Fuli

Day Trips

Arrive at Fuli Railway Station and pick up bicycles for your first adventure along the Hualien River. The gentle cycling trail weaves past emerald rice paddies and verdant hills. Stop at riverside rest spots to enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and meet friendly farmers.

Continue your ride downstream through small villages framed by mountain vistas. Pause at a wooden riverside pavilion to taste local snacks and rice wine. Chat with elders about traditional irrigation methods that nourish these fertile fields.

Settle in for a sunset picnic on the riverbank as fireflies emerge in the twilight. Share a hearty homemade meal at a family-run homestay featuring stir-fried vegetables and river fish. Drift to sleep listening to the gentle murmur of flowing water and nocturnal insects.

Depart before dawn for the terraced paddies at Dapu and witness the sunrise painting the flooded fields in golden hues. Mist drifts between steps of green, creating a mirror for the sky. Capture reflections of the hills in water-filled plots.

Join a local farmer to plant rice seedlings, learning age-old customs that have shaped these terraces. Feel the rich soil between your fingers as you bend over the field and swap stories with your host. Cool down with a glass of chilled tea brewed from mountain herbs.

Gather at a village hall for a communal storytelling session about indigenous legends. Share a warm bento packed with mountain vegetables, wild herbs, and glutinous rice treats. Fall asleep under a canopy of stars, lulled by the chirping of crickets.

Begin the day with an Amis morning prayer ceremony at the tribal gathering hall. Learn to play the traditional nose flute and practice ancestral dance steps. Savor tau-ax (millet porridge) cooked in bamboo over an open flame.

Sit with elder artisans to craft intricate bead necklaces using local seeds and shells. Watch a weaving demonstration employing wild fibers harvested from nearby forests. Snack on roasted sweet potatoes and share conversation under a bamboo canopy.

Feast on an Amis banquet with fresh mountain greens, grilled meats, and fragrant rice cooked in banana leaves. Enjoy the steady beat of tribal drumming around a communal fire. Rest in a traditional wooden longhouse, drifting to sleep on woven mats.

Travel to the misty slopes of Tehua Tea Plantation, where terraces cascade down the hillside. Stroll between aromatic oolong bushes and observe the first leaves being plucked by hand. Sip a warm cup of freshly infused tea as clouds float below you.

Participate in a tea-rolling workshop, mastering the gentle twisting motions that define each varietal. Learn the art of withering, roasting, and steeping under the guidance of a tea master. Enjoy a tasting flight of single-estate brews accompanied by light pastries.

Return to Fuli for dinner featuring local stir-fried mountain vegetables and tofu. Sample a delicate tea jelly dessert infused with yesterday’s harvest. Unwind in your guesthouse, lulled by the faint rustle of bamboo leaves.

Head to the Xiuguluan River estuary at first light with a pair of binoculars in hand. Scan the wetlands for egrets, kingfishers, and rare migratory shorebirds. Marvel at flocks swirling overhead against a backdrop of towering peaks.

Kayak along tranquil side channels, listening for the calls of water warblers hidden among reeds. Picnic on a sandy levee with bento boxes filled with local delicacies. Learn about river ecology and conservation efforts from a passionate guide.

Drop by a riverside stall for a fresh-caught seafood barbecue under paper lanterns. Sample grilled fish, clams, and prawns seasoned with mountain herbs. Toast the day with a cold local brew as fireflies dance around you.

Set off on the famed East Rift Valley cycle route that winds through mango and papaya orchards. Pedal past sunlit paddy fields ringed by emerald mountains. Stop for fresh fruit juice squeezed on the spot.

Continue your journey along leafy trails and cross rustic villages where friendly residents wave hello. Refuel with a picnic lunch of rice cakes, local cheese, and organic salad. Relax in a shaded pavilion overlooking the valley.

Return to Fuli in time for a bowl of mochi or shaved ice topped with tropical fruits. Soothe tired muscles in a herbal foot soak at a neighborhood spa. Drift off to the soft lullaby of night insects outside your window.

Explore the historic wooden Fuli Railway Station, dating back to the Japanese colonial era. Board a local train for a short scenic loop past rice paddies and river bends. Disembark at open-air stops to admire vibrant murals and sculptures.

Wander through the weekend artisan market, where local crafters sell pottery, woven baskets, and fresh produce. Chat with makers as they demonstrate their techniques. Taste crunchy rice crackers and sip floral teas.

Enjoy dinner at a stall specializing in claypot chicken rice cooked over coals. Drizzle local honey on silken tofu for dessert. Cap off the night with live acoustic music under a canopy of twinkling lights.

Journey to nearby Chishang Township, famous for its stunning paddy art displays. Walk along narrow levees to admire giant images painted on the fields using colored rice varieties. Observe how seasonal changes bring the artwork to life.

Take part in a hands-on workshop designing your own mini mosaic in a flooded paddy. Plant dyed seedlings row by row while learning about the precision required for large-scale field murals. Relish a picnic of rice dumplings and fresh fruits.

Head back to Fuli for a simple farmhouse dinner of rice porridge with pickled vegetables and mountain greens. Sip on a small glass of locally distilled rice spirit. Fall asleep to the orchestra of frogs and cicadas in the nearby paddies.

Drive to tranquil Liyu Lake and rent a clear-bottom kayak to glide over glassy water. Watch colorful fish dart beneath your paddles as forested hills rise around you. Pause on a floating dock for a mid-lake coffee brewed in a French press.

Hop on a tandem bike and circle the lakeside path, stopping at lakeside cafes for sandwiches and mountain tea. Rest under towering bamboo groves and listen to cicadas trill in the warm breeze. Photograph reflections of clouds skimming the water’s surface.

Catch the sunset from a lakeside pavilion painted in pastel hues. Dine on grilled river fish, stir-fried greens, and house-made tofu pudding. End your day with a lantern-lit boat ride as fireflies dance on the water’s edge.

Set off early for Donghe Beach to stroll along its smooth black sand and watch surfers conquer rolling Pacific waves. Breathe deep of the salty sea air and relish the rhythmic rush of the tides. Collect polished stones as mementos of the shore.

Treat yourself to Donghe’s famous sheep-milk ice cream at a beachfront shack. Explore tide pools teeming with starfish, crabs, and anemones. Unwind on a sun-warmed rock with a locally roasted coffee in hand.

Host a farewell BBQ on the sand, grilling fresh squid, corn, and vegetables over an open flame. Raise a toast as the sky ignites in flaming reds and purples at sunset. Reflect on your ten immersive days in Fuli, carrying memories of rice terraces, tribal dances, and riverside sunsets home with you.