East Rift Valley and Coastal Highway Loop
Travel from Hualien to Taitung, heading south along the Coastal Highway, exploring Rift Valley rice fields, and crossing the mountains to view the Pacific.
Explore the East Rift Valley using a combination of Provincial Highways 9, 11, and 23, without doubling back. Stay one night each at Ruisui Hot Springs, the Chishang rice fields, and the Dulan seaside, offering a more relaxed pace than a full island loop. Taroko is only visited for half-day peripheral views. Ideal for self-driving couples and returning visitors who want to travel slowly through the east, especially during the autumn harvest and daylily seasons.
The daylily season is from August to September, and the Chishang rice waves are best viewed from June to July and October to November.
Day by day
Day 1 · Hualien Cliffs and Bays
Hualien & Taroko（Qingshui Cliff、Taroko Gorge、Qixingtan Beach、Dongdamen Night Market）
Pick up your car at Hualien Station, drive north to Qingshui Cliff (approx. 1 hour), and return to the city center via Qixingtan.
Some trails in Taroko are not open; today is only for peripheral sightseeing.
Stay: Hualien City
Day 2 · Coastal Highway to Ruisui Hot Springs
Hualien & Taroko（Niushan Huting、Baqi Viewpoint） → Ruisui & East Rift Valley（Shitiping、Changhong Bridge、Ruisui Hot Spring）
Drive south along Provincial Highway 11 to Changhong Bridge (approx. 2 hours), and take the Ruigang Road to Ruisui (approx. 1 hour).
Stay: Ruisui Hot Spring Area
Day 3 · Ranch and Yuli to Chishang Rice Fields
Ruisui & East Rift Valley（Ruisui Ranch、Yuli Town & Yuli Noodles） → Taitung & Green Island（Liushidan Mountain、Mr. Brown Avenue, Chishang、Dapo Pond）
Drive south along Provincial Highway 9 (approx. 1 hour), and switch to a bicycle to explore the rice fields upon arriving in Chishang.
Stay: Chishang
Day 4 · Over the Mountains to Sanxiantai and Dulan
Taitung & Green Island（Donghe Bridge、Sanxiantai、Jinzun Recreation Area）
Take Provincial Highway 23 to Donghe (approx. over 1 hour), head north to Sanxiantai, and then take Provincial Highway 11 back to Dulan.
The Eight-Arch Bridge is under renovation and closed to pedestrians; gas stations are scarce on mountain roads, so fill up before setting off.
Stay: Dulan
Day 5 · Luye Highlands to Taitung City
Taitung & Green Island（Luye Highland、Chulu Ranch、Taiwan Museum of Prehistory、Tiehua Music Village）
Drive from Dulan along County Road 197 to Luye (approx. 1 hour), head south to downtown Taitung, and return the car.