Taidong was awesome and beautiful. Swam 5000m at Flowing Lake, heard aboriginal music, went to Jin Jen Mountain, and then was just blown away on the drive between Hualien and Taidong. We stopped several times to take pictures and take in the scenery. Ended up swimming in a little cove in Taidong, and then played several hours in the waves at Jici Beach- not far from Hualien City.
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Amazing. Wish I am in Taidong right now…
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I’ve been to over 40 countries and I consider that drive one of the best of all. It’s especially great if you can take your time and then watch the impacts of the different weather from Sun to clouds to rain and all the different colors on the mountains and the water.
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We always took the train. As we know, the train tracks don’t follow the coastline. We never knew what we were missing! It rained early that morning on the way back to Hualien so you can imagine how the clouds added to the magnificence.
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According to world renowned Taiwan expert MuchaMan, Taitung is the “zhongli of the east” coast of Taiwan. See his original post below. I still don’t understand what is his beef with Taidong.
I think people are more familiar and aware of Taidong than Zhongli. Tourists from all over the world go looking for Taidong. So saying Zhongli is the Taidong of the north makes absolutely no sense. Beaches and mountains compared to an industrial center? No comparison.
Sometimes people put random crap out there that doesn’t make any sense and this is one of those times. Ignore.
I agree with you. But MuchaMan happens to be a man of power & influence when it comes to opinions on travel destinations. Not sure if you know his real identity or if forum rules allow us to reveal real identities. But his words have real sway, or at least they used to.
It’s coming back to me now. Used to connect a name with that identity. And yes he has a lot of respect including from me. Maybe that article was one off. And I didn’t realize we are quoting that particular person. My bad.
Yo quiero ir!
Reviving this thread to say that this museum in Taitung, first established in 2002, has just undergone three years of renovations (!) and is finally set to reopen on May 19.
The revised exhibitions will reportedly situate Taiwan’s deep history (thousands of years before Han settlers found this place) to Austronesian cultures worldwide. It will also link this deep past to the present, with displays including artefacts such as Suming’s Golden Melody trophy which he won for the song “Aka Pisawad.” If you have not heard it, and are interested in contemporary Indigenous music in Taiwan, check out this stunning live performance from 2015:
If any forumosans have a chance to visit this latest iteration of this museum, let us know what you think. It’s now on my summer list.
Guy
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Sanxiantai
Read on local Chinese language FB group that it’s opening on Feb. 5 (2024) ahead of ChNYr after over a year of work on it .
Went by it last year while under construction. Great pics of area as no one there except a local fisherman on a tidal rock.
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藍色海灣(Bluebayou) in Donghe 東河 looks like a nice place to have some coffee or refreshments. View of Green Island on clear day.
Will say. Taitung is nice to visit in good weather. If the weather is rainy, there is absolutely nothing to do (unless you’re a crazy surfer).
I think things have changed, at least in Taitung City. With the range of excellent cafes in town, and the art museum, there are still nice things in town even on a rainy day.
Guy
Very interesting find.
View time: 15 minutes.
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Pretty busy yesterday. Still good pics.
I think this rocky beach is probably the most dangerous I’ve seen in Taiwan. Touch the water and die. No way you could run up and out of trouble.
I love the paint can of potato chips. Didn’t get one but I really hope the chips are in a bag.
Also stopped in Dulan after the Donghe run to have some pizza. I wasn’t expecting it to be any good as I saw a couple come out before ours did. Thin hard crust is not my favorite, but it was pretty damn good. Got the smoked Gouda with salami, sans capers. And a Mediterranean-ish salad. 
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