Ruisui & East Rift Valley

A hot-spring town in the middle of the East Rift Valley, with rafting down the Xiuguluan River to the sea, fresh milk from the ranch and fields of daylilies; to the south are Yuli noodles and Yuli Shrine, and across the Coastal Mountain Range lie the Pacific rock reefs of Shitiping.

Ruisui lies in south-central Hualien County, Taiwan, in the middle of the East Rift Valley between the Central and Coastal Mountain Ranges, with the Tropic of Cancer running right through it. This destination uses Ruisui as a base and stretches from Guangfu in the north to Yuli and Zhuoxi in the south, crossing the Coastal Mountain Range via the Ruigang Highway to the southern Fengbin coast. It breaks down into four areas: in Ruisui itself, drink fresh milk at Ruisui Ranch, soak in the Ruisui and Hongye hot springs, and visit the tea plantations of the Wuhe Plateau and the Tropic of Cancer marker; rafting on the Xiuguluan River runs from Ruisui Bridge all the way to the Pacific estuary at Changhong Bridge and is the signature summer activity; on the coast are the volcanic reefs of Shitiping, the Moon Cave and the Jingpu Tropic of Cancer marker; and at the valley's northern and southern ends are the daylily fields of Chike Mountain, Yuli noodles and Yuli Shrine, Antong Hot Springs, Nan'an Waterfall and the Walami Trail, plus Guangfu's Mataian Wetland, the Tafalong community, sugar-factory ice treats and Danong Dafu Forest Park. Best seasons: May–September for rafting; August–September for the daylily blossoms; October–March is the most comfortable time for hot springs; summer afternoons bring frequent thunderstorms, and rafting is suspended during typhoons. Getting there: Taiwan Railway trains take about 1 hour from Hualien Station to Ruisui Station, and most Tze-Chiang express trains stop at Yuli Station; sights in the valley are spread out, so renting a car or scooter, or cycling, is recommended. Allow 2–3 days.

Top sights

Ruisui Ranch – A dairy farm at the foot of the Central Mountain Range in the Huadong Rift Valley, offering fresh milk, cheesecake, and the chance to feed…
Ruisui Hot Spring – A carbonate-bicarbonate spring in the Huadong Rift Valley, rich in iron that gives the water a rust-brown tint. Known as the ‘Spring of Son…
Xiuguluan River Rafting – Taiwan’s most famous rafting stretch, with about 22 km of rapids from Ruisui to Chimei, cutting through a gorge in the Coastal Range.
Wuhe Plateau & Tropic of Cancer Marker – A tea-growing terrace in the Rift Valley with a Tropic of Cancer marker, the Saoba Stone Pillars ruins and honey-fragrance black tea garden…
Changhong Bridge – A red arch bridge at the mouth of the Xiuguluan River, with views of where the river meets the sea and Xibulan Islet. It is the end point o…
Shitiping – A volcanic rock coastline beside the East Coast Highway, with terraced wave-cut platforms stepping down into the sea. A good spot for sunri…
Tropic of Cancer Marker (Jingpu) – A Tropic of Cancer monument beside Route 11, with a slender white tower facing the Pacific. It is a popular photo stop on the coastal road.
Yuedong Cave – A sea-eroded cave at Gangkou village in Fengbin. Take a small boat into the underground lake inside and hear commentary in candle-like ligh…
Chike Mountain – A daylily-covered mountain on the Coastal Range east of Yuli. In late summer the slopes turn orange-red, and together with Liushi Mountain…
Antong Hot Spring – A sodium bicarbonate sulfur spring south of Yuli, with an old police guesthouse building from the Japanese occupation period. A good place…
Fuyuan Forest Recreation Area – A forest recreation area in the upper reaches of Fuyuan Creek in Ruisui, known for its camphor forest and ‘Butterfly Valley’, with creeksid…
Danongdafu Plains Forest Park – A flatland forest park of over a thousand hectares in Guangfu Township, with forest bike trails, fireflies and Rift Valley farmland views…
Hualien Sugar Factory (Guangfu) – A historic sugar factory from the Japanese occupation period in Guangfu Township. Its Japanese-style wooden dormitories can be stayed in, a…
Mataian Wetland – A spring-fed wetland in the Amis village of Mataian, where you can experience the traditional balagao fishing method and taste wild vegetab…
Nan'an Waterfall – A roadside waterfall beside Nan’an village in Zhuoxi, near Yuli. With a drop of about 50 m, it can be reached without walking and is the fi…
Yuli Town & Yuli Noodles – A transport hub town in the middle of the Rift Valley, with many long-established shops around the station. Yuli noodles and stinky tofu ar…
Yuli Shrine Ruins – Shrine ruins from the Japanese occupation period, with remaining torii, stone lanterns and an approach path. Climb the steps for a view ove…
Yufu Bike Path – A Rift Valley bike path converted from the old Taitung Line railway. Riding from Yuli to Fuli, you are accompanied by rice paddies, old rai…
Tafalong Amis Village – A large Amis village in Guangfu Township, known for red glutinous rice, the Kakita’an ancestral house and its summer Harvest Festival. A pl…
Walami Trail – A forest trail on the eastern section of the old Batongguan mountain pass route, running from the Nan’an trailhead to Shanfeng Waterfall an…

Where to eat

Ruisui Green Tea Meatball – Ruisui's signature meatballs, with skins blended with Wuhe green tea powder, a chewy texture, and bamboo shoot filling…
Laojia Houshan Home Cooking – A family-run restaurant opened by Ruisui locals, using local Hualien ingredients for dishes like taro duck, slow-braise…
Tu Mama's Meat Zongzi – A long-established meat zongzi shop in Ruisui, wrapping glutinous rice stir-fried in lard in Ruisui leaves, served with…
Huayu Ice Shop – A three-generation ice dessert parlor next to Ruisui Station. Braised pork rice with soft-boiled egg, rice noodles with…

Itineraries

In-Depth Taiwan Island Self-Drive Loop – Drive clockwise around the island, connecting the North Coast, Suhua, East Rift Valley, Hengchun Peninsula, and Alishan.
East Rift Valley and Coastal Highway Loop – Travel from Hualien to Taitung, heading south along the Coastal Highway, exploring Rift Valley rice fields, and crossin…