Starting from Hualien City, your first stop is Yunshanshui. Passing through verdant rice paddies and tree-lined country roads, you'll arrive here. As its name suggests, Yunshanshui is a place where clouds, mountains, and water converge, renowned for its mirror-like lakes, tranquil ponds, and dreamlike scenery.
Strolling along the wooden boardwalk, the surrounding mountains and floating clouds are reflected on the lake's surface, shimmering in the sunlight. Koi occasionally leap from the water, their calls blending with the birdsong from the reeds to create a soothing melody. Every scene here is like a painting—exquisite, serene, and perfectly composed.
Next, drive to Da Nang's Dafu Forest Park. This 1200-hectare ecological reserve, transformed from former sugarcane fields, is a testament to nature's resilience and a model of balance between human activity and environmental protection. Enter the forest; the air is fresh and cool, filled with the fragrance of camphor and pine.
From the viewing platform, the forest stretches endlessly, like a green ocean, surrounded by distant mountains. Here, the rhythm of day and night is entirely governed by nature: leaves rustle, birds sing in the distance, and a gentle breeze blows.
Next, the journey extends eastward to the Danshejin Rice Terraces, a vast expanse of rice paddies stretching all the way to the Pacific coast. During rice planting season, the terraces are particularly spectacular, the shimmering rice fields reflecting the sky like countless tiny mirrors. In summer, the sunlight shines on the cascading rice paddies, casting golden rays onto the distant mountains and sea, creating a breathtaking scene.
Continuing north along the coastline, you will reach the Bachi Viewpoint. This viewpoint sits atop a cliff where the mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. The view is both magnificent and serene: the waves rhythmically lap against the black volcanic rocks, creating bursts of white foam, while the vast ocean presents a magnificent tapestry of azure, turquoise, and indigo.
After enjoying the magnificent coastal cliff views, continue the climb to the hilltop café. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this café boasts a simple yet cosy design, with an open terrace and wooden décor that blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape.
Holding a freshly brewed cup of coffee, gaze at the ocean stretching to the horizon, watching the clouds drift lazily by. The atmosphere here is truly soothing—soft voices, gentle footsteps, every sip of coffee seems carefully chosen, creating a truly tranquil ambiance.
The final stop of the day is the Hualien Cultural and Creative Park, located within a historic sake brewery dating back to the Japanese colonial era. Today, the park has transformed into a vibrant art, design, and cultural centre, perfectly blending well-preserved red-brick architecture with modern creative spaces.
