Hualien

Luckily, the weather was fantastic on this trip! Sunshine and blue skies the whole way, I even got sunburned :p Our first stop was Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake. It wasn't on the itinerary, but our guide was very kind and took us up for a short visit and rest. After a while, we took a boat to Sun Moon Lake. The scenery was beautiful and the air was fresh. Afterwards, we went to Ita County for more sightseeing and lunch. The streets there were great for exploring, with many different kinds of local snacks and shops along the way. After lunch, we visited the highlight of the trip: Cingjing Farm. The sheep were so cute!!! The itinerary was very well planned overall. The arrival and stopover times were just right. Although we were taken to sample some food, there was no pressure to buy anything. This day tour with our guide, Baiyan, was a very enjoyable experience. He professionally introduced the different attractions, carefully prepared a list of different restaurants, and introduced many local delicacies and attractions in Taichung. He took lots of photos for us, helped us find the best angles, and even gave us posing tips! Overall, it was a very worthwhile experience, and the price was reasonable. Highly recommended!

The car is very new, a Yaris Cross, and drives very well.

I received a commemorative certificate from the crew. The food was delicious, and I'm truly grateful for the friendly interactions I had with the Taiwanese passengers. Thank you (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡

This trip to Hualien was truly therapeutic! I have to give a huge shout-out to our driver and guide, Brother Lin 👨‍✈️✨. He drove incredibly smoothly, chatted with us about countless local anecdotes along the way, and most importantly, the itinerary was never rigid; he discussed things with us constantly, making the whole trip incredibly relaxing and enjoyable! Let's start with Taroko Gorge and Qingshui Cliff 🏔️, which everyone was most interested in. Although many trails (Baiyang Trail, Swallow Grotto Trail, etc.) were closed due to the 0403 earthquake and Typhoon Kong-rey, and there were traffic restrictions at midday, I was initially a little worried 🥹. Thankfully, Brother Lin timed it perfectly and shared many behind-the-scenes stories of Taroko Gorge in the car, allowing us to experience the grandeur of the Central Mountain Range and nature in a completely different way, making up for not being able to hike the trails! Then we went to Qingshui Cliff to see the Pacific Ocean, and the blue was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes—absolutely breathtaking! 🌊 At noon, Brother Lin took us to a Taiwanese beef noodle shop. Besides beef noodles, they also had rice dishes and side dishes to choose from. The prices were cheap, and the portions were incredibly generous—we were so full! 🍜 Afterwards, we took a stroll around the historic Xincheng Catholic Church and grabbed a refreshing Jiaxing lemonade 🍋. It was incredibly hot that day, and Brother Lin was so thoughtful. He not only flexibly adjusted our itinerary to avoid the sun but also thoughtfully prepared mosquito repellent and umbrellas for us—truly a parent's level of care! 🥰☔️ In the afternoon, we went to the Qixingtan Bonito Museum. We had finished our earlier activities early and squeezed in the remaining time for this activity, so we went to the beach last 🏖️. We originally thought Qixingtan was just about looking at the sea, but we were surprised to find so many stone-stacking competition entries on the beach! They were incredibly exquisite and creative, and it was so much fun to see in person. I couldn't help but take tons of photos! 📸 We couldn't stand the heat and got back into the air-conditioned car after only a short time at Qixingtan. Seeing this, Brother Lin generously took us to Zhongyi Douhua (a type of tofu pudding) 🍧! Eating cool tofu pudding in the sweltering heat was pure bliss! What touched me most was that we had friends from Switzerland 🇨🇭 traveling with us that day. Brother Lin switched seamlessly between English and Chinese throughout the trip, even providing simple translations in English for our foreign friends – truly professional and thoughtful! Before we parted, he selflessly shared some incredibly useful whale-watching tips, making our whale-watching trip the next day incredibly smooth 🐬. This trip wasn't just about the beautiful scenery; it was also about experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the people of Hualien. If you're ever going to Hualien, definitely recommend Brother Lin – you won't regret it! 💪🔥