City, giving visitors a feeling of international modernity with a touch of indigenous simplicity, which also encompasses new additions in the atrium of the store, such as the original artistic carvings on the glass curtain and the large original totem cylinder. (Data source: Hualien Far Eastern Department Store website)
