Missed Part 1? Read our first leg covering Cingjing Farm and arriving in Hualien here.
If Day 1 was about mountains and mist, Day 2 was all about the sea, cliffs, and everything in between. This was hands-down one of the most visually stunning days of our entire Taiwan trip — driving up the east coast with the Pacific Ocean on one side and sheer cliffs on the other, with a hot spring waiting at the end. Here’s exactly how our Hualien to Yilan day played out.
Quick Overview
| Route | Hualien → Qixingtan → Qingshui Cliff → Heping → Yilan |
| Distance | ~160km north along the east coast with driver! |
| Best for | Scenic drives, nature, food, |
| Budget tip | Most outdoor stops are FREE |
| Overnight | Yilan (with in-room onsen!) |
Morning: Watching a Friend Paraglide Over Hualien
We started the morning early. My friend had booked a paragliding session over Hualien, and honestly, watching someone launch off a hillside with the Pacific Ocean stretching out below was worth every minute of waking up before sunrise.
Hualien is one of Taiwan’s best spots for paragliding, with operators offering tandem flights that give you a bird’s-eye view of the coastline, the Huadong Valley, and on clear days, all the way to the Qingshui Cliffs in the distance.
Practical info:
- Paragliding in Hualien typically costs NT$2,500–NT$3,500 for a tandem flight
- Book in advance, especially on weekends
- Sessions are weather-dependent — have a backup plan
- Best time: early morning when winds are calmer
Even if you’re not jumping off a mountain yourself, just watching the launch and cheering someone on is an experience in itself. We grabbed coffee nearby and waited — one of those slow, happy travel mornings.
七星潭 Qixingtan Beach — Hualien’s Most Beautiful Pebble Beach
📍 七星潭風景區, Hualien | Free entry | Open 24 hours
Our first proper stop of the day was Qixingtan (Seven Star Lake) Beach, just 15 minutes north of Hualien city. Despite the name, there’s no lake here — just a sweeping crescent-shaped bay lined with smooth, dark grey and blue pebbles and some of the most vivid Pacific Ocean views you’ll ever see.
This isn’t your typical sand beach. The shoreline is blanketed in polished pebbles in every shade of grey, black, and blue — and the waves crash dramatically against them, making a sound unlike any beach I’ve heard before. In the background, you can faintly see the Qingshui Cliffs hugging the coastline further north — a preview of what’s ahead.
What to do at Qixingtan:
- Walk along the pebble shore and listen to the waves
- Watch local fishermen casting lines from the beach
- Pick up a flat pebble and try skipping it (harder than it looks!)
- Catch the sunrise if you’re up early — absolutely magical
- Visit the nearby Qixingtan Visitor Center for maps and info
Tips:
- Wear comfortable shoes — heels and sandals won’t work on pebbles
- Swimming is not recommended due to strong currents and undertow
- Best visited in the morning before tour groups arrive
- There’s a bike path along the coast — rent a bicycle nearby for NT$100–150/hour
It’s free, it’s gorgeous, and it’s the kind of place you accidentally spend 45 minutes at when you planned for 15.
Lunch: 周家蒸餃小籠包 — Hualien’s Most Famous Dumplings
📍 Hualien City | ~NT$100–200 per person | Typically opens 11am
No trip through Hualien is complete without stopping at 周家蒸餃小籠包 (Zhou Jia Steamed Dumplings). This place has been a local institution for decades — and one bite tells you exactly why.
The specialty here is their steamed dumplings (蒸餃) and xiaolongbao (小籠包), made fresh throughout the day. The skin is thin but sturdy, the filling is juicy and perfectly seasoned, and the broth inside the xiaolongbao practically explodes in your mouth.
We ordered way more than we needed and had zero regrets.
What to order:
- 蒸餃 Steamed dumplings — the signature, don’t skip these
- 小籠包 Xiaolongbao — soup dumplings, handle with care
- 酸辣湯 Hot and sour soup — a perfect pairing
Tips:
- Arrive early — queues form fast at peak lunch hours
- Order by ticking items on the paper menu at your table
- Cash preferred; some items may have a minimum order
- Great value — you can eat very well here for under NT$200/person
This is exactly the kind of humble, no-frills local spot that makes Taiwan food culture so special. No fancy decor, no Instagram setup — just seriously good dumplings.
清水斷崖 Qingshui Cliff — Taiwan’s Most Dramatic Coastline
📍 Suhua Highway, Hualien | Free | Best viewed from designated lookout points
This was the moment of the day that genuinely left us speechless.
Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖) is one of Taiwan’s most iconic natural landmarks — a stretch of the Suhua Highway (蘇花公路) where sheer marble and gneiss cliffs plunge almost vertically straight into the Pacific Ocean, dropping up to 800 metres. The road clings to the cliff face, and as you drive north, the views become increasingly dramatic.
There are several designated viewpoints and parking areas where you can stop safely and take in the scale of it all. Standing at the edge with the ocean so far below and mountains looming above — it’s genuinely humbling.
How to get there:
- Drive north from Hualien on Provincial Highway 9 (蘇花公路)
- The cliff section begins around崇德 (Chongde) and extends toward 和平 (Heping)
- Key viewpoints: 崇德海濱 and 和中台地 lookout platform
Important tips:
- The Suhua Highway is a mountain road — drive carefully and slowly
- Do not stop on the road itself — only use designated pullouts
- The road can be closed during typhoons or after heavy rain
- Best photographed on clear days (mist can obscure the views, though it adds drama)
- If you’re not driving, some tour buses include Qingshui Cliff as a stop
Honestly, no photo does it justice. This was the kind of view that makes you put the camera down and just stare.
Starbucks Hualien Heping Shop — The Most Scenic Starbucks in Taiwan
📍 Heping District, along Suhua Highway | Regular Starbucks hours
This might sound like a strange highlight for a travel blog, but hear me out — the Starbucks Heping Shop (星巴克 花蓮和平門市) is genuinely one of the most photographed Starbucks locations in all of Taiwan, and for good reason.
Perched right along the Suhua coastal highway with an unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, this isn’t just a coffee stop — it’s a whole vibe. Huge windows, the sound of waves, and a cold brew with a backdrop that most coffee shops can only dream of.
We stopped here for a mid-drive break and ended up staying longer than expected, just watching the ocean.
Why it’s worth the stop:
- Oceanfront views from your table
- Great spot to rest after Qingshui Cliff
- Clean bathrooms (a precious resource on a long drive!)
- A surprisingly calm stop on a dramatic stretch of highway
Tip: This location can get crowded on weekends. Visit on weekday afternoons for a more peaceful experience. The drinks are standard Starbucks menu — the view is the upgrade.
宜蘭 斑比山丘 Bambi Land — The Cutest Animal Farm in Yilan
📍 Yilan County | Entrance fee applies (approx. NT$200–300) | Usually opens 9am–5pm
By the time we crossed into Yilan (宜蘭), the energy shifted completely — from dramatic coastline to rolling green hills and a much more relaxed, countryside pace.
Bambi Land (斑比山丘) is exactly what it sounds like — a hillside animal farm where spotted deer roam freely and you can hand-feed them. The moment you walk in and a deer trots over to you with its big eyes and twitching nose, you completely forget you’re an adult with responsibilities.
Beyond the deer, the farm also has:
- Alpacas (fluffy, judgmental, and wonderful)
- Goats and sheep
- Rabbits and smaller animals
- Scenic hilltop views over the Yilan countryside
- Cafe and snack area on-site
It’s a hit for families, couples, and honestly anyone who likes animals. We spent about an hour here.
Tips:
- Go in the late afternoon — animals are more active and the light is gorgeous for photos
- Wear clothes you don’t mind getting slightly dirty
- Check their Facebook page before going for updated hours and entry fees
Dinner: Dinner: 清溝夜市 Night Market — Yilan’s Local Evening Scene
📍 Yilan | Typically opens evenings from 5pm–10pm on WEDNESDAY ONLY! (yes only wednesday!)
After a day of driving and sightseeing, we were ready for a proper dinner — and Yilan’s 清溝夜市 (Qinggou Night Market) delivered exactly what we needed: unpretentious local food, low prices, and a lively atmosphere.
This is a neighbourhood night market rather than a massive tourist one, which is exactly the charm. You’ll find locals here more than tour groups, which usually means the food is better and the prices more honest.
What to look for:
- Fresh seafood — Yilan is coastal, so the fish and shellfish are excellent
- Braised pork rice (滷肉飯) — a Taiwanese staple done right
- Oyster vermicelli (蚵仔麵線)
- Grilled skewers and scallion pancakes
- Fresh sugar cane juice or bubble tea to wash it all down
Tips:
- Cash only at most stalls
- Come hungry — the portions are generous
- Peak hours are around 6–8pm
- Parking can be tight; consider arriving on foot or scooter if staying nearby
Night markets are one of the things I miss most about Taiwan after leaving. The noise, the smells, the casual chaos of everyone eating standing up — it just feels like real life in the best possible way.
Stay: 太子行旅 Prince Hotel Yilan — Onsen in Your Own Room
📍 Yilan City
We ended what was already a perfect day with an absolute treat: Prince Hotel Yilan (太子行旅), a stylish mid-range hotel in Yilan city that comes with something truly special — an in-room onsen (hot spring) bathtub.
Yilan is famous for its bicarbonate hot springs, which are naturally carbonated and great for your skin. Having that piped directly into your room after a full day of driving, hiking, and eating is honestly one of the best travel decisions we made on this entire trip.
Why we loved it:
- Private in-room hot spring tub — no sharing with strangers
- Clean, modern, well-designed rooms
- Central Yilan location — easy to walk to food and night market
- Friendly staff (English communication was manageable)
- Great value for what you get
Practical info:
- Book in advance — onsen rooms are popular and sell out
- Check if breakfast is included (it sometimes is as an add-on)
- The hot spring water is sodium bicarbonate type — soak for 20–30 minutes for best effect
- Rinse off after your soak, don’t use soap in the onsen tub
FAQ: Hualien to Yilan Road Trip
Do I need to rent a car? Yes, strongly recommended. Public transport along the Suhua Highway is limited, and you’ll miss most of these stops without your own wheels. Rent from Hualien city — international driving licence required or you can book a car with driver which is about NT4000 to 7000 depending on the number of people which is worth it and reduces driving stress!
How long is the drive from Hualien to Yilan? Without stops, about 2–2.5 hours. With all the stops above, budget a full day.
Is the Suhua Highway safe to drive? Yes, if you’re a careful driver and the weather is good. It’s a mountain coastal highway — stay in your lane, use pullouts for photos, and check for road closures after rain.
Best time to visit this route? Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal. Avoid typhoon season (July–September) when roads may close.
Can I do this as a day trip from Taipei? Not comfortably. Better to base yourself in Hualien for one or two nights first, then make your way north to Yilan.
📌 SaveThis for Your Taiwan Trip!
Travelling the Taiwan east coast? Save this itinerary for the perfect Hualien to Yilan road trip day — paragliding, pebble beaches, dramatic cliffs, adorable deer, and hot springs all in one.
