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Taipei to Taitung via the East Coast: Route Guide

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The Qingshui cliffs dropping straight into the Pacific
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Drive south along Taiwan’s east through Yilan heritage, Hualien’s Pacific edge, Ruisui’s valley, Chishang rice country and Taitung’s archaeology. Taroko appears only as a separately confirmed visit to the exact areas open on the travel date; the journey never depends on a closed gorge trail.

Taipei to Taitung via the East Coast is a 420 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 6–8 days; the plan below is the 8-day version for November, built from 471 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

6–8
days
420km
distance
7
Stops
471
curated stops

Plan your own version → 6-day plan · 8-day plan · best time to go

The route

Taipei→ 70 kmYilan→ 110 kmXincheng & Taroko gateway→ 30 kmHualien→ 90 kmRuisui→ 60 kmChishang→ 60 kmTaitung

What you'll see

National Taiwan University
Stroll campus grounds surrounded by vibrant student shops and cafes.
Taipei
Institute of Yilan County History
Uncover Yilan's past through exhibitions and research activities.
Yilan
Chongde and Qingshui coastal-view circuit
Use only the exact public coastal viewpoint or partial Chongde facility that the park confirms open. Stop before any closed section and omit the circuit in unsafe weather.
Xincheng & Taroko gateway
Qixingtan Beach
Relax on a crescent bay beach with clear blue waters.
Hualien
Rareseed Ranch
Explore fertile ranch lands once a papaya farm in Wuhe Village.
Ruisui
Chishang rice-country and Dapo Pond circuit
Use Dapo Pond and a bounded public rice-country circuit. Confirm current path access and weather; bicycle rental and private-field entry are not included.
Chishang
National Museum of Prehistory
Discover ancient stone coffins and artifacts from the Peinan culture.
Taitung
National Palace Museum
Marvel at China's imperial treasures in a grand collection.
Taipei

Choose your length

6-day plan9 stops · 9.7 h transit1.5 stops/day · 1.6 h transit/daySee the full plan →8-day plan11 stops · 9.7 h transit1.4 stops/day · 1.2 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: October, November, December, January, February, March, April

This reviewed east-coast drive is offered in the cooler October–April window. It still requires live highway, earthquake-repair, rain and wind checks; Taroko is a separate conditional excursion, not a promised open gorge.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →