Hualien City Neighborhoods

Squeezed between the mountains and the sea, most of Hualien follows a rough grid pattern with primary roads going East-West and North-South. Zhongshan Road bisects the city from east to west and is the primary road to know in Hualien. Most things of importance are within 3-4 blocks of Zhongshan Road and there are always taxis driving up and down this wide road. Don’t know which way to go on Zhongshan? If you see giant green mountains in front of you, you are walking West! It’s that easy.

We believe these are the three best neighborhoods in which to stay in Hualien. Beibin, Downtown, Train Station. Each are good for different reasons as we will outline below.

Neighborhood 1: Beibin 

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This oceanfront neighborhood along Beibin Street (actually two one-way roads a block apart) offers a growing collection of boutique hotels and guesthouses right by the sea. Beibin Street begins at Zhongshan Road and is only 5-6 blocks long so it’s impossible to get lost. Beibin is a very short walk from the Dongdamen Night Market, Beibin Oceanfront Boardwalk and Nanbin Waterfront Park (pictured). The seafront bicycle path goes directly in front of Beibin street as well, making this area a great jumping off point for bike rides. If you want to be by the sea and within short walking distance to downtown restaurant and shopping areas, this is a wonderful neighborhood.

Popular Choices: Constellation Coast B&B, Hualien S.E.A. B&B, Before Sunrise Seaview B&B, Tiffany Coast Inn

Neighborhood 2: Downtown 

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The Downtown area can loosely be defined as the area of Zhongshan Road from the sea to Linsen Road. and 4 blocks on either side. This is the area where you will find the primary shopping areas, most of the restaurants, Dongdamen Night Market (pictured), the outdoor craft markets and food vendors, several small walking roads and more. This is also the area with most of the banks, coffee shops, all the bars/nightlife and more. Really, if you want to walk from your hotel to do stuff, being in downtown is the best place to be. Most of the bars are along Linsen Road with the exceptions being the beer bar at Salt Lick and the pricey cocktail bar The Ginsmen. Both are still nearby in downtown, however.

Popular Choices: F Hotel Zhongxiao, Just Sleep Hualien, Azure Hotel, Park City Hotel, 1999 B&B

Neighborhood 3: Train Station 

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This budget friendly area around the train station is where you will find most of the hostels and inexpensive accommodations. That being said, you are a hearty 20-30 minute walk into downtown for most of the action. Not ideal in hot summer heat or in the rainy season. Taxi’s to downtown are only $100 TWD each way but of course these can add up if you do it a lot. There are some decent restaurants in the train station area but nothing compared to the variety in downtown. It’s mostly accommodations and rental car/scooter shops. If price and proximity to trains is your priority, there are hundreds of inexpensive places to choose from in this neighborhood.

Popular Choices: Meci Hotel, WOW Hostel, Mini Voyage Hostel, Journey Hostel, You Worth Inn, Just Walk Backpackers, Travel Charger Hostel

Continued Below

Map of Neighborhoods

Map Not To Scale

Download Your Free 2019 Hualien Visitors Guide Here

About Island Life Taiwan

Based in Hualien, Taiwan (adjacent to Taroko Gorge National Park), Island Life Taiwan designs all of our unique daily itineraries to help you discover the rich natural beauty and culture of Taiwan, in the most enjoyable, and most immersive way possible. We’re dedicated to showing you the most amazing locations in eastern Taiwan, while having the most fun and avoiding the crowds. More than just a tour operator and adventure outfitter, our team truly loves showing this awe-inspiring part of the world to our guests, and when you love what you do, it shows.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us and let us help you pick the tour or adventure that’s right for you!

We Hope You Enjoy Your Visit!