Taiwan Trip 2014 - Day 4 - Hualien (花蓮)
ITINERARY
Day 4: Hualien 花蓮
(Mugu mugi 慕谷慕魚 > Li Yu Tan 鯉魚潭 > bai bao xi jian yu shi 白鮑溪拾玉石 > hualien sweet factory > lin tian shan 林田山 > yun shan shui 云山水 > jing shan jiao shopping area)
Day 6: Taipei (Jiufen > Gongguan - Retail Outlet & Night Market)
Day 7: Taipei (Beitou > Tamsui)
Day 8: Taipei (Shinkong Mitsukoshi > Ximending > Shilin Night Market)
Day 9: Taipei > Taoyuan Airport
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakfast served in Hotel Charming - Hualien has slightly more choices. Was quite disappointed with the service staff on the first day of arrival and hence, we were surprised that the morning breakfast crew was all smile and very friendly which changed our impression of the Hotel.
And it's our last location with our driver. This place is really nice. It's yun shan shui (云山水) More info of the place here.
Spend a bit of time looking around the hotel before meeting up with our driver. Don't really see the peak hour crowd though.
A while later... our tour begins.
Saw from another post about Mugu Mugi (慕谷慕魚) and wanted to come explore. Initial fears were that we couldn't enter enter (as we are required to apply permit and limited to certain number of visitors per day)... And the worse was when we reached, (due to works required), the place was closed. We could only take far view of the place.
A view at the entrance of Mugu Mugi (慕谷慕魚)
Right at the center is a electric generator which has a long history... (Can't remember much detail)... Hopefully I get the chance to revisit...
After a few photo taking, we proceeded to our next destination...
Li Yu Tan (鯉魚潭)
Li Yu Tan (鯉魚潭) name came from the shape of the place. If you take a good look, you should be able to see the shape of a Koi (or two). A nice quiet lake for a ride, especially couples... We wasn't keen though... I guess our driver must be amused that we had asked to visit the place but yet not interested in the rides. As there weather looks gloomy, we hurriedly proceed to our next destination
白鮑溪拾玉石 (bai bao xi shi yu shi)
白鮑溪拾玉石 (bai bao xi shi yu shi) is a place where unprocessed jade can be found. The place was quite empty. When we reached, there were only another group (a couple) who were there.
Loosen our shoes, roll up your jeans and step into the water! Our driver taught us how to identify unpolished jade. The jade picking process is fun (although I didn't had much luck). And the rewarding part is the feet relief, feeling the water flow!
After our jade picking session, our driver drove us to lin tian shan restaurant (林田山豬腳) for lunch (link here)
Although only 4 of us, the portion served was just too generous! Rice is free flow and the dishes are more than what we could finish!
After lunch, although we were quite full, but still we always have the space for desserts!
After lunch, although we were quite full, but still we always have the space for desserts!
Our driver told us in the early days, this place is well known to make sweets/ice dessert? (Click here for more info)
the path to guangfu sugar factory (光復糖廠)
More info of the place here
The ice cream flavor available is a lot!! Can't rem what I had though but the pricing is quite worth while for 2 scoops. Although the main purpose was for some ice cream, there are some shops for getting souvenirs.
Our next destination, Lintian Mountain Forestry Center (林田山林業文化園區) More info of the place here
Picture at
In the exhibition
Part of the wood art display that has won certain prize/placement in wood art competition
More wood art display with certain prize/placement in wood art competition
And it's our last location with our driver. This place is really nice. It's yun shan shui (云山水) More info of the place here.
There is actually minsu there for booking. To enjoy the nice scenary, I would recommend going for a day or two stay.
This place is called yun shan shui (云山水) because from the place, we can have a view which consist of yun (云) - cloud, shan (山) - mountain and shui (水) - water. A really nice place.
Although it seemed like a lot of placed covered, but the whole journey took around 4/5 hours.
By 3pm+, we were already back in our hotel.
After a short rest, we first go to the Hualien train station which is less than 10 minutes from our hotel. Advised by friend's friend, we purchased our train ticket to Taipei in advance. As there are quite a lot of train routes, best is to.. ask... Or might end up taking the 10 hours train ride to Taipei. Purchasing the train tickets was surprisingly hassle-free.
From Hualien train station, we took a cab to the Hualien golden triangle shopping area (花蓮金三角商圈). Our driver had recommended us going to this main shopping area in Hualien which are three streets that coincidentally formed a triangle shape from map view, hence the name of Golden Triangle.
A view of one of the street of Hualien golden triangle shopping area (花蓮金三角商圈)
More info of the place here.
Although from the map it looks quite easy to get around, but we got lost after we alight from the cab because we were trying to get to a fast food outlet but ended up touring in circles...
After quite sometime, finally manage to find some food while we make our way to KFC in Hualien!
After the exhausting dinner, I was totally worn out because of the circling... My leg was in a terrible shape and have to apply heat and medication... Could only hope will be better after some rest for tomorrow trip back to Taipei!
Comments