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Best Food in Xiulin (2026)
Xiulin is famous for its hearty, mountain-style Taiwanese cuisine, shaped by the Truku and Atayal communities. Start with wild boar sausage, often grilled over charcoal anโฆ ๐ Must-Try Local Dishes
Xiulin is famous for its hearty, mountain-style Taiwanese cuisine, shaped by the Truku and Atayal communities. Start with wild boar sausage, often grilled over charcoal and served with raw garlic, and bamboo tube rice, where sticky rice is cooked inside a bamboo stalk for a smoky aroma. Another staple is stir-fried mountain vegetables like fern shoots and bamboo shoots, usually seasoned simply with salt and lard. For a true taste of the region, try the indigenous-style salted pork, which is cured and then quickly seared.
๐ฎ Best Night Market Stalls
The Xiulin Night Market operates every Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to 10 PM along Zhongshan Road, near the Xiulin Train Station. Look for stall number 12, which sells crispy fried chicken at NT$60 per bag, and stall number 7, known for its oyster omelets at NT$70. Another favorite is the sweet potato balls stall at the corner of Zhongshan and Minquan Roads, offering a small bag for NT$50. Arrive before 7 PM to avoid the longest lines.
๐ Breakfast Spots Locals Love
For an early start, head to Mei-Hua Breakfast Shop at 45 Zhongzheng Road, open from 5:30 AM to 10:30 AM daily. Their danbing (egg crepe) with cheese costs NT$35, and the soy milk is freshly made each morning for NT$20. Another reliable option is the cart outside Xiulin Elementary School on Minsheng Street, where you can get a traditional rice ball with pork floss for NT$40. Both places are cash-only, so bring small bills.
๐ฝ๏ธ Sit-Down Restaurants
For a sit-down meal, try the Truku Kitchen at 88 Fuxing Road, which serves set meals for NT$250 to NT$350 per person. Their signature dish is smoked wild boar with mountain herbs, and they also offer a vegetarian set with seasonal greens. Another good choice is the Taroko View Restaurant at 120 Jinfeng Street, open from 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 8 PM, with a view of the gorge. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
๐ข Street Food and Snacks
Xiulin's streets are dotted with small snack stalls, especially around the train station and the main market. Try the grilled squid skewers at the cart near the Xiulin Post Office, priced at NT$50 each and brushed with a sweet soy glaze. For something lighter, pick up a bag of roasted peanuts from the vendor on Zhongshan Road for NT$100, or a cup of winter melon tea for NT$25. Most stalls open around 11 AM and close by 8 PM.
๐ง Sweet Treats and Desserts
Cool down with a bowl of traditional shaved ice at A-Mei Dessert Shop, located at 22 Minquan Road, open from 1 PM to 9 PM. A small bowl with three toppings costs NT$50, and you can choose from red beans, grass jelly, and fresh mango in summer. Another local favorite is the peanut mochi sold at the Xiulin Farmers Market on weekends, where a box of six pieces is NT$80. For a hot option, try the sweet red bean soup at the same market for NT$40.
๐บ Drinks and Evening Bites
In the evening, the area around Xiulin Night Market transforms into a casual drinking spot. The Beer House at 15 Zhongshan Road offers local draft beer for NT$100 per glass and a plate of fried chicken wings for NT$150, open until midnight. For a non-alcoholic option, the bubble tea stand next door sells large cups for NT$45. Many locals pair their drinks with grilled skewers from the nearby stalls, which stay open until 11 PM.
๐ก Practical Food Tips
Most food stalls and small restaurants in Xiulin are cash-only, so carry enough New Taiwan dollars. Prices are generally lower than in Taipei, with a full meal costing between NT$80 and NT$250. If you are visiting during the summer, keep in mind that some outdoor stalls close on rainy days. Also, many indigenous dishes are seasonal, so ask your server what is fresh that day.
The guide's breakfast section is the most useful part for anyone actually staying overnight, since most visitors day-trip from Hualien and miss it entirely. One correction on the rice ball cart though: it only appears on school days, so weekends you're better off with Mei-Hua.
A dish the guide completely skips is ๅ็ฎ่พฃๆค้ๆนฏ, the chicken soup made with peeled chili peppers. It's a Hualien county specialty and Xiulin does it well, usually at the small places that don't bother with English menus. The clay pot version off Zhongzheng Road near the 7-Eleven runs about NT$180 and feeds two, and it's what locals order once the weather turns.
If you're into ้ฆฌๅ, the Beer House keeps a bottle behind the counter for their fried chicken wings, just ask and they'll dust it on.
This is a solid rundown, though I'd flag one thing before people build a whole trip around the night market: it isn't really a fixed nightly thing in the way the post makes it sound. The Friday and Saturday stalls along Zhongshan Road do set up, but the lineup shifts and some vendors only come every other weekend, so don't treat stall 12 or stall 7 as guaranteed. What's more reliable is the permanent cluster of eateries near the train station, which operates daily.
One dish the guide skips that's worth seeking out is ็ซน็ญ้ฃฏ done with millet instead of sticky rice. A few Truku families sell it at the farmers market on weekends and it has a nuttier, drier texture than the standard version, closer to what people actually eat at home. If you see it, get it.
Also, cash-only is right, but the bigger practical issue is timing. Most sit-down places in Xiulin close their kitchens by 1:30 PM for lunch and don't reopen until 5, so if you roll in at 2 expecting a meal you'll be stuck with convenience store food. Plan lunch before 1 or dinner after 5.
been going to Xiulin for years and the one thing I'd push back on is the NT$60 fried chicken at the night market. it's fine but the ้นน้
ฅ้ cart that parks near the Xiulin train station on weeknights does a better version for NT$50, crispier batter and they actually use ไนๅฑคๅก. no stall number, just look for the blue canopy.
the ้ฆฌๅ note in the guide is right but nobody mentions that the fresh green kind (not dried) shows up at the farmers market only around late summer. locals crush it into ้ฆ่
ธ before grilling and the flavor is completely different from the bottled stuff. if you're there in August or September ask for ้ฆฌๅ้ฆ่
ธ specifically.
one more thing, the guide says bring small bills which is true but the 7-Eleven near Zhongzheng is the only reliable ATM in the center. the post office one runs out on weekends.
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3 Days in Xiulin: Itinerary 2026
Start at 8:00 AM at the Taroko National Park Headquarters (address: 291 Fushih Village, Xiulin Township) to pick up maps and check trail conditions. From there, take the freโฆ ๐๏ธ Day 1: Taroko Gorge
Start at 8:00 AM at the Taroko National Park Headquarters (address: 291 Fushih Village, Xiulin Township) to pick up maps and check trail conditions. From there, take the free shuttle bus to Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) for a 1-hour walk through the marble cliffs. After lunch at the Taroko Village Hotel (open 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, set meal about NT$350), hike the Shakadang Trail for 2 hours. Return to Xincheng Township by bus 302, which runs every 30 minutes and takes 20 minutes.
๐ Getting Around Xiulin
Xiulin is long and narrow, so buses are your main option. The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (Taroko Route) stops at major sights every 20 to 40 minutes from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. A one-day pass costs NT$250, or use an EasyCard for NT$20 to NT$50 per ride. Taxis from Xincheng Station to Tianxiang take 40 minutes and cost about NT$800. Renting a scooter in Xincheng (NT$500 per day) gives more flexibility but requires an international license.
๐ Where to Eat
For breakfast, try the traditional Taiwanese danbing and soy milk at Xincheng Market (open 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, around NT$50). Lunch options are limited inside the gorge; the best bet is the Tianxiang Convenience Store (7-Eleven, open 24 hours) for bento boxes at NT$80. Dinner in Xincheng offers fresh seafood at Qixingtan Beach stalls (open until 9:00 PM, grilled squid NT$150). Vegetarian meals are available at the Taroko National Park visitor center cafe (NT$200 per plate).
๐ Day 2: Qingshui Cliff
Leave Xincheng at 7:30 AM by bus 1132 toward Qingshui Cliff, a 30-minute ride. Walk the Qingshui Cliff Trail (open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM) for panoramic Pacific views; the full path takes 1.5 hours. Then take bus 1141 to Chongde Beach for a 1-hour stop. Have lunch at the Chongde service area (NT$120 for a pork chop rice). In the afternoon, visit the Xincheng Catholic Church and Qixingtan Scenic Area, then return by bus 105 before 6:00 PM.
๐ Evening in Xincheng
After a day of hiking, head to Qixingtan Beach for sunset around 6:00 PM (free entry). The night market at Dongdamen in Hualien City is 30 minutes away by train (NT$25), but if you stay local, Xincheng's small night stalls open at 7:00 PM with skewers and bubble tea for under NT$100. For a quieter evening, the Chishingtan Scenic Area has a boardwalk lit until 10:00 PM. Buses back to Xiulin run until 8:30 PM, so plan accordingly.
๐จ Day 3: Tianxiang & Baiyang
Start at 7:00 AM from Xincheng and take bus 1133 to Tianxiang (40 minutes, NT$60). Visit the Tianxiang Recreation Area and the 400-year-old Tianxiang Temple, then walk the Baiyang Trail (2 hours round trip, free) to see the Water Curtain Cave. Have lunch at the Tianxiang post office cafe (NT$150 for a sandwich). In the afternoon, take the shuttle to Lushui Trail (1 hour) and return to Xincheng by 5:00 PM.
๐ฐ Costs and Tips
Expect to spend about NT$2,500 per person for three days, covering transport (NT$600), meals (NT$900), and entry fees (NT$200). Most trails and parks are free, but the Taroko shuttle day pass is NT$250. Bring cash because ATMs are scarce in Xiulin; the only 7-Eleven ATM is in Tianxiang. Book accommodation in Xincheng or Tianxiang at least one month ahead for 2026, as rooms fill quickly during weekends and holidays.
๐ Best Time to Visit
The dry season from November to April offers the clearest skies and safest hiking conditions. Avoid July to September due to typhoons and heavy rain, which often close trails like Shakadang and Baiyang. Weekdays are less crowded, so you'll have shorter waits for shuttle buses. Check the Taroko National Park website for real-time closures before you go, especially after earthquakes.
solid writeup, covers the big stuff well. one thing I'd add from living here: trail closures after quakes are no joke. After the April 2024 one, Shakadang and Baiyang were shut for months and some sections still come and go, so check the park site the morning of, not the night before, since status changes fast.
Also the 302 and 1133 buses fill up quick in the morning. If u miss one at Xincheng you're waiting a while. I usually grab the 7:00 or 8:00 departure to Tianxiang and just accept the early alarm.
For food, the Tianxiang 7-11 bento is fine but the little stalls near Tianxiang selling ็ซน็ญ้ฃฏ (bamboo rice) for like NT$100 are way better if they're open. Cash only though, which fits your ATM warning.
the guide's cost breakdown is pretty accurate but it misses one thing that bites people: the ๅฐ็ฃๅฅฝ่ก taroko route day pass is only worth it if you're doing 4+ rides, otherwise just tapping easycard is cheaper. i've done the math a few times and a typical day 1 (HQ to yanzikou to shakadang and back) comes out under NT$200 with easycard, so the NT$250 pass is a small loss unless you're hopping constantly.
also nobody mentioned the helmet situation if you rent a scooter. you need to bring your own or buy one, the rental shops in xincheng charge extra and the cheap ones are sketchy. and the gorge road gets slick fast after rain so factor that in
one more thing for day 3, the lushui trail has a section that was rerouted after the quakes and the new path is steeper than the old one, so give it more than an hour if you're not in great shape. the sign at the trailhead still shows the old timing
this is a really thorough plan, saving me a lot of the usual trip research. one angle nobody covered yet is the weather up in Tianxiang versus down at the coast. it can be pouring at Qixingtan and totally clear up in the gorge, or the reverse, so dont bail on a hike just cause Xincheng looks grim.
also fwiw the Xiangde Temple out toward Tianxiang is worth a quick stop if you have slack in day 3. its a Buddhist monastery with a huge golden statue and the bus will drop you close. not many tourists bother so its quiet.
last thing, the 7-Eleven ATM in Tianxiang is inside the store, not outside, so dont wander around looking for a machine after dark.