Nestled in the scenic Huatung Valley, Fuli Township is a largely rural community of Hakka, Hoklo and Ami people in Taiwan’s east. It’s a trekker’s paradise with towering waterfalls and daylily-blanketed hillsides to explore, while it also has a rich history of rice cultivation on display at a century-old mill.

Things to do

One of the most spectacular cascades in Fuli Township is the Luoshan Waterfall, which plunges over a rocky precipice into a lush valley. Follow the wooden steps that lead to an observation platform for a distant view of the falls before continuing along the forest trail for a closer look.

In the north of Fuli Township is the 952-metre-high Sixty Stone Mountain, which offers some of the most magnificent views in Taiwan’s east. Follow the zig-zagging trail that leads through a subtropical forest and arrives at a series of viewing pavilions with sweeping panoramas across rolling hills. It’s particularly majestic in the early summer when the daylilies are in bloom, transforming the rural landscapes a golden colour.

If you’re interested in the history of rice cultivation in the region, don’t miss a visit to the Dongli Story House, a historic rice mill that was originally established in 1899. Join a guided tour to learn about the agricultural developments that took place in Hualien County over the last 100 years while admiring the vintage equipment and rice cultivation artefacts on display.

Getting around

Fuli Township is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Taitung and Taitung Airport, which has flights to Taipei, Lanyu and Lyudao. Regular trains connect to Taitung from the Fuli railway station while buses travel throughout Fuli Township. The centre of Fuli Village is compact enough to explore on foot.