Huatung Valley Route: A Deep Cycling Journey Through the Valley Scenery from Hualien to Taitung

Introduction

The Huatung Valley is one of Taiwan’s most beautiful geographic corridors. Flanked by the Central Mountain Range to the west and the Coastal Mountain Range to the east, two green mountain ranges embrace a fertile valley beneath a clear blue sky. Rice paddies, streams, and indigenous villages interweave here, forming Taiwan’s purest agricultural landscape. Starting from Hualien and heading south along Provincial Highway 9 to Taitung, the route spans approximately 180 kilometers, making it one of Taiwan’s most renowned and popular long-distance cycling routes.

The riding difficulty of the Huatung Valley is relatively moderate. The valley’s terrain is open and gentle, with elevations mostly below 200 meters, making it suitable for riders with a reasonable fitness base who don’t need an extreme challenge. Here, you don’t need to conquer anything—just let time slow down and let the scenery flow into your eyes.

Suggested Itinerary (Three Days, Two Nights)

Highlights Along the Way

Ruisui Hot Springs
Ruisui Township in Hualien County is a renowned source of sodium bicarbonate hot springs in Taiwan. The clear spring water is silky to the touch and provides excellent relief for tired cycling muscles. It’s recommended to soak here on Day 1 to relax and prepare for the next day.

Guangfu Sugar Factory
The Guangfu Sugar Factory preserves the buildings and equipment from Taiwan’s prosperous sugar industry era, and the park still sells traditional ice pops. While replenishing energy here, cyclists can also experience the history of Taiwan’s modern agricultural industrialization.

Fuli Liushishishan (Sixty Stone Mountain)
From August to September each year, the daylily flower sea at Fuli’s Liushishishan blooms in full splendor, with golden flowers blanketing the entire mountainside—one of Taiwan’s most breathtaking seasonal landscapes. If your itinerary falls during the blooming season, it’s highly recommended to take the branch road up the mountain to see it for yourself.

Chishang Brown Boulevard
The Brown Boulevard (home of the Jin Cheng-wu Tree) beside the Chishang section of Provincial Highway 9 is one of the Huatung Valley’s most iconic landscapes. With its straight road free of utility poles, swaying rice stalks on both sides, and the outlines of distant mountains, riding along this stretch will truly make you want to stop and take photos.

Guanshan Ring-Town Cycling Path
Guanshan Township boasts one of Taiwan’s most complete ring-town cycling paths. Stretching approximately 12 kilometers, it passes through rice paddies, indigenous villages, and Longquan Park, serving as an excellent model of rural cycling infrastructure in Taiwan.

Valley Specialty Agricultural Supplies

The Huatung Valley is Taiwan’s most developed organic farming region. Along the way, you can enjoy:

• Chishang rice balls: Chishang rice is one of Taiwan’s top rice varieties. Local rice ball shops wrap freshly cooked rice on the spot, and each bite bursts with fragrant rice flavor.
• Ruisui fresh milk: The pasture quality in the Huatung Valley is excellent, and Ruisui fresh milk is known for its sweet, rich taste. It’s available at convenience stores along the route.
• Fuli organic produce: Fuli Township actively promotes organic farming, and roadside farm-direct stands often sell fresh organic produce—a great opportunity to stock up on vitamins during your journey.
• Guanshan bento: The bento boxes at Guanshan Station are no less famous than Chishang’s. With traditional railway bento packaging and local ingredients, they’re a must-eat lunch for valley cycling.

Practical Tips

• Wind direction: The Huatung Valley has distinct seasonal wind patterns. Summer southerly winds (blowing from south to north) are more common, so it’s recommended to ride from Taitung to Hualien in summer (tailwind). In autumn and winter, riding from Hualien to Taitung (with the northerly wind) is more energy-efficient.
• Supplies: Towns are densely spaced along Provincial Highway 9, making resupply very convenient—there’s a settlement roughly every 10–15 kilometers.
• Accommodation: Yuli, Chishang, and Guanshan all offer multiple lodging options. It’s advisable to book in advance during peak season. B&B hosts are typically very welcoming and often share local food and stories.
• Transport connections: Both Taitung and Hualien have train stations, allowing you to ride one-way and take the train back to your starting point without retracing your route.

Conclusion

The Huatung Valley route is the ultimate “slow travel” experience in Taiwan’s cycling scene. It has no intimidating climbs, yet offers scenery that captivates the heart; no crowded tourist atmosphere, yet delivers the most authentic warmth of rural Taiwan. A three-day, two-night ride through the valley is the most heartfelt declaration of love from busy urbanites to nature, and the most direct way to discover the beauty of Taiwan’s land. Bring your bike, give time back to yourself—the Huatung Valley is waiting for you.

Related Reading

• Huatung Valley Cycling Route: A Journey Along Highway 9 Between Rice Waves and Mountains
• Huatung Valley Cycling Path In-Depth Guide: Taiwan’s Best Route for Long-Distance Riding
• Huatung Valley: The Most Beautiful Cycling Section from Hualien to Taitung
• Huatung Valley Cycling Tour: Taiwan’s Most Magnificent Long-Distance Riding Route