2-Day Cycling Tour of Hualien and Taitung | Rice Culture and Chishang Rural Scenery

During the Japanese colonial period, Chihshang, Guanshan, Haiduan, Luye, and Yanping were part of the same administrative district. Guanshan was a prominent cultural and educational center. Therefore, on Guanshan's streets, you can see important historical developments from the Japanese colonial era, such as police buildings and houses. You can even witness the evolution of the times through the renovations and changes in materials used in various buildings.

Tour the Hualien-Taitung Longitudinal Valley in Chihshang and Guanshan on an electric scooter. Learn about the rice-making process and rice varieties, and savor a large bowl of rice cooked in a US school, filled with locally sourced ingredients. This journey offers not only a relaxing ride, idyllic scenery, a relaxing atmosphere, and the delicious taste of rice, but also the chance to pick up a delicious gift.

▲ Guanshan's Japanese Nostalgia

Starting from the old Guanshan Railway Station, established during the Japanese colonial era, the tour explores over a century of wooden buildings, the station chief's quarters designed in early Japanese style, and the Guanshan Police Historical Museum, a journey steeped in cultural nostalgia.

▲ Guanshan Rice School

Established by the Guanshan Township Farmers' Association, the Rice School offers a fun and educational rice-making experience: "See, Hear, Eat, Play, and Buy." Visitors can also take home their own hand-wrapped rice as a souvenir. The school features a rice museum, a rice DIY workshop, a rice carving workshop, and an agricultural product exhibition and sales center. The traditional large bowl of rice served at the school is also a must-try.

▲ Guanshan Bike Path

The Guanshan Town Cycle Path is Taiwan's first dedicated bicycle route. Spanning 12 kilometers, it winds around Guanshan, offering smooth and comfortable terrain. Enjoy the changing scenery of the rice fields and the rustic rural landscape throughout the year. Enjoy the scenic vistas of the bush-lined path and the panoramic views of Guanshan Township from the highest point, the Sun and Moon Pavilion. A bike trip along the Guanshan Bike Path is well worth the trip!

▲ Dianguang Tribe
Located at the western foot of the Coastal Mountains, Dianguang Tribe is the site of the Hengchun Amis people's northward migration 150 years ago, settling in what is now Dianguang Village. Over a century ago, when Qing troops invaded, the indigenous people fought back fiercely, using bamboo cannons to scare off the invaders. Therefore, the sound of bamboo cannons not only bears witness to the tribe's past history, but now also serves as a symbol of welcome and hospitality for visitors. The tribe's Baoma Canteen uses locally sourced ingredients to create a feast for the senses. Vegetables from the neighboring aunt, cherry tomatoes from grandma, and more are all fresh and unpolluted. Paired with the canteen's signature dishes, such as fermented rice wine pork trotters or scallion-fried chicken thigh steaks, they are filled with the flavors of happiness.

▲ Cycling Tour in Chishang

Enjoy the gentle breeze, the fragrance of rice paddies, and the undulating waves of rice paddies in early summer and autumn. Enjoy a tea break beneath the golden trees on Brown Avenue, the breathtaking views of the mountains and rice paddies stretching across Paradise Road, and the afternoon cloud waterfalls of the Coastal Mountains. Enjoy a varied perspective while cycling in Chishang at a slower pace.

▲ Muye Resort's Adorable Animal Area ~ Feeding the Adorable Animals

The Muye Resort in Chishang has partnered with the Taipei Zoo to introduce six species of herbivorous animals: pygmy hippos, eland antelopes, Mongolian wild horses, bow-horned antelopes, Chapman's zebras, and emus. These animals roam freely in the grasslands, growing in a natural environment for both breeding and educational purposes. Explanatory signs highlight the animals' habits and characteristics, allowing adults and children to gain a deeper understanding of ecology and discover the mysteries of nature. Carrots are specially provided for guests to feed these adorable critters.