10 Best Things to Do with Kids in Hualien

Fuxing Community in Ruishui Township is the main pineapple-producing region of Taiwan. You can see lines of maple, camphor, soapberry and other trees in the park. There's also a pineapple maze where children can explore and play hide-and-seek.

One of the most attractive sights in Fuxing Community is the yellow pineapple train that passes through endless pineapple gardens and forests, before finally reaching Menghuan Lake. You can stop and take a quiet rest in these idyllic surroundings, admiring the beautiful lakeside scenery and mist hanging over the mountains. You can also ride a modified tractor through lush farm fields. If you visit during pineapple season (July to August), you can also pick and eat delicious, juicy pineapple straight from the field. Don't forget to buy some pineapple products to take home with you – and hopefully bring you good luck!

Jhih Ka Syuan Forest Park has many forest landscapes and an outdoor pool that's open for free from July to August. The pool offers a wide range of fun facilities – you can whizz through a 2-storey rotating waterslide into the pool. Kids can have a mini battle using the water cannons in a children's pool, or stand hand-in-hand and jump over the waves in an artificial wave pool.

Away from the water facilities, Jhih Ka Syuan Forest Park's vast grass and forest areas are excellent for cycling, kite-flying and picnics. The numerous botanical gardens provide an excellent opportunity for children to learn about the rich ecosystem. There's also a unique, pyramid-shaped greenhouse that offers photo opportunities. During the Japanese occupation period, the park was the airbase of the Japanese army. A giant steel dragonfly sits on the grass to commemorate this period of Taiwan's history.

The Pacific Landscape Park, which opened in 2019, is a hugely popular attraction for kids in Hualien. The park is like a big sandpit where you can run barefoot on clean and fine sand. The playground's main attractions are the pirate ship, trampoline and bird's nest swing. The giant wooden pirate ship is decked out with climbing frames, slides, climbing ropes, horizontal bars and much more – ready to turn city kids into Captain Jack. Though the trampoline is fairly small, it's big enough for young kids to jump on.

The bird's nest swing is much quieter than the pirate ship and trampoline, but there's usually a queue in front of it. The Pacific Landscape Park is located close to the sea, so you also get to enjoy the sea views and breeze. As there is no shade, make sure to wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Li Chuan Aquafarm in Shoufeng Township is famous for its huge and fat golden clams. One of the most interesting activities here is clam picking, where people of all ages roll up their trousers and step into muddy ponds to scoop up golden clams. They're quite hard to find, but you can take home all the clams that you've picked. The clam pond is deep enough to cover your knees, so bring a change of clothes if you plan on picking clams.

You can also feed fish or make clamshell crafts at Li Chuan Aquafarm. A must-try here is fried clams. The golden clams (lâ-lá in Taiwanese) are very plump but don't have an earthy or fishy taste. Homemade clam tablets (xian ding) and clam essence (xian jing) are excellent souvenirs for those interested in traditional Chinese medicine.

Chihsing Tan Katsuo Museum is dedicated to dried bonito fish, providing a detailed introduction to the process of making katsuo (dried bonito flakes) and Hualien's fishery culture. The museum also hosts courses where you can prepare your own katsuo flakes and takoyaki (grilled octopus balls).

Parents and kids get to cook the takoyaki before adding the katsuo flakes and sauce to it. You get a great day together, along with the chance to enjoy delicious food. Chihsing Tan Katsuo Museum has also collaborated with local fishing villages to develop a variety of seafood snacks. Don't forget to get some before you leave.

Meilun Mountain Park has several climbing facilities, including a maze-like rhombus net which helps develop kids' spatial awareness as they pass through the ropes. The climbing wall is relatively flat so that small kids can easily conquer it, giving them a sense of accomplishment. Older kids are always excited by the centrifugal force generated by the park's spinning cup. They can either lie flat or sit while their parents push it.

The physical characteristics of the slope mean that the spinning cup will spin automatically if the kids are heavy enough. There are also bird's nest swings, gravel slides and other facilities throughout Meilun Mountain Park. The ground is covered with anti-fall mats as an added safety feature.

Ji-Jheng Ranch is located near the Xiuguluan River Rafting Tourist Center, by the Rueisuei Bridge. The ranch was originally a dairy farm, but has been transformed into a family-friendly attraction in Hualien. You can enjoy the peaceful Huatung Valley, away from bustling tour groups. The vast plain stretches all the way to the Central Mountain Range. The Xiuguluan River flows gently through the fields of the farm. Dairy cows reared in this unique environment produce particularly rich milk. You may well find yourself envying the local lifestyle as you walk along the stream or across the grassland, taking a few moments to appreciate the slower pace of life.

Ji-Jheng Ranch is also home to a number of gentle, small animals. You can buy a bunch of grass for your kids to get up close to the calves and lambs. There's an onsite restaurant that serves the farm's fresh milk in chicken and vegetable soup, which gives it a smooth and subtle flavor. In the shop, you can buy fresh milk and a variety of dairy products to take back home.

Tai Kai Xin Farm has been a popular attraction for families in Hualien for many years. Locals often come here during holidays to enjoy a picnic and play games on the lush premise. The farm's main draw is its free-roaming animals – you can see friendly goats munching away on the grassy fields. Kids can also stroke the Formosan sika deer if they get close enough. You can also one of the farm's beautiful horses (booking is required). When the flowers are in full bloom in summer, you'll often find many people taking photos in the sunflower fields.

Tai Kai Xin Farm is so big that you might want to consider renting an electric scooter or a bicycle if you're after a more leisurely tour. There's a paved path leading all the way to the Hualien River Estuary, where you can enjoy the seascape and watch the sunrise. A container-shaped coffee shop and a specially designed green building near the farm are also worth a visit.