When it comes to Hualien's cultural villages, most people first think of Taroko National Park, home to the Truku people, or the Hakka settlements near Ruisui Hot Springs. But if you're willing to go deeper, you'll discover that between Hualien's mountains and sea lie many villages that still preserve traditional ways of life—places without excessive commercial packaging, yet rich with authentic cultural depth.
Hualien has the highest proportion of indigenous population in Taiwan, with the Amis, Truku, and Bunun peoples distributed across the region, complemented by Hakka and Minnanan settlers who arrived since the Qing Dynasty, creating a unique cultural landscape. This time, we're not taking you to those overcrowded tourist markets—instead, we'll explore four cultural settlements with real stories to tell.
Recommended Destinations
Our first stop is the "Buluowan Plateau" in Xiulin Township. This is the core territory of the traditional Truku homeland, located within Taroko National Park. In the past, it was a village formed after the Truku people relocated following a landslide. The Buluowan Plateau is now divided into upper and lower areas. The lower plateau features a Truku traditional workshop showcasing weaving and woodcarving crafts. The upper plateau preserves some traditional houses, where guides—usually Truku elders—tell stories of ancestral migration in both their native language and Mandarin. What makes this place special is that "it's not a display, it's life"—the weaving grandmother you see may be a real worker who grew up on this land, not a performer. Admission is included in the Taroko National Park entrance fee of NT$350.
Head south for our second stop, the "Lintianshan Hakka Settlement" in Fenglin Township, Hualien County. This area was once a logging factory during Japanese colonial rule, preserving complete Japanese-style dormitories and railway systems. Unlike purely tourist-oriented villages, Lintianshan still has Hakka residents living there. Elders gather under banyan trees in the afternoon to chat in Hakka. The "Lintianshan Cultural History Studio" is operated by local cultural historians, displaying artifacts and old photographs from the 1960s. The café "Good Times Store" is run by returned youth, offering Hakka lei cha (ground tea) and handmade desserts, NT$120-180. No admission fee is required, but some exhibition halls require advance booking.
Our third stop brings us to the "Gangpu Village" (Harbor Village) in Fengbin Township along the coastline. This Amis tribe village is located beside Provincial Highway 11, facing the Pacific Ocean, and still maintains the "Ocean Festival" tradition, holding rituals on the beach in front of the village every summer. The special feature of Gangpu Village is its "proximity to the sea"—many young people in the village work in ocean-related industries, and catches are processed directly on the beach. You can stay overnight at "Jia Jin Bao Homestay" in the village, where the host will take you out to sea at 4 AM to experience traditional fishing methods—something no tour group can replicate. Accommodation is NT$1200-1800 per person including breakfast.
Our final recommendation is the "Kananan Village" in Ruisui Township, an Amis and Hakka mixed settlement famous for growing pomelo. Unlike typical agricultural tourism, Kananan's special appeal lies in "memories of the land"—village elders will take you through the orchards, pointing to an old tree and sharing that it was planted during their great-grandfather's time, recounting how different ethnic groups evolved from conflict to cooperation. The village's "Mint Lunch" studio offers no-menu cuisine using local ingredients, NT$350 per person, requiring three days advance reservation. The best time to visit is in autumn, when the pomelos ripen and the entire valley fills with the fragrance of citrus.
Practical Information
Regarding transportation: it takes about 40 minutes by car from Hualien city center to Buluowan Plateau via Provincial Highway 8 through Taroko National Park. Lintianshan is located in Fenglin Township, about 1 hour south on Provincial Highway 9 from Hualien city. Gangpu Village is on Provincial Highway 11, about 1.5 hours from Hualien city. Kananan Village is on Provincial Highway 9 in Ruisui Township, about 2 hours from Hualien city. If you don't have a car, you can take the Hualien Bus route "1127" to reach some stops, but bus frequency is low. Renting a car in Hualien city is recommended.
Regarding costs: aside from Taroko National Park admission of NT$350, most other attractions are free or donation-based. Accommodation and dining are the main expenses, ranging from NT$300-1800. Regarding opening hours: Lintianshan Cultural History Studio is open Wednesday to Sunday, 09:00-17:00. Gangpu Village experiences require advance contact with host families. Kananan Village recommends reservations to avoid disappointment.
Travel Tips
The most important thing when visiting tribal cultural villages is "respect." Contact the village in advance to confirm whether visits are permitted. Do not arbitrarily photograph residents or ceremonial sites during your visit. Keep your voice volume low, and do not take away any natural items. Hualien's mountain roads are winding. Pay attention to falling rocks and landslide conditions when driving. Bring warm clothing—temperatures can drop to 15°C even in summer at higher elevations.
These cultural villages are not suited for quick "been there, done that" visits. They require you to slow down and spend a whole day or even longer to truly feel the stories that have been沉淀 by time.
