Your complete guide to must-visit attractions in Taiwan, including opening hours, tickets, and tips.
For more recommendations, see the full guide.
When people think of Hualien's old street, many picture nostalgic food and ancient architecture. But if you're looking for design sensibility, handmade warmth, or want to see how young entrepreneurs are creating new businesses in old houses, you came late enough to truly appreciate this street.
Over the past five years, a quiet revolution has taken place in the Zhongzheng Road and Zhongshan Road area of Hualien's city center. While large department stores and chain stores were eating into traditional commercial streets, a group of ceramic artists, independent designers, and coffee professionals went against the tide to move into the city, transforming old houses into workshops, exhibition spaces, and experimental kitchens. They didn't come to "go retro" but to "coexist"—repairing old buildings while injecting contemporary aesthetics and entrepreneurial energy.
Three Characteristics of the Neighborhood
The first is the concentration of ceramic workshops. Hualien has the most densely concentrated ceramic creator community in Eastern Taiwan, with many studios located around the old street. What they value isn't how cheap the rent is, but the spacious old rooms, high ceilings, and the ability for passersby to stop and watch them create. Rather than being a tourist attraction, it's more like an artists' gathering place. Visitors come here usually for classes, custom orders, or simply to watch the creative process.
The second is experimentation with creative复合 spaces. The trend in recent years is clear: the old street no longer just sells souvenirs—it operates on the "experience economy." Next to a coffee shop might be a jewelry design workshop, upstairs could be a guesthouse, and the basement could be an art gallery. The owners are generally post-80s and post-90s generation, some returning from Taipei, some are young people from Hualien wanting to start their own businesses. Monthly rent for such复合 spaces typically ranges from NT$10,000 to NT$20,000, nearly half the price of city center locations—which is why they're willing to take the risk.
The third is the stories within the architecture itself. Hualien's old street preserves buildings from the Japanese colonial period through the early Republic era—Western-style shops and mixed-use structures. In recent years, the influx of creative businesses has actually created momentum for restoration. Unlike Taipei' s Zhongxiao East Road or Tainan's Shennong Street, Hualien's old street doesn't take pride in "preservation state" but in "living transformation" as an ongoing process. You'll see old houses with peeling walls, glass windows displaying contemporary art exhibitions; faded wooden doors painted in contrasting colors, yet without any pretentious vintage feel.
Four Must-Visit Creative Spots
1. Ceramic Workshop District (Mid-section of Zhongzheng Road)
Hualien is famous across Taiwan for ceramics, and the old street area concentrates 5 to 7 active workshops. Walking in, you won't see display halls of finished products—you'll see potter's wheels, glazes, kilns. Many workshops offer weekly workshop classes, typically NT$1,500 to NT$3,000 per session, including materials. If you just want to watch, most owners won't chase you away—locals and tourists are both viewed as "interested visitors" rather than "consumers," which is a very special attitude.
2. Emerging Creative Coffee Street (Zhongshan Road)
In the past three years, over a dozen independent coffee shops, small eateries, and复合 bookstores have opened. Coffee here runs about NT$60 to NT$100 per cup—lower than Songshan Creative Park prices in Taipei but higher than chain stores. The特色 is that many shops carry consignment items from independent designers or host small gallery exhibitions. The crowd usually picks up after around 3 PM; if you want to sit quietly and work, the golden hours are 10 AM to 2 PM.
3. Traditional Craft Preservation Exhibition Point (Intersection of Zhongzheng and Zhongshan Roads)
This area still preserves traditional bamboo weaving, lacquerware, and wood carving workshops. Unlike ceramic workshops, most of these workshop owners are older and willing to teach young people their skills, but typically don't open workshops to general tourists. The best approach is to go in and buy a piece, then strike up a conversation—the master craftsmen are usually happy to share why they insist on handcrafting. Bamboo baskets and wooden kitchenware range from NT$500 to NT$5,000, all one-of-a-kind designs.
4. Old House Guesthouse + Studio复合 Spaces (Throughout the District)
The most interesting phenomenon in the past two years has been old houses being converted into a "daytime studio, nighttime guesthouse" model. Visitors can watch creators work during the day and stay in the same building at night. Double rooms typically run NT$2,000 to NT$3,500 per night, including breakfast made by the owner. This type of accommodation doesn't have online reviews—information usually can only be found through Instagram or local travel Facebook pages.
Practical Information
Transportation: Take Hualien Bus Route 1 (to Linrong Xinguang) directly in front of Hualien Train Station, or walk 20 minutes. Scooter rentals are most convenient; downtown has ample parking spaces, free or NT$10-15 per hour.
Business Hours: Most ceramic workshops don't start until 10 AM and are usually closed on Mondays. Creative coffee shops rarely stay open past 6 PM; many close as early as 3 PM on Sunday afternoons. Weekends are crowded—visit on weekday mornings for a quieter experience.
Budget: Visiting without shopping is free. Coffee and drinks NT$60-120; workshop classes NT$1,500-3,500; creative products NT$100-2,000; meals NT$150-300. Most shops don't accept credit cards; ATMs are available at the train station and convenience stores across the street.
Special Reminders
Don't treat the old street like a night market. This isn't a lively tourist pedestrian mall, but a street that invites you to slow down and interact with creators. If you expect every shop to be open with bustling crowds, you'll be disappointed. But if you enjoy discovering small shops, chatting with store owners, and finding designed everyday objects, this place will give you unexpected rewards.
The old street itself lacks adequate accessibility facilities (all old buildings), making wheelchair access difficult. However, many workshops and coffee shops are on the first floor, requiring no stairs.
Bring an empty suitcase. Ceramic pieces, bamboo crafts, and handmade books are things you'll very much want to take home, but they're also quite bulky. If you exceed weight limits, the post office at Hualien Train Station offers same-day parcel delivery (shipping costs NT$200-300 depending on distance).
