Enjoying breathtaking views near Hualien

Taiwan’s west coast is all about cities, the east is all about nature !

Taiwan’s west coast is mostly made of plains and hosts about all of the island’s economy. Cities, factories, agriculture are all highly concentrated on that side of the island. The east coast on the other hand is, by contrast, mostly wild, hosting an impressive nature made of high mountains falling straight into the sea. These mountains are so high that for a while, when Taiwan was part of the Japanese empire, the Jade mountain (Yu Shan) and its 3952m were the highest mountain in Japan. Since 1945 this honour went back to Mount Fuji.

On the east coast lie two main cities, Hualien and Taidong. Both are popular destinations for tourists and nature-lovers. The first one is easy to reach from Taipei, by train or by car, and is conveniently located near the fantastic Taroko gorges. But just before entering them, a short stop on a parking lot north of the main entrance of the gorges will give you these views…