Translating as “Salt House”, Yanliao Village overlooks the Philippine Sea on the east coast of Taiwan. It is named after the salt-making houses that were constructed here under Japanese rule and centres around a picturesque harbour that’s home to a fleet of raft fishing vessels.
Stroll along the rocky beach to explore the small tide pools, which provide a habitat for a variety of coastal creatures. Yanliao is located where the warm Kuroshio waters and cold continental currents meet, resulting in an abundance of marine life. Backing the beach is the small Shinto shrine of Yanliao Digong.
Yanliao Village is a convenient base for hiking the Yuemeishan Trail, which traverses the rugged landscapes of the Hai'an Range. Stretching for almost five kilometres, it is a popular spot for watching Chinese goshawks soaring on the thermals. From the trail’s observation deck, there are sweeping views across the Huadong Rift Valley.
Getting there
Yanliao Village is around 30 minutes’ drive from Hualien and 40 minutes from Hualien Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia. Regular buses connect to Yanliao and the village is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the region.