Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To head back north, take Hwy 11 west and connect with 45 and later County Rd 197
for a scenic drive up the Beinan River Valley, with the crumbling
Liji Badlands
on one
side and the jagged cliffs of
Little Huangshan
on the other.
The 197 drops you off on Hwy 9, near
Luye
, a bucolic pineapple- and tea-growing re-
gion with a stunning plateau. Just north, connect with the
South Cross-Island Hwy
for
some yodel-inducing high-mountain scenery, and the chance to hike to
Lisong
, a wild
hot spring that cascades down a multicoloured cliff face.
For more scenic eye-candy, stop at the organic rice fields of
Loshan
and the flower
fields of
Sixty Stone Mountain
. Spend the night at
Antong Hot Springs
so you are
fully rested for a cycle the next day out to historic
Walami Trail
, a Japanese-era patrol
route.
Opportunities to indulge in local foods are numerous along this route, but don't miss
aboriginal
Matai'an
, a wetland area with some unique dishes. You'll be well fed for the
final stretch back to Hualien, which you should do along quiet County Rd 193. For one
last adventure, veer off before Hualien and ride up the wild
Mugua River Gorge
for a
dip in a marble-walled natural swimming hole.
