This is the part of a Hualien trip that trips people up, so we put it first. Hualien has no metro and no high speed rail, and the places worth seeing are spread out along a gorge, a coast and a valley. Here is the short answer:
- TRAIN Arrive by train. About two hours from Taipei on the fastest trains. Book the moment sales open, 28 days ahead. → The train to Hualien
- BUS Take the tourist shuttle to Taroko. The 310 runs from beside Hualien Station to the Taroko Visitor Center, via Qixingtan. → Buses and the shuttle
- TAXI Use taxis for short hops, and a charter for big days. → Taxis and day charters
- CAR Rent a car or scooter for the coast and the valley, if your licence allows. → Scooters and rental cars
- Getting hereThe trainWhich train, fares, booking and sell-outs.
- Getting hereEvery way inTrain, plane, the Suhua Highway, from north and south.
- Getting aroundBuses and the shuttleThe 310 to Taroko, passes, and live timetables.
- Getting aroundTaxis and chartersMeter fares and hiring a driver for the day.
- Getting aroundScooters and carsThe licence you need, and the roads in 2026.
- TarokoTaroko, right nowWhat is open, and the gorge road's time windows.
Which way suits your trip
| Your plan | Best way around |
|---|---|
| Hualien City, the night market, Qixingtan | Walk, taxi, or the 310 shuttle |
| The Taroko Visitor Center and the trails near it | 310 shuttle, or taxi from Xincheng Station |
| Deeper into the gorge (Tianxiang, Lushui) | Car or charter, inside the Highway 8 time windows |
| The coast road south, the East Rift Valley | Rental car or charter; or the train for valley towns |
Good to know: the train is also the easy way down the East Rift Valley. Ruisui and Yuli are on the line south, so you can do a valley day without driving. → The East Rift Valley
Sources: see each linked page. Checked October 2026.