We wanted to visit the Taroko Gorge that crosses the mountains, it’s meant to be spectacular and with lots of walking trails. I understood many of the trails were closed as a result of an earthquake in 2024 but, the route and the visitor centre were open. However when we got there the road to the visitor center was closed so we could not even see what we were missing!
We visited Liyu Lake. Everything here seems sanitised, always paved or with steps provided. Liyu Lake was no different, the lake that could have been so peaceful was spoiled by motorboats.
As we wandered round, there was the sound of firecrackers from the other side of the lake. It went on and on so Tatajana walked faster and faster, she had a burning desire to see what was happening. We got to the road and saw some small carnival style floats. Eventually we found out this was part of the Goddess Mazu pilgrimage.
Mazu is the same as Thian a Chinese goddess of the sea and protector of seafarers. In Taiwan some of the most popular Temples have huge pilgrimages on foot but, this was by vehicle and they travel paying homage to the Temples on the route!
From city of Hualien stretching south is a valley, (it’s a rift valley). You can drive south either side of the Mountain Range, we opted for the coastal route and actually being beneath the mountains didn’t give us much of a view as many of the places we wanted to stop at were closed (presumably because of earthquake damage). The deserted feeling persisted and we visited one beach where it’s ok to swim but it didn’t look very inviting. It was Easter Sunday when we were here and Tatjana took this fabulous photo!
We also visited some fishing harbours but they were quiet.
Then we came across
March Cave and that area was lovely, untouched apart from the path down. The cave has been used in the new Martin Scorsese film Silence. The coast here was just fantastic with deep rock pools with fish and crustaceans. I loved it! My favourite place on the East side so far!
Where’s Tatjana?
The Travelling Bee 