Chishingtan 七星潭 , Hualien, Taiwan

Hualien's Pacific wonderland

Chishingtan 七星潭 (literally Seven Stars Lake) is one of those places in Taiwan, where the views are purely magical. It's a bay, which is named after a lake, that used to be located nearby, but the Japanese filled it up and today the Hualien airport is found nearby. The Chishingtan is also known as 月牙灣 or Crescent Moon Bay. You can visit this part in northern Hualien City, a little bit out of the suburbs and very close to the Hualien Airport. This is one of the most beautiful scenic spots of Eastern Taiwan, if you're into photography, you'll be able to take some amazing photos there.

Check some of my photos of Chishingtang (August 2011):

Flowers and bushes embellish the flat lands.

The beautiful beach.

The beautiful beach, closer.

The clouds clashing with the mountains.

Beach goers.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

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Hualien Pine garden 松園別館

Hualien's green lung

The Hualien Pine garden 松園別館 is one of the most popular spots in the city. It used to be a military base for the Japanese navy, that has occupied Taiwan in the first half of the 20th century. Today over 200 pines are planted, giving refuge to the exhausted visitor and offering a breathtaking view of the city below. There is a café and a souvenir shop for your convenience, as well as pathways and benches to stroll around or take a rest. It's definitely a lovely place to spend an hour and enjoy the ambiance of these old pines.

See some of my photos of the Hualien Pine garden (August 2011):

The Japanese army was based here.

A view from the side.

A small lotus pond nearby.

The view on central Hualien below.

[My HUALIEN page][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

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Hualien Martyrs' Shrine (Karenkō shrine)

Hualien's legendeary temple complex

Karenkō shrine used to be Hualien's famous Japanese shrine built on the same spot where today the Hualien Martyrs' Shrine is found. The original shrine was built in 1915 during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. In the 1980s the KMT turned it into a neo-Chinese style temple complex honoring the nationalist soldiers, who fell for the home country during the World War II. Today's Martyrs' Shrine is one of the most prominent spots in Hualien City, offering a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings (source).

The hallway.

The stairways.

The shrine.

A detail.

The view.

The big door.

[My HUALIEN post][My TAIWAN TRAVEL page][All photos by MKL, 2011]

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