Taroko Gorge and more in Hualien, Taiwan

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My views do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.

September 13, 2025

The residents had been requesting the ship to organize tours for them (they mostly organized their own excursions), so we decided to try it out as an experiment. I took sign-ups for the tours, and as a reward for all that extra work, I sent myself as an escort. I got to see the Gorge in Hualien!

We traveled in groups of six in nice, comfy, air-conditioned vans. Our tour guide LOVED telling jokes. Since this was our first stop in Taiwan, we decided as a group that, yes, we would like to stop at an ATM to get some Taiwanese cash. The 7-Eleven felt like home after having been to so many in Japan. I grabbed a sandwich (mostly because they had strawberry and cream cheese which I hadn’t tried before from an Asian convience store), a bag of chips (I hadn’t had breakfast) and some cash from the machine. In Japan, I’d figured out the conversion and pressed a button on the screen. I’d gotten lazy, so I assumed that any of the buttons on the screen would be a reasonable amount, so I just pressed one. Later, I realized that I’d taken out about $600 USD! I definitely didn’t need THAT much cash! For the rest of our time in Taiwan, I was hustling to get people to trade money with me rather than visit an ATM. It was a relatively pain-free lesson to learn.

Our first stop was a park with a great view of the mountains.

Our next stop was a scenic viewpoint where we could take pictures.

There was a specific time slot when we could enter the gorge, and our guide was timing it perfectly. Therefore, lunch was our next stop. Since we would be paying for our own lunch, we had to decide as a group where we would go – we could choose a fancy place with local dancers (which sounded rather touristy) or we could go somewhere more local. I was so pleased that our group chose the local option.

Then it was time to head to the gorge!

We stopped to take pictures before heading in.

There had been an earthquake that made the water greyer than usual because of the sediment.

The guide explained that the tunnel was under construction and only opened during limited windows throughout the day. He told us that it opened in the morning and all the cars would go in. Then the tunnel would close and they would work on fixing it while we explored the gorge, and later in the afternoon, the tunnel would reopen to let all the cars out. If a car missed the window, they were out of luck and had to stay on whichever side they were on. It was emphasized that all the cars and the traffic went in one direction.

In the car, I glanced at the console and noticed that it said “One Direction.” How did the car know what we were doing?! Then I realized that One Direction was playing on the radio – that’s what the car was displaying.

We stopped in the middle of a bridge to take photos.

Then we came to the temple.

We crossed the bridge.

Then we climbed a bunch of stairs to reach the temple at the top of the mountain.

And then I noticed – there was a breeze! I actually wasn’t melting! I hadn’t been comfortable outside since we were in Alaska.

At the Visitor’s Center we watched a film about the earthquake – how a family had been trapped in the gorge, how they were rescued, and what was being done to repair the roads. One person had been in one of the tunnels and would have been killed if they hadn’t been.

Back in the car, I was ready for the chips I’d bought at the 7Eleven.

I figued these chips were either going to be a hit or miss – it could go either way…

They were delicious! They tasted like salty, crunchy eggs on hashbrowns!

The next time I found them, I bought three bags!

Our next stop was Pine Garden – A preserved Japanese-era military office turned cultural center, set on a hill with sweeping Pacific views. Exhibits highlight Hualien’s wartime history and local art.

There was a bunker.

Across from the Pine Garden were artsy little stores. I liked the animal sculptures in front.

Our guide explained that Pine Garden was where the men worked, and next we would visit where they lived. The barracks had been turned into shops.

I think we were supposed to be impressed by the Japanese architecture and gardens, but we’d just spent six weeks in Japan.

Everyone was satisfied and exhausted, so we returned to the ship. Then I got messages from my other friends – they were already at the night market and wanted me to come meet them!

I took a quick shower (knowing I would be sweaty again as soon as I stepped outside) and headed back out. I’d missed the shuttle so I decided to walk- my GPS said it wasn’t very far.

My walk to the night market was quite an adventure. First of all, I was walking alone at night, which everyone (including me) constantly advises people not to do. I had a hard time figuring out how to get out of the port. I walked around, feeling like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Finally, I turned onto what looked like a highway (definitely not a place where one should be walking) and apparently found the port gate. On the street, the sidewalks were closed to construction and I think I ended up in a scooter lane. I didn’t know what else to do (I mean, obviously, besides turning around and going home)!

After crossing a bridge I was able to get out of the scooter lane and, following my GPS, ended up walking along a park – again! not somewhere a foreigner should be alone at night! I hoped that I would’t get a ticket or killed, and what do you know? I made it!

I don’t know what I was expecting, but what I found was definitely not it!

This place was huge! It had the atmosphere of a state fair, with rides, shops, games and food everywhere!

I was so hot that I wasn’t hungry or thirsty. There was a place my friends said had AMAZING coffin sandwiches – but I just wasn’t hungry. Now, I regret not eating that sandwich because we never found another place selling really good coffin sandwiches again.

I did try stinky tofu, though.

I did not like it.

I’ll post the video.

I think my phone died because I don’t have any more pictures. I must have gotten home safely, though, because I’ve lived to tell the tale.

Hulien is on the side of Taiwan that has lots of earthquakes and terrible weather. I think there was another earthquake after we left that affected the gorge. I’m so glad I got to see it on such a beautiful day.