We left our hotel in downtown Hualien at 9 am and traveled south to Chiben, in Taitung county for the night. The rain hung in there all day with a light drizzle. It had rained since day one when we started our journey. Well, we all had to learn how to get along with the nature.
My husband's friend has a private airport in Hualien. My husband decided to take us to see his friend's airport at the last moment. So, I made a phone call to his friend for visiting his airport. That was not a problem at all. He had his employee waited for us. At the same time he invited all of us for a lunch. The idea was definitively not in our plans. So I had to say no to him. Don't be surprised for this type of hospitality as it is part of the Taiwan culture.
One of my friend's hangers |
His airplanes (picture from Taipei Air Station) |
Map Source from its official website, the second link is for English map: |
http://www.erv-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?Lang=2&SNo=03000108
It was a short drive about 5 minutes from the lake to our last stop for the morning, the Chinan Forest Recreation Area . It is so called Chinan because it is located south of the lake. During the time Japan governed Taiwan, the Japan government developed many lumber collection stations, mountain railroads, and cableways for logging in the high mountain areas. Chinan Forest Recreation was one of the lumber collection stations for logging in the Mugua Mountain Range. Today, the logging industry doesn't exist because of environmental protection of mountain areas. All the lumber collection stations transformed to serve as educational and recreational purposes for the public.
After leaving Chinan National Forest Recreation Area, it was time for lunch. I arranged for a famous local special aboriginal restaurant not far away from the park for our lunch break. The restaurant is in the county side of Guangfu township which also offers several nice sightseeing spots.
Our driver said: he took tourists around Taiwan for more than four years and had never been to this place. He was surprised that we took him to visit many places or tasted different foods that he had never been or had before.
We walked around the surrounding area of the restaurant after the lunch. It was time for dessert. We would stop by the famous ice cream place--Guangfu Sugar Cane Factory. The official website calls it as Hualien Sugar Factory. Sugar Cane was one of the major agricultural products before 2002.
It was a major economic trade item for Holland in the 17th century. After Japan took over Taiwan in 1895, the Japanese government established large scale sugar cane factories around Taiwan. During the WWII, the Japanese government used the sugar cane to produce airplane fuel for the war. The sugar cane factories were very important part of Taiwan contemporary history. Most of the sugar cane factories didn't make sugar any more due to the low economic profits. Today, it has transformed into a tourist spot for its special Taiwanese style ice cream. Guangfu Sugar Cane Factory is the most well known factory on the east coast.
Life was so enjoyable having good companies and good food but the time was too short. We had to continue our journey and it would take us 3 hours driving to our hotel in Chiben which is famous for the natural hot springs in Taitung. We planed to stop by the Tropic of Cancer Marker Park for a short time on the way to our hotel. There are three Tropic of Cancer markers in Taiwan. One is in Shuishan township in Jiayi county on the west coast. The other two are in Hualien county. One is in Fengbin township of the ocean side. Another one is in Ruisui township along the East Rift Valley which was our last stop before the hotel.
We were ready for the last hour drive to Chiben and expected to have a nice natural hot spring soak for our bodies, relaxing our tired muscles.
You also can rent a pedal boat for NT$300 per hour for 2 people. |
A boat for six people for NT$ 600 per hour |
Lookout Tower |
info source: http://www.erv-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?Lang=2&SNo=03000116 |
This is one of the view from the visitor center. Lake is in the front surrounding by the mountains. |
You don't have to worry about getting wet in the rain or morning dew at the nearby campgrounds which offers A-framed wood platforms. |
Was it beautiful? |
Logging Tools Exhibition Hall |
This section explains how the loggers used the 5 cableways to transport lumbers from 2,000 meter high on Mt Mugua to the ground level. |
The cableways not only transported lumbers to the collection station, but also it carried workers (in the photo the car could carry up to 11 persons) up and down between stations along with tools and equipment. |
The Diesel Yarder was used in 1960 and retired in 1987. Now it is one of the displays in the park. |
An old logging engine and flat car with lumber. |
One half of a tree trunk made a huge Table which is located on the patio of the second floor of the visitor center. It also is a good viewing point for the surrounding area. |
Source: http://www.erv-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?Lang=2&SNo=03000128 The map shows what you can do around Guangfu Township |
Its Chinese name was curved on the wooden post. |
I was curious why there were so many betelnut leaves. |
It seemed like a BBQ food processing place. |
Amis salad (Picture is from Taipei Air Station.) |
These were the dishes we had. (Picture is from Taipei Air Station.) |
We walked around the surrounding area of the restaurant after the lunch. It was time for dessert. We would stop by the famous ice cream place--Guangfu Sugar Cane Factory. The official website calls it as Hualien Sugar Factory. Sugar Cane was one of the major agricultural products before 2002.
It was a major economic trade item for Holland in the 17th century. After Japan took over Taiwan in 1895, the Japanese government established large scale sugar cane factories around Taiwan. During the WWII, the Japanese government used the sugar cane to produce airplane fuel for the war. The sugar cane factories were very important part of Taiwan contemporary history. Most of the sugar cane factories didn't make sugar any more due to the low economic profits. Today, it has transformed into a tourist spot for its special Taiwanese style ice cream. Guangfu Sugar Cane Factory is the most well known factory on the east coast.
Enjoying the ice Cream and the companies |
Map Source: http://www.erv-nsa.gov.tw/user/Article.aspx?Lang=2&SNo=03000138
What you can do around this area. |
View of the Ruishui Township |
I lived in eastern Taiwan for 3 1/2 beautiful months during the Springtime. These pictures bring back wonderful memories. Thank you!
ReplyDeletecoffee drinking seems to be more popular in the country now; maybe they could start growing coffee beans again!
ReplyDelete