Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Leader Village Taroko
ABORIGINAL $$$
(Bulowan; lunch & dinner set meals NT$380-580; noon-2pm & 6-8pm; )
At the Leader Vil-
lage resort in Bulowan aboriginal chefs have brought their local cooking to a whole new
level (as alluded to by the name of a popular set meal 'The Wild Boar Meets the Eiffel
Tower'). Set meals are large, and might include barbecued wild pig or mountain chicken,
soup, rice steamed in bamboo tubes, and exotic mountain vegetables.
Silks Place Hotel
CHINESE, WESTERN $$$
$$$
(Tienhsiang; dinner buffet NT$800;
noon-2.30pm & 5.30-9.30pm;
)
Excellent breakfast
and dinner buffets are available as well as set meals for lunch.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
HOT CROSS HIGHWAYS
There are two main highways (the 9 and 11) running north and south along the
east, but there are innumerable smaller roads going in all directions. Taking time to
explore at least a few of these quiet, intensely scenic routes should be considered
mandatory. In addition to County Roads 193 and 197, consider the roads that cross
directly over the Coastal Mountains, linking the two main highways.
Highway 11
The first route connecting Highways 11 and 9, 11 runs along the Dingzilou River
(Dīngzǐlòu Xī), over a narrow lushly forested ridge, and then past pretty fields be-
fore ending in Guangfu, 19km to the west. A good day trip from Hualien entails rid-
ing Highway 11 to the turn-off at Fongbin, the 11 to County Road 193, and then fol-
lowing that superb road back to Hualien.
Ruigang Hwy (Township Road 64)
More winding country road than highway, the 22km Ruigang Hwy follows the
rugged contours of the Hsiukuluan River from a high-enough perch to let you take
in all the surrounding natural beauty. If you're cycling, plan on taking about two
hours to get to Ruisui - and bring water as there is only one small farming settle-
ment along the way.
Highway 23
The last route connecting Highways 11 and 9, the 23 is windy, steep and sparsely
populated - unless you count the numerous monkey troops that hang out on the
sides of the road.
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