[5 Days around Taiwan] Day 1 - All the way from Taipei to Hualien

This was a series of our backpacking journey around Taiwan for 5 days in a row together with my labmate, Zhang Yuhan and Sari from National Central University CEM. As promises after defense exam, we plan the journey, actually all the labmate want to go together but unfortunately most of them need to follow military service and need to do all kind of preparation for job interview and all that, so they cannot go with us. So here we are, the three muskeeters on Ramadhan month which was happened on July, with hot sunshine and an incredible thirst temptation but thanks God we made it ^^ I prefer to video blog (vblog) it instead of typing so many words, I am really bad at writing ahahha so that's why this blog will be filled by lots of video :D So this is where the stories begin.

Shifen Waterfall

1st spot is Shifen waterfall, it is in Taipei, Pingxi district. We were very surprised with the beauty that is presented before us when we arrived here. Real waterfalls, ahahah actually does not have any high expectation to the first spot, but it turns out the waterfall was really special! Although we cannot swim or just play with the water, but still, the scenery is awesome and peaceful. Here are some video we record so that you experience the beauty as well.

This is the front view of the waterfall.

Pingxi Lantern Festival

Second destination is near the waterfall, famous with its lantern festival let alone in this hot summer time. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival is one of the most colorful activities of the Lantern Festival. Pingxi is a remote hillside town. In the past, those who worked or farmed in the mountains faced the risk of being robbed or killed, and they used lanterns to inform their families they were safe. The lanterns do not function as signals anymore, but are now used as symbols of peace and good fortune. We had a chance to write our hope and messages through this lantern, we choose blue-color lantern and wrote our messages on that, after that we flew the lantern up there to the sky. It was an amazing experiences, and unforgettable one, since this is the 1st time I flew lantern directly. I didn't record a video here, because each of us is so immersed with the activity, so we only take some pictures to perpetuate this moment.

In the middle of our fun journey, we still remember our brothers and sisters in Palestine who cannot enjoy their freedom, so we wrote our message for them #SavePalestine #Freedom.

Nanfang'ao Fish Town

Next destination is Hualien, but on the middle of the road, we visit random places between Yilan and Hualien. One of them called Nanfang'ao, its one of the three largest coastal fishing town in Taiwan. You can see the scenery on the video below.

Shakadang (Mystery Valley) Trail

The entrance to this trail is conveniently located only a minute or so from the entrance of Tailuge (Taroko) Gorge, behind the Shakadang Toll Station. To reach the trailhead, follow the path behind the toll station that leads down toward Liwu River. After crossing the stream, follow the bank until the river forks at the Shakedang tributary. The trailhead can be found nearby on the right bank of the tributary. The trail itself is not particularly demanding, although it is wise to avoid it during the typhoon season when flooding can make the river crossings treacherous.

The river is crystal-clear and shallow enough to wade. If you explore in the water for an hour or so, you may discover Shenmi (Mystery) Valley. Taroko National Park Headquarters has finished paving the trail to Shenmi (Mystery) Valley. But there is no road behind the check post, so please do not dare to adventure. Generally, tourists only visit where it is downstream near the toll station.

Shenmi (Mystery) Valley features strange-looking marble rocks, limpid blue pool, and arduous cliffs at both sides. The pool at bottom of river is the most beautiful part of the valley. Moreover, the valley is so spacious that the visitors may camp.

Yanzikou (Swallow Groto)

Following the Central Cross-Island Highway, at Yanzikou (Swallow Grotto) the rock cliffs of the Liwu River gorge seem to reach to heaven while the river runs its swiftest and the distance between the gorge walls so narrow that they almost seem to touch each other.

Along the Yanzikou (Swallow Grotto) trail which runs about a half kilometer starting from the entrance to Swallow Grotto to the Jinheng Bridge, you can enjoy the sights of the Liwu River from nearly straight above the water, the potholes on the cliff faces, the springs sprinkled along the lower parts of the walls, as well as the famous rock formation "Chieftain's profile rock".

Changchun Shrine(Eternal Spring Shrine)

Drive from the west exit of the Changchun Tunnel of the Central Cross-Island Highway, then turn south(left) and go along the old Central Cross-Island Highway to the car park next to Liwu River, and you can see the Changchun (Eternal Spring) Shine which commemorates the 226 personnel (military veterans) who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway (1956~1960). Spring water adjacent by the Eternal Spring Shine flows all year round, and the Highway Bureau named it after "Changchun Falls." It is now scenic spot with special significance on the Central Cross-Island Highway.

Well from here onward, we are going to our hostel in Hualien and then go to Donghwa University to meet my friend and next post I will tell you about all the stories on our amazingly night journey ^^

See you around