2025 Roaming the East Rift Valley: Love in Hualien

The East Rift Valley, nestled between the Central Mountain Range and the Coastal Mountain Range, is like a serene paradise bestowed upon eastern Taiwan. 💚
Surrounded by mountains and rippling rice fields, this expansive valley not only boasts rich natural ecology but also holds countless cultural stories and the warmth of life.

However, this year has been particularly challenging for Hualien.
From the devastating April 3rd earthquake to the recent collapse of the Mataian Creek embankment, many areas are still under reconstruction. 💔
As I embarked on another journey through this land, I deeply felt that while Hualien's beauty has been scarred, it remains gentle and resilient.

🌄 Day 1｜Taipei → Hualien: Embraced by the Mountains

🚗 Departing from Taipei early in the morning, I headed east along the Suhua Highway. The alternating mountain and sea views compelled me to slow down and breathe deeply.

🏞️ Meilun Mountain Trail

Located next to Hualien City, this small hill features an easy-to-walk trail, making it a popular spot for locals to stroll and exercise. Along the way, you can overlook the Pacific Ocean and Hualien Harbor. The gentle breeze brushing against your face instantly washes away the hustle and bustle. 🌬️

🐉 Carp Mountain Trail (Little Hundred Peaks No. 80)

The guardian mountain of Liyu Lake and a starting point for many hikers exploring the Little Hundred Peaks series! The trail is shaded with dense foliage, accompanied by the chirping of birds and insects. At the summit, the lake view mirrors the sky and surrounding mountains, leaving one breathless with its beauty. 🌿

🕊️ However, the Liyu Lake commercial area was unusually quiet during this visit. At noon, the once-bustling shopping street was entirely closed, and the emptiness was heart-wrenching.
Returning to Hualien City at night, the dim lights on Zhongzheng and Zhonghua Roads revealed many storefronts with "For Rent" signs. This is the most authentic post-disaster scene of Hualien.

🏨 Stayed overnight at 【Hualien Xiangpin Hotel】, a long-standing accommodation that remains clean and cozy, like a small haven for travelers. Dinner was spent with a college friend I hadn't seen in years. We strolled along the Beibin Seawall, reminisced about our student days, shared updates about our lives, and ended the night savoring the nostalgic Zhongyi Douhua. Indeed, friendship grows richer with time.

🌾 Day 2｜Lintian Mountain → Mizhan Ancient Trail → Luoshan Bamboo Forest

🌲 Lintian Mountain Trail

Once known as "Lintian Mountain Logging Camp," it was one of Taiwan's most intact logging settlements. Now transformed into a nostalgic cultural park, its wooden dormitories and old locomotives tell stories of the forest's past. 🚂

🪶 Mizhan Ancient Trail

A hidden ancient trail connecting Shoufeng and Fenglin in Hualien, it was once a path for residents to carry rice and goods. Today, the trail is lined with swaying bamboo and shrouded in mountain mist, making it feel like stepping into a time tunnel. ✨

🎋 Luoshan Bamboo Forest Trail

The most enchanting bamboo path in Chishang 🌿
Sunlight filters through the bamboo leaves, creating a green tunnel of light and shadow—a paradise for photography enthusiasts. You can also catch a distant view of the Luoshan Waterfall.
After the journey, I stayed at 🏨 【Chishang Gift Box】, surrounded by rice fields and mountains. The night was filled with an indescribable tranquility and happiness. 🌾

💔 Hualien's Resilience

The April 3rd earthquake damaged many homes and hotels, and the collapse of the Mataian Creek embankment left villages submerged in floodwaters. The road to recovery is long, but every reopened shop and every smiling resident tells travelers: "Don't forget us. Hualien is still here."

🌅 "Scars will heal, the land will be reborn; and Hualien's beauty is not taken away by disasters but is the courage to bloom again and again." 💫