These small quiet cities dot the East Coast of Taiwan. A basic knowledge of Chinese would be an asset to survive in these traditional towns where foreigners and western amenities are few. The perfect places for those who want to experience the real Taiwanese culture and language.

Loudong
Loudong is located in scenic Ilan County. It is known for its clean air, rain and relaxed pace of life. Rice paddies abound in the countryside in Ilan, but the cities themselves, although smaller, are still much more densely populated than their counterparts in western countries.

Hualien
Hualien is located in the center of the East Coast, not far from the renowned Taroko Gorge National Park. Although it is the largest city on the East Coast, it is still smaller and quieter than the main cities on the West Coast. Most of the people who come to Hualien stay the night as they are traveling down the East Coast Highway or use the town as a base for exploring the nearby sites.

Hiking tracks are plentiful in the national park and the surrounding areas. The Hsiukulaun River is located about 30 minutes from Hualien. It is probably the best place in Taiwan, if not all East Asia, for river rafting. A guided tour of the river is very affordable. Kayaks are also becoming common.

The main attraction in the park is the Taroko Gorge. The Central Cross-Island Highway runs through the gorge along a road chiseled into the cliffs. Without a doubt, it is one of the world's wonders of civil engineering. The sleepy town of Tienhsiang offers lodging for those who think Hualien is still too big. It's a favorite honeymoon destination, so you'll need to call far in advance.

Closer to town is a very nice beach, but it's more for looking than for swimming. Marble mining is the main industry here, aside from tourism, and small marble souvenirs abound.

Hualien is the home to 80,000 aborigines mostly from the Ami Tribe and others from the Atayal Tribe. It is not uncommon to see the aborigines performing in their traditional bright costumes, singing and dancing in a circular fashion. Markets are set up nearby selling handmade handicrafts from woven baskets to beads and dresses.

Taitung
Taitung is a small town along the southern portion of the East Coast. Although small and remote, Taitung has a domestic airport connecting its residents to the main cities and a small harbor, offering daily ferries out to Green Island and Orchid Island.

Within the city are the Taitung Aborigine Folk Arts Museum and the Dragon and Phoenix Temple that offers spectacular views of the city and sea. It also contains a collection of archaeological artifacts including coffin slabs and hand tools dating back to 3,000-5,000 years ago. In prehistoric times, it was the earliest settled area in Taiwan

The Puyuma aboriginal group makes its home in Taitung county. Special festivals highlighting traditional Puyuma song and dance shows complete with traditional clothing are held throughout the year.