Hualien CountyScenic Spots
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Probability of precipitation
20%
Air Quality Index (AQI)
31
Good
In addition to the Central Cross-Island Highway, another road that offers considerable attractions for the tourist is the old Suao-Hualien Highway. First opened to traffic in 1932, this 118-kilometer-long road was the first government-built road in the area, but its origins go back to 1874, when a road was first cut between Su-ao and Hualien under order of the imperial Chinese government.
North along the road from Hualien is the Chongde Control. In the early stages of its development, the road could carry traffic in only one direction at a time, and vehicles had to wait at the control station for convoys going the opposite direction to pass. It rapidly developed into a spot where travelers would stop to enjoy the scenery, have a snack, and buy souvenirs.
At the northern mouth of Chongde Tunnel, 182.5 kilometers along the Suao-Hualien Highway, is the Shiahai Trail. This is a perfect spot to view the Pacific Ocean. A walk of 10 minutes down the trail brings visitors to a shingle beach featuring limestone formations and a variety of rock-growing plants.
The 20-kilometer stretch of highway between Chongde and Heping is the most tortuous and spectacular section of the Suao-Hualien Highway. Cliffs of gneiss and marble from sheer drops of more than a thousand meters, and the road winds its way precariously between the cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other. After this stretch, the road runs through to Heping and Guanyin, funnily reaching Nan-ao and Dong-ao. In the vicinity of Nan-ao, the Wushr Promontory protrudes majestically into the Pacific Ocean, dividing the Suao-Hualien coastline into the Nan-ao and Dong-ao bays. Dung-ao is a major producer of lilies; moreover, the Japan Current brings this coastal area a rich annual harvest of fish.
Travel Information
（Traffic information is subject to change. Please check with the
transportation station before departure.）
Transportation：Nat'l Fwy 5 → Exit at the Su'ao Interchange → Prov. Hwy 9
Public：
Take TRA to Heren Station or Chongde Station.
Taiwan Railways
Area Information
Last update time:
Oct 24, 2023