Taking a Trip to Hualien and Yilan Traveling can be one of life’s most enriching experiences for us, offering opportunities to explore new cultures, to indulge in different cuisines, and to witness breathtaking landscapes. This spring break, from 2026/04/2 to 2026/04/05, my family, including 5 adults and 2 children, visited Hualien city and Yilan city of Taiwan. From transportation of airplane and renting a car to the hotel, scenic spots, guesthouse and night markets, we really enjoyed a comfortable and satisfactory trip. First of all, air transportation is the gateway for us from Kaohsiung city to Hualien city. One-hour-and-five-minute flight time from Kaohsiung International Airport to Hualien Airport is a smooth, safe, quiet and comfortable journey conducted by Mandarin Airlines. Mandarin Airlines always emphasizes on flight safety and comfortable flight service. It, now, serves a domestic network of major cities and outlying islands, such as Taipei-Sungshan, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Taitung and Hualien. By the way, this time, renting a car for travel, indeed, gives us maximum flexibility, comfort, and the freedom to explore long-distance locations. In addition, renting a car can often save money, and allow us to make the most of every moment without worrying about the crowded buses and tight train timetables. From the flexibility of making our own schedule to the convenience of driving a vehicle suited to our journey, the advantages of renting a car are clear. Hualien city, also known as Taiwan’s back garden, is a magnificent treasure with a world-class landscape. Hualien’s summer sun, eternally, shines brilliantly, irresistibly inviting people outdoors to enjoy water activities. After one night stayed at Hi-Yes Hotel, on the second day, we visited “Farglory Ocean Park.” Set in the city center of Hualien, Hi-Yes Hotel is only a 7-minute walk from the Hualien Railway Station and is also only a 15-minute drive from Hualien Airport. Wi-Fi access is available, and the hotel offers air conditioning, flat-screen cable TV, fridge, free bottle water, tea bag and instant coffee. Guests can dine in the on-site restaurant, or choose from plenty dining options nearby. We stayed our first night at the hotel, and woke up early at 8:00 a.m., enjoying all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. After finishing our meal, we drove toward “Farglory Ocean Park.” In order for more people around the world to enjoy the wonderful landscapes, “Farglory Ocean Park” uses the ocean as the core theme to build the place of leisure, entertainment, health, education, environmental protection and culture, with beauty and wisdom as well. Actually, we can see clear skies, clouds, forests, and oceans far above the park. Wandering around in “Farglory Ocean Park,” we can indulge ourselves in the comfort of nature. Different from normal amusement parks that mainly focus on mechanical amusement facilities, “Farglory Ocean Park” does offer a comprehensive park for leisure that combines entertaining and educational enjoyment to visitors. In “Farglory Ocean Park,” we watched the dolphin show at the Ocean Theater, the sea-lion show at the Sea Lion Theater, and the circus performance at the Crystal Castle. We played swing rides and bumper boats, and took cable cars up and down to the amusement parks. In the evening of the second day, after visiting “Farglory Ocean Park,” we reached Hualien, Tungtamen Night Market. It is the largest night market in Hualien city, and is located nearby the downtown, next to the old train station. Tungtamen means the big eastern gate. The back side of the market is the Aboriginal Street, a lane filled with local merchants selling aboriginal snacks and gifts. The three main market lanes are Futing Market (Taiwanese food), Aboriginal Street (native Aboriginal food), and a street representing the foods from all provinces of mainland China. We ate several fresh and tasty, delicious foods on the spot, and bought octopus balls, oyster omelet and salt crispy chicken back to the hotel. In the morning of the third day, after eating all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet, we checked out the hotel, and drove the car to Yilan city. It took one hour and forty minutes to the National Center for Traditional Arts (NCFTA). The National Center for Traditional Arts (NCFTA) is a premier cultural, educational, and tourist destination located by the Dongshan River in Wujie Township, Yilan County. The park spans 24 hectares, dedicated to preserving, promoting, and inheriting Taiwan’s rich traditional arts. The park features traditional street scenes (Old Street), workshops, and live performances, offering an immersive experience of Taiwanese folk art. Besides, visitors can participate in hands-on DIY activities, such as traditional dough sculpting (捏麵人), puppet shows (布袋戲), and crafting ancient toys. Moreover, the park is organized around “Three Halls, Three Streets, and Three Buildings” (三館、三街、三建築), which connect traditional craftsmanship with modern exhibition spaces. Daily performances are ranging from traditional music to acrobatics. It was so exciting for me to spend time at “The First Love of the Century: Yang Li-Hua and the Taiwanese Opera Exhibition.” I always love Yang Li-Hua’s Taiwanese operas very much. I, then, watched Taiwanese opera videos and took several photos there. The National Center for Traditional Arts, here, has met the needs of modern life, i.e., expressing culture through creativity, inspiring emotional connections, and creating a welcoming environment where people can be eager to engage and learn. It’s amazing that NCFTA provides a space and stage for local artists and traditional artisans to fulfill their dreams. The purposes of the NCFTA are that 1. Taiwan’s traditional arts are treasured to have multiple expressions in everyday life, and 2. by connecting outstanding groups and talents across Taiwan who embody the spirit of kindness, beauty, and traditional values, NCFTA now creates a dynamic and expansive platform, where performing artists, artisans, and creative professionals all collaborate together to reach Taiwan’s high qualities of traditional arts and culture. At night of the third day, we stopped at Luodong Night Market. Luodong Night Market is the largest night market in Yilan city, and is also one of the area’s top tourist destinations. The night market covers a large area and is always packed with people. Delicacies here include mutton soup, shaved ice, duck noodles, and onion pancakes. The main part of the night market was built in front of a movie theater, so moviegoers could get food after seeing a movie. Soon, a few stalls became many, and the night market turned into the large sprawling area that we see today. First, we bought Nobel cake rolls. Shortly, the night market got really crowded and the lanes were super narrow. Every alley was filled with food and lines of people. We saw mutton soup, duck and oyster omelet, steaks and noodles, white gourd boba tea, mango ice cream, taro milk tea, and Yilan’s famous onion pancakes. We ate traditional noodles, and bought different kinds of braised snacks for takeout. After that, we returned back to our guesthouse, Wonderwall B&B. Located in the heart of Yilan county, No. 87-13, Jishui Rd., Wujie Township, Wonderwall B&B offers a serene and comforting retreat for us to seek a unique and memorable experience. The B&B is known for its exceptional hospitality, inviting ambiance, and top-notch amenities. With a team of dedicated staff members, Wonderwall B&B aims to provide a space away from home for all guests that their stay is comfortable and enjoyable. Moreover, the B&B prides itself on its attention to detail, personalized service, and commitment to creating a welcoming environment for every guest. The staff welcomed us, and we checked in. We, then, ate foods in the room together, and experienced the large tubs, cozy beds and relaxing retreats. Next morning, our family members, John, Jerry and two kids, walked out to appreciate beautiful natural views and stunning sunrises over the sea, while Wonderwall B&B prepared fresh and nutritious breakfast for us. The last scenic spot in Yilan city was Lanyang Animal and Plant Kingdom. Lanyang Animal and Plant Kingdom is a natural ecological park with significant educational and tourist values. It combines animal interactions, plant knowledge, and environmental sustainability, making it an ideal place for family visits and nature enthusiasts. Covering an area of 3,000 ping, the park features an animal zone, a plant zone, experienced classrooms, outdoor exploration spaces, rest areas, and a small market. The entire area uses eco-friendly building materials to promote the concept of ecological sustainability. Furthermore, the park houses a variety of native and exotic animals, including Blue Hill lambs, Eastern grey kangaroos, red kangaroos, and cavies. Each animal area features informative signs and interactive spaces, allowing visitors to observe animal behaviors up close, and to even participate in feeding experiences. We strolled through the park with so many people, took photos, and enjoyed the rich variety of animals and plants in leisurely moments. Moreover, it is also a perfect place for family outings because it offers several parent-child interactive activities, such as animal tour mini-classes and plant DIY crafts, etc. Our kids, Charlie and Ivy, loved to get up close with animals. They both felt thrilled, and had unforgettable memories in the park. At 2:00 in the afternoon, it was the exact time for us to drive back to Hualien city. Jerry was responsible for driving the car back again to Hualien city for one hour and forty minutes. He was tired, but it was already planned to do so. I thanked and appreciated his effort. At 3:44 p.m., we finally arrived at Huali
