May 19, 2026 / Hualien, Taiwan
Today, I took a day trip to Hualien. After getting ready, I went to Taipei Main Station and bought sparkling water and a burrito before getting on the train.
As soon as I sat down, I realized something.
“I should have booked a window seat.”
I had an aisle seat, so it was difficult to enjoy the view. I planned to work on the train, but I kept looking outside instead.
Arriving in Hualien
The first thing I did after arriving was buy my return ticket. I couldn’t get a reserved seat, so I decided to take the 5:20 p.m. train with an unreserved seat.
As I walked out of the station, the atmosphere felt very different from Taipei. I started exploring the area while looking for cats.
Many people had recommended Hualien, and after only a short walk, I think I understood why.
Before anything else, I went to try the famous scallion pancake.
I bought one from a blue food truck and ate it on a park bench.
It was much better than I expected.
Cycling to Qixingtan
I went back to the station and rented a bicycle.
It wasn’t electric, and it cost 150 TWD (about ¥750) for four hours.
The owner was very kind.
It had been a long time since I last rode a bicycle, but it felt great. The road to Qixingtan was beautiful, and the ride itself became part of the trip.
The last part of the route has a gentle uphill climb, so an electric bike might be easier. Still, if you visit Qixingtan, I really recommend going by bicycle.
When I arrived, I spent some time taking photos and videos.
The view was beautiful.
Where Are the Cats?
After visiting Qixingtan, I rode back into the city and continued looking for cats.
But…
No cats.
I couldn’t find the kind of places where cats usually like to stay.
At one point, I heard two cats fighting across a wide road. But I couldn’t cross, so I gave up.
Cat Found!?
As I kept riding through the city, I noticed a sign.
“LOVE MEOW.”
Cheat mode.
Later, I looked it up and found out it was a reservation-only cat café where you can spend 60 minutes with cats.
Drinks are included, too.
Louisa Coffee in Hualien
My last stop was Louisa Coffee (Min Guo Store).
There were scooters everywhere in front of the cafe.
Maybe that’s how most people get around in Hualien.
I ordered a cafe latte and worked for a while.
After cycling around all afternoon, it was the perfect place to take a break.
Heading Back
After returning the bicycle, I bought a railway lunch box and black soybean milk before getting on the train.
I cycled around Hualien, looked for cats, spent some time at a café, and headed back to Taipei.
Before I knew it, the day was over.
Next time, I’ll take a day trip to Yilan to look for more cats.
If you’d like to record the cats you meet while traveling, feel free to try MeowSnap.
→ MeowSnap (App Store)
