Hualian

Hualien is Taiwan's largest city and for many it's most picturesque. The population of the city is 350,000. The city is located in the eastern part of Taiwan where the country becomes long and narrow. The city is bordered on its backside by the Central Mountain range while it faces the Pacific Ocean. Waterways constantly crisscross the landscape throughout the area. The climate is often warm with little change in any of the seasons. Hualien is one of the world's largest marble producers and is often referred to as the City of Marble. Marble shops are found throughout the city offering large slabs of marble down to intricately carved jewelry. Hualien is known for its night markets. These markets are ideal for tasting the local cuisine, browsing through stall after stall of local crafts, handmade clothing and much more. Places not to miss are The Abode of Still Thoughts a Buddhist temple, Yenpin Prefectural Temple, Pine Garden, Chishingtan and the Hualien County Stone Sculpture Museum.