Private East Coast & Jade Hunting Tour – Hualien Summer Escape
Description
Looking for something different in Hualien? Skip the usual crowds and head to Taiwan’s stunning East Coast on a private day tour filled with ocean views, hidden beaches, and a unique jade hunting experience. Explore dramatic coastal scenery with a local English-speaking guide. You'll visit quiet fishing villages, walk along rocky shores, and learn how Taiwan’s indigenous tribes treasured jade stones for centuries. Try your luck at finding your own piece of natural jade—washed ashore by the river. It’s a relaxing and unforgettable experience for nature lovers, families, and curious travelers alike.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your personal driver guide will pick-up you at your hotel / b&b or train station in Hualien City.
Baqi Observation Deck is said to be the most beautiful "turning point" of the road. When driving here from Hualien City, while going through the hairpin bends, you will notice the scenery changing suddenly from the verdant mountains on both sides to the vast Pacific Ocean, with Coastal Range towering majestically.
Dashibishan Trail is well designed, and the scenery of the scenic terrace is healing. It takes only about 15 minutes to reach an amazing view of the ocean horizon, and the magnificent wooden trestle with the blue sky, mountains and the sea as the background. This becomes a must-visit spot for bloggers and influencers for they can snap photos like a pro even without super fancy cameras or shooting skills.
Shihmen Recreation Area is a unique geological area on the coast of Hualien County. It is famous for it's large, car shaped cave. It is still a beautiful and unique stretch of coastline. Shimen literally means "rock gate" get's it's name from the caves along the coast here. The area is made up of hard sedimentary rock placed over softer sandstone, which after thousands of years of waves from the ocean, creates unique rock formations.
As one of the most famous attractions in east coast, Shitiping is known for its special geology of sea terrain including the wave-cut platforms, uplifted coral reefs, cliffs and the potholes. You can see the tropical fish in tide pools from potholes and other marine life dwell here.
During the energy crisis and economy recession in the world. The loss and deficit cause the mining company closed and no longer did mining in this area. Now the mine is closed and allow no one visit inside. However, there are some jade could be found in the downstream area of the mine: Baibow Stream (白鮑溪), which is a great place to pick the small jade stone. Have you ever dreamed of making you own jade necklace or decorations? You can walk down to the stream to pick up the Jade, then bring the jade stone back to the factory and polish them by yourself. It's sound interesting and could be regarded as an unique souvinior during the trip in Taiwan.
Liyu Lake is the largest lake in eastern Taiwan. Various activities can you enjoy in this area, such as peddal boat sailing or bicycle cycling around the lake. You can also stroll along the lakeshore walkway, appreciating the flora and fauna there. Liyu Lake scenic area is suitable for all ages, especially for the whole family.When the sun sets, clouds and mountains are reflected on the lake, and the scenery is quite beautiful.
Your personal driver guide will escort you back to your hotel / b&b or train station in Hualien City at the end of the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pick-up and drop-off available anywhere in Hualien City, including hotels, Hualien Train Station, and downtown area.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- We recommend you stay in Hualien for a few days with no rush
Reviews(16)
This was a really unique tour! Jade hunting was such a memorable experience for me! Our tour guide Jimmy is an expert jade hunter so we were able to get at least one piece of jade.
Hi Mllouie, Thank you so much for sharing your precious experience! We are thrilled that jade hunting with Jimmy was such a memorable highlight of your trip. It is truly a unique adventure, as Hualien is the only place in Taiwan where you can find these natural treasures right in the river. Finding your own piece of jade is extra special—since these stones, hand-picked by you directly from the riverbed, are a gift from nature and completely free! A piece of Taiwan Jade found by your own hands in Hualien is perhaps the most unique and meaningful gift you could take home. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Jimmy!
This was our 2nd private, full-day tour with our great driver-guide, Sam, and he didn't disappoint! We started out renting kayaks for paddling on the pretty Lake Liyu, followed by fun "jade-hunting" in a shallow river (we actually found a tiny piece!) We had spicy beef noodle soup and sides at a tiny local shop for lunch which was nice. We stopped at many very cool places along the East Coast that had amazing "other-worldly" rock formations like Shitipi and Shimen Cave. We also hiked up Dashibi Hill through amazing vegetation for spectacular coastal views! We really enjoyed both of our full-day tours with our knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating driver-guide, Sam!
Hi John, Thank you so much for joining our two-day Hualien tour (Taroko Gorge & East Coast Jade Hunting)! It was a true pleasure having you with us. We especially appreciate your thoughtful and detailed descriptions of every spot. We are thrilled to hear that Sam made your trip special and that you enjoyed the local indigenous flavors! We hope to welcome you back to Hualien again soon.
We had the best experience with Jimmy as our guide. He was so friendly and knowledgable about everything. He tailored the tour to what we were interested in and made sure we were always taken care of. Definitely recommend doing this tour if you want to enjoy nature without the stress of driving around. Jimmy really helped all of us find jade so that we could have a keepsake for the rest of our lives. We are all so happy we made the decision with this tour and would love to come back again!
Hi Vanessa, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We’re truly delighted to hear that you had such a memorable day with Jimmy. He is indeed very friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about making each tour special, and we’re glad he was able to tailor the experience to your interests and take great care of you throughout the day. You’re absolutely right—this tour not only allows you to enjoy the stunning scenery of Taiwan’s beautiful East Coast without the stress of driving, but also gives you the unique experience of treasure hunting by the river. Finding jade with your own hands makes it an especially meaningful souvenir, and truly one of the most precious keepsakes you can take home from Taiwan. Your kind words mean a lot to us and are a huge encouragement to our team. We would love to welcome you back again in the future for another unforgettable adventure!
Fun, relaxing way to spend th day. Some great views. Our guide Vincent eas very knowledgeable and gave us a great overview of the surrounding east coast and Taiwan in general.
Hi Ruth, Thank you for choosing our 2-day private Hualien experience — 《Day 1》: Custom Taroko Gorge & Hualien Private Day Tour 《Day 2》: Custom East Coast & Jade Hunting Day Tour. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed a fun and relaxing journey with stunning views along Taiwan’s beautiful East Coast. It means a lot to us to know that both days of the tour left you with great memories. Vincent’s passion and deep knowledge of Taiwan truly bring the journey to life, and we’re glad his stories and insights made your experience even more special. Thank you for traveling with us in Hualien. We hope this unforgettable two-day adventure becomes a highlight of your Taiwan trip — and we’d love to welcome you back again someday!Happy New Year!
It was a great tour with many beautiful impressions. It was all perfectly organized. From booking, to communication and airport pickup, everything was great and great class.
Dear Andy, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the tour — and a special thanks for flying all the way from Taipei to Hualien just to visit Taroko!
I had a great day exploring the east coast of Taiwan. It was a unique experience and explored places off the beaten track. I loved the bat cave and jade hunting! Alex was an excellent tour guide and I learnt a lot from him about Taiwan. He tailored the tour to my needs. 10/10. Thank you!
Hi Carmel, Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so glad you enjoyed your East Coast tour and appreciated the unique spots along the way. It was a real pleasure having such a nice and curious solo traveler like you with us. Wishing you many more great journeys ahead! Best Regards, The Team
Alex was a really fun guide and we learned a lot during this tour ! I would recommend the experience. Thank you very much !!
Hi Zoe, Thank you so much! We are happy you had a fun and informative day with Alex. Hope to see you again in Taiwan!
Had a really enjoyable and interesting day trip with Alex today. Beautiful sites along the coast, mountain river and lake, jade hunting and even a bat cave :-) Alex is a great guide, humble and talkative. Thanks for the day! Daniel
Hi Daniel, Thanks for the 5-star review! We will let Alex know what a wonderful time you had.
Alex was a great tour guide. We got to see a lot of interesting places in Hualien. We also got a chance to practice our Mandarian with him throughout the entire tour. The places you will visit are stunning. Be prepared to walk and climb stairs.
Hi,Tony: Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Hualien with Alex. Our tours are led by English-speaking guides, and we’re especially happy that you also had the chance to interact in Mandarin during the journey. It’s always wonderful when travel becomes not only about sightseeing but also about cultural and language exchange. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable experiences!
I love the tailored itinerary. This is my first time coming to Taiwan and I found Amazing Taiwan Tour through someone’s blog so naturally I asked them for recommendation. They are very helpful in giving suggestions and our guide Alex is amazing! Very cheerful, friendly and knowledgeable about the area. He was able to bring us to some hidden spots for pictures! Fully recommend this company for those coming to Hualien! ❤️ As a suggestion, perhaps can consider adding a specific tour to visit and meet the aboriginal tribes (if possible).
