Comprising nine separate villages, Taimali Township sprawls along the south-east coast of Taiwan. It’s home to a large population of indigenous Amis and Paiwan people who were relocated here during the early 20th century when Taiwan was under Japanese rule. Taimali Township boasts exceptional views across the Pacific coast from a now-defunct railway station and is on the doorstep of several hot springs.
Things to do in Taimali Township
Overlooking the water in Taimali Village is the Millennium Dawn Memorial Park, a coastal reserve where you can stretch your legs along its walking trails. It’s dotted with memorials and features a stage where live music concerts are occasionally held and is fronted by a sweeping stretch of sand that’s rarely crowded.
For spectacular views across the Pacific coast of south-east Taiwan, head to the Duoliang Railway Station, which originally opened to passengers in 1992. As a result of low traffic, it was closed in 2006 and the observation deck above its tracks was expanded to create a tourist attraction. You can watch the trains coming and going while feasting on authentic Taiwanese snacks from one of the station’s food vendors.
You can coincide your visit to the Duoliang Station with a soak at the Junlin Hot Spring, where several pools of varying temperatures have been established beside the river. The river flows east to meet the Pacific Ocean at Jinlun Beach, which offers impressive views of the Jinlun Bridge - a recently-constructed landmark that spans more than three kilometres.
Getting around Taimali Township
Taimali Township is around an hour’s drive from Taitung and Taitung Airport, which has flights to Taipei, Lanyu and Lyudao. Regular trains connect to Taitung from the Taimali railway station while buses travel throughout Taimali Township. The centre of Taimali Village is compact enough to explore on foot.