Lost in Taiwan

Our first days in Hualien — and why this place slowly starts to grow on us.

Mar 12, 2026

This article was originally written in German and translated into English with the help of AI.

So here we are. In Taiwan.
In a country we probably wouldn’t have chosen ourselves for a trip.
In a city that at first feels quite sleepy and a bit “boring”. (Hualien)
For five weeks.

And the start was… a bit bumpy.

The weather:
Basically no sun during the first nine days. Instead, several heavy rain showers. And compared to Vietnam, noticeably cooler temperatures.

The language:
There are places where you can still get around quite easily even if you don’t understand the language (or the writing). This is not really one of them. Very little English. On menus, street signs, product packaging… And most people also speak only Chinese. At times you feel a bit like an illiterate person.

The sights:
Hmm. Haven’t really found them yet. Hualien is mainly known as the gateway to Taroko National Park. But after the big earthquake in 2024, large parts of the park are still closed.

The food:
Once you manage to decipher the menus with Google Translate, you can usually find something edible. But for our European taste buds, some things are definitely… an acquired taste.

The risk in the back of your mind:
We already had two or three small earthquakes. And the fighter jets flying over the city every day (there is a military airport nearby) are a constant reminder of the ambitions of the big neighbour, China.

Stronger together

Being a guest in Hoi An was easy. Almost everything there is designed for tourists.

Here in Hualien, however, you really feel the incredible value of the Traveling Village community.

19 families exploring the city every day and sharing their favourite spots in the common WhatsApp group. Despite the language barrier, this helps you quickly find good restaurants, supermarkets, gyms or places to explore.
Dedicated working groups who go out of their way to find good locations for the NEST, organize surprisingly delicious picnics with local specialties and even arrange bus trips into parts of the national park that are temporarily accessible.
A wonderful coliving house as a retreat (this time we are three families together). Our roommate Andy prepares a delicious breakfast for us every morning and Irene spoils us with fresh vegetables and homemade chocolates. And of course there are always nice people around to play, do sports or just talk — even when it rains outside.
Plenty of people who are excited to try new things. Whether it’s exotic food at the night market (right around the corner) or hip-hop and K-pop dance classes…

Maybe a hidden gem?

Thanks to the community, we slowly start to find our way around. And little by little we discover more of the good sides of this place.

Compared to Vietnam there is much more calm and order. Fewer honking scooters. More space.
Great parks, playgrounds and sports facilities — all within just a few minutes from our accommodation.
You actually try new things. Instead of always ordering the smoothie bowl in the hipster café (Vietnam), here you are almost forced to eat more authentic local food. It’s not always amazing. But it’s fun anyway.
Super friendly and helpful people. We feel safe and welcome.
Small, cute cafés, shops and restaurants that you often only discover at second glance.