This was part of our Finemakers tour exploring eastern Taiwan, Taroko and the historic streets of Hualien.
After enjoying Hualien’s beautiful natural scenery,
we headed to Pine Garden,
a historic site dating back to the Japanese colonial period.
The area was once connected with military activities,
and buildings and an air-raid shelter from that era have been preserved.
After that,
we also visited other historic buildings and explored the railway heritage around the former Hualien Station area.
Please note: This article is based on our visit in 2018 and has been updated with more recent historical and visitor information.
Visiting Pine Garden and Its Japanese-Era History
This is the historic exterior of
Pine Garden.
Located near the foot of Meilun Mountain in Hualien,
the site was used for military purposes during the Japanese colonial period.
It was associated with the former Hualien Harbor Army Military Affairs Department,
and Japanese naval personnel were also stationed in the area.
Today,
the historic buildings have been preserved as part of Hualien’s cultural heritage.
I was surprised that buildings from the Japanese colonial period had been preserved so well.
I really didn’t expect them to be in such good condition!
The buildings continued to be used for different purposes after the war
before eventually being preserved as a historic site.
Going Inside the Air-Raid Shelter at Pine Garden
Pine Garden also has an
air-raid shelter
dating from the Japanese colonial period.
Of course,
Mamarin wanted to go inside.
The stairs were narrow!
Even in her 60s,
she had to be a little careful while walking down.
It made me wonder what it must have been like for people who actually needed to use a shelter like this during wartime.
The inside was also
very narrow.
This area once had an important military role,
with its elevated position overlooking the sea and the surrounding area.
Actually stepping inside the shelter felt very different from simply reading about history.
I found myself thinking about the people who had spent time here during wartime.
What were they thinking?
How did they feel?
Thinking about it made me a little sad.
War is something I never want to experience.
Visiting the actual place made the history feel much more real.
And then,
in the middle of this serious historical visit...
another free-roaming dog appeared!!!
It seemed to have an itchy back
and kept nibbling at itself（笑）
A sudden return to everyday life.
More Japanese-Era Architecture in Hualien
Next,
we visited another historic building that is now used as a cultural facility.
The building dates back to the Japanese colonial period
and was once used as accommodation for employees of the Hualien branch of the Taipei District Court.
The Japanese-style building was constructed in the 1930s,
later restored,
and is now used for Hakka cultural activities and exhibitions.
Instead of simply demolishing an old building because it came from another period of history,
it has been restored and given a new role.
I thought that was a lovely way to preserve it(*^▽^*)
The Former Hualien Station Area Is Now Hualien Railway Culture Park
Next,
we explored the area around the
former Hualien Station.
When we visited in 2018,
our guide introduced this area to us in connection with the old Hualien railway station.
Today,
the historic railway area is preserved as
Hualien Railway Culture Park.
The former station began operating in 1910 during the Japanese colonial period
as Hualien Harbor Station.
After World War II,
it became Hualien Station,
before closing in 1982.
The old station building itself was later demolished,
but surviving railway buildings and facilities in the surrounding area were preserved and restored.
They now form part of Hualien Railway Culture Park.
I had no idea Hualien had this much railway history!
It showed us a completely different side of the city from Taipei.
Trying an
Instagrammer-style photo（笑）
Mamarin actually has her own Instagram account too!
Feel free to follow her here:
https://www.instagram.com/mamarin60/
And of course,
we had to take a photo in a railway staff-style uniform♪
It wasn’t just about studying history.
Being able to take fun photos like this made the visit even more enjoyable.
Today,
Hualien Railway Culture Park preserves important traces of the narrow-gauge railway history of eastern Taiwan.
Visitors can learn more about the development of railways in the region
and see historic railway-related buildings and facilities.
Modern Hualien Station Looks Completely Different
And this is the modern
Hualien Station.
It was large and very modern.
After seeing places connected with Hualien’s old railway history,
the contrast with the current station was fascinating.
Our two-day Taroko and Hualien tour was packed with experiences.
We saw and experienced things we would never have found by staying only around Taipei.
For Mamarin,
Hualien’s greatest attraction was still its
natural scenery.
But looking back at this trip,
I realized that Hualien is also interesting for its history,
Japanese-era architecture
and railway heritage.
Hualien’s nature and history are both worth experiencing.
When we visited in 2018,
our express train journey from Taipei took around two hours.
Train services and travel times can change,
so check the latest timetable when planning your trip.
Our Thoughts on Pine Garden and Hualien Railway Culture Park
Our Hualien trip wasn’t only about dramatic mountains and beautiful coastal scenery.
We also discovered historic buildings from the Japanese colonial period
and learned more about the railway history of eastern Taiwan.
The air-raid shelter at Pine Garden was especially memorable.
Actually stepping inside made us think more deeply about
the people who lived through that period.
But travel is never only serious.
We also dressed up for photos at the railway site,
met a random dog（笑）
and enjoyed simply wandering around.
Before this trip,
I mainly associated Hualien with places such as Taroko and Taiwan’s beautiful natural scenery.
Now I think
Hualien can also be fascinating for travelers interested in history.
Please check the latest opening information and exhibits for Pine Garden and Hualien Railway Culture Park before visiting, as conditions can change.
Disclosure:
Our Taiwan trip in 2018 was hosted by Finemakers.
At the time,
we were guided in Japanese,
which made the trip easy to enjoy even though we were relatively new to traveling in Taiwan.
Please note that Finemakers’ current tour programs, languages and booking arrangements may differ from those available during our 2018 trip.
