Airport MRT + Taiwan Railway (TRA) train
From Taoyuan Airport (TPE), take the Airport MRT express to Taipei Main Station and change to a TRA train to Hualien in the same station. This is the usual way to reach Hualien.
Hualien Travel Guide
Taiwan's largest county, on the east coast between the Central Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean. It is the base for the marble canyons of Taroko National Park, Qingshui Cliff, Qixingtan Beach and Liyu Lake. Taroko was badly damaged by the 2024 earthquake and some sections are still closed, so always check the national park's official information before you go.
Plan your Hualien trip
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✈ We couldn't find Incheon fares to Hualien Airport (HUN), so prices are shown for Taoyuan Airport. Take the Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, then a Taiwan Railway (TRA) train to Hualien, which takes about 2-3 hours depending on the train type. Seats sell out fast on weekends and holidays, so book early on the official TRA website or app, and check official information for timetables and fares.
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At a glance
- Currency
- TWD (NT$)
- Power & plugs
- 110V · Type A/B
- Driving side
- Right
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Local language
- 中文(繁體)
- How long to stay
- 3 to 4 days
Emergency numbers
- Police110
- Ambulance119
- Fire119
- Tourist hotline0800-011-765
When to go
Late autumn to spring usually has more stable weather. Summer to autumn is typhoon season, when heavy rain, landslides and rockfall can close roads and trails at short notice. Check the Central Weather Administration forecast before you travel.
Airport to the city
Booking TRA trains
Reserved seats on the Taipei-Hualien route sell out quickly on weekends and holidays. Bookings open 28 days before departure on the official TRA website and app, so book as soon as your plans are set.
From Hualien Station to town
Buses and taxis wait outside Hualien Station. The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 310 toward Taroko also leaves from the bus station in front of it.
Getting around
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 310 (Taroko Route)
Runs from Hualien Bus Station (in front of Hualien Station) via Qixingtan and Xincheng Old Street to the Taroko Visitor Center. A one-way adult fare is about 154 TWD and a one-day pass about 250 TWD. Bus service deeper into the gorge has changed since the earthquake, so check official information.
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 303 (toward Liyu Lake)
A tourist bus route links Hualien Station with the Liyu Lake area. Check official information for timetables.
EasyCard / iPASS
Works on TRA trains, buses and at convenience stores. For long trips like Taipei-Hualien, a reserved seat is the safer choice.
Taxi or private car
Handy for covering the coast and gorge in a day where buses are infrequent. Agree on the fare in advance and plan around Taroko's road-control times.
Cycling
A bike path of about 21 km runs from Hualien city past the harbor to Qixingtan — a breezy seaside ride.
Where to stay
Around Hualien Station
Good for: Train and bus connections
Trains from Taipei and tourist shuttles meet here, so it is easy for short stays. The town center is a little further away.
Downtown (Dongdamen Night Market area)
Good for: Night market, food, first visits
The center of town, close to Dongdamen Night Market, the Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park and Pine Garden. Easy for evening walks.
Qixingtan and Xincheng
Good for: Sea views, access to Taroko
Between the beach and the Taroko entrance — a quiet seaside base. Public transport is limited.
Liyu Lake area
Good for: Lakeside, slow days
A lakeside area south of town for walks and water activities. You'll need a bus or car to reach town.
Map of stays in Hualien
Compare prices from many booking sites on the map
Search stays in Hualien in the appMap & prices: Stay22 — you book on each site
Top sights
Taroko National Park
Famous for its marble gorge, but badly damaged by the April 3, 2024 earthquake and later typhoons. The visitor center, Taroko Terrace and some recreation areas and trails reopened in stages in 2025-2026, while the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto and Baiyang Trail were reported closed as of March 2026. Some sections are closed — check the national park's official information before visiting.
Taroko National Park · Photo: Jason Zhang / CC0 Taroko Visitor Center
The park's information center near the gorge entrance — the best place to check which sections are open and current road controls. It is the last stop of Tourist Shuttle 310.
Qingshui Cliff
Near-vertical cliffs drop into the Pacific for over 20 km — one of the iconic views of Taiwan's east coast. Access to viewpoints can change after earthquakes, so check the national park's official information.
Qixingtan Beach
A crescent-shaped bay of dark pebbles with clear water and cliff views in the distance. Waves can be strong, so stay out of the water and follow on-site signs.
Qixingtan Beach · Photo: Artemas Liu / CC BY-SA 2.0 Dongdamen Night Market
A big night market in central Hualien with hundreds of stalls across several sections, including an indigenous food street. Great for dinner.
Pine Garden
A 1943 building from the Japanese colonial era on high ground, with views over the city and the Pacific. Check official information for hours, closing days and fees.
Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park
A former winery turned arts space with exhibitions, performances and handicraft markets. Closed on Mondays; check official information for hours.
Liyu Lake
Hualien County's largest inland lake, with a loop path of about 4 km that takes about an hour on foot. Kayaking and SUP are also offered.
What to eat
Bianshi (Hualien-style wontons)
Thin-skinned pork wontons in a light, clear broth — a Hualien classic.
Mochi
Chewy glutinous rice cakes filled with peanut or red bean — a popular Hualien souvenir.
Bomb scallion pancake
A crispy fried scallion pancake with a runny egg inside that oozes out when cut. Common at night markets.
Peeled chili peppers
Peeled and pickled chilies, crunchy and mildly sweet-spicy, often cooked into chicken soup.
Indigenous cuisine
Dishes using ingredients from the mountains and sea, easy to try on the night market's indigenous food street.
Daily budget (per person)
Budgetabout 1,500-2,000 TWD per day: guesthouse, night market, tourist buses
Mid-rangeabout 3,500-5,000 TWD per day: city hotel, restaurant meals, some taxis
Comfortabout 8,000 TWD+ per day: resort-style stay, private car
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Sample itinerary
- Day 1
Taoyuan Airport, Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station, TRA train to Hualien, check in, then dinner at Dongdamen Night Market.
- Day 2
Tourist Shuttle 310 to the Taroko Visitor Center, visit only the sections open that day (check official notices and road-control times), then the sea views at Qixingtan Beach.
- Day 3
Morning walk around Liyu Lake, Pine Garden and the Cultural and Creative Industries Park in the afternoon, then bianshi and night market snacks.
- Day 4
Mochi and other souvenirs, your booked train to Taipei, then the Airport MRT to Taoyuan Airport with plenty of time.
Local tips
- Parts of Taroko remain closed since the 2024 earthquake. Even open areas can change with weather and repair work, so check the national park's official website the day before and the morning of your visit.
- Provincial Highway 8 (Central Cross-Island Highway) through Taroko has timed traffic windows and night closures. Check Highway Bureau notices and plan around them.
- Gorge areas carry rockfall risk; the park requires helmets on some trails and lends them free at the visitor center and other stations. Avoid gorge trails for about a week after heavy rain or an earthquake.
- Hualien has frequent earthquakes. If you feel shaking, protect your head, and on mountain roads or trails move away to a safe spot.
- Typhoon season (summer to autumn) can suddenly stop trains, roads and sights. Keep your schedule flexible and check the Central Weather Administration forecast often.
- Taipei-Hualien trains sell out on weekends and holidays. Book early on the official TRA website or app.
- Entry requirements and procedures can change, so check Taiwan government or embassy information before you travel.
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