Hualien: Cultural History and Green Paths

Hualien City brings together historic buildings and railway traces with Sakizaya traditions, parks, and a hiking trail on the outskirts. If you are looking for a hotel in Hualien, this cultural and scenic variety can help you choose the focus of your stay. Past uses and historical changes shape some places, while the city’s green spaces and paths shape others.

Historic Buildings and Railway Traces

The Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park is located in the center of Hualien City. Covering 3.3 hectares, it contains 26 historic buildings. The site was formerly the Hualien Old Winery, established in 1913. The site’s history thus connects its former use for wine production with a collection of historic buildings. Its area and building count also give a concrete sense of the site’s scale.

The Hualien Railway Culture Park also preserves historic buildings, this time from railway history. They include the Hualien Port Railway Administration Office, the former Hualien Construction Section, and the former Hualien Police Section. Another trace is the former Hualien–Taitung Railway, which ran through the city to the station by the sea. The park focuses on preserved buildings, while the former railway line reflects the historic route through Hualien City.

Sakizaya Traditions and Historical Changes

Guofu Sakul Village in Hualien City is a rural village community with distinctive Sakizaya Indigenous traditions. Alongside the city’s architectural traces of history, it offers a glimpse of a cultural tradition. The Hualien City Indigenous Culture and History Museum began operating on December 29, 2009.

At the foot of Meilun Mountain stands the Martyrs' Shrine. It was built as a shrine in 1905 and dedicated to Amaterasu, Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, and the Three Kami of Development. In 1980, it was converted into a martyrs' shrine. The two dates mark different phases in its history: its original construction and its later conversion.

Green Spaces and Paths

Meilun Mountain is a prominent landmark in Hualien City. Dense woodland, flowers, and diverse wildlife shape its landscape. The parks reveal a different, urban side of the city’s greenery: Zhongshan Park is centrally located near the railway station and combines lawns and paths with art and local cultural elements. Zhongzheng Park has different features, including a children’s playground, a hiking trail, and an area with old LDT103 locomotives. From there, you can look out over the city center.

The Sakul Trail runs along the outskirts of Hualien City. The trail has a gentle incline, follows gravel and natural dirt paths, and is shaded by trees along the way. Designed as a loop, it leads to a viewpoint in the middle. From there, you can get a close-up view of the approximately 18-meter-high Sakul Waterfall. The trail surface, gentle incline, and shade describe different features of the route.

The approximately 11.25-kilometer Route 2, “Tribal Deep Breath,” includes the Sakul Trail and a guided tour of Guofu Village, among other stops. If you plan to take this route, check local route conditions beforehand.

Explore more destinations: Yuli Township, Fengbin Township, Xiulin Township, Ruisui Township, Fenglin Township, Shoufeng Township, Guangfu Township, Fuli Township.

For the broader travel overview: Hualien.