Hualien Old Railroad Pedestrian Area 花蓮舊鐵道行人徒步區

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Hualien's old railway pedestrian area in the middle of the city has taken a 1.8 km old railway line and transformed into a pedestrian shopping district, much like an old street or night market. It is a worth while stroll on your next visit to Hualien. 

Background:
The original Hualien Train station was built over the current Dongdamen Night Market, however the railway was diverted in 1979, leaving the old railway left to rust. The old railway left is 1.8 km long and 6 m wide. In 2003, a plan was put in place to renovate the old railway into a pedestrian shopping area. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: The night market lies on the central eastern part of the city along Chungshan Road and Chongching Road. There is free car parking inside and free scooter parking too. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Train: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 301, or walk about 30 minutes. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook here.  
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.

Where to stay?
Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center.  If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. 
We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain.
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Tours: 
You can find more tours and activities in Hualien on Klook here or KKday here. 

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

I have been on the old railway pedestrian in Hualien many times. There are many great shops and restaurants here and near this area, and it also connects with the night market. 

If you think you can find the old railroad from the new train station you are wrong. Although it is within walking distance. 

Most of the old railway uses the old rails as well as rocks and tiles as the new surface of the road. 

It is like a night market and old street in one. 

And there are some interesting abandoned buildings here like this castle.

View higher up of the castle.

Just a few steps off the old railway you can also find Gongzheng Buns shop, the most famous pork buns or Xiaolongbao in Hualien.

Or you can also try the place next door, which sells similar things.

You can also see the people in the process of making the buns here.

Some wanton soup we had. 

Tons of Wanton soups.

Cothing area of the old railway street.

Douhua restaurant. 

More clothing shops.

Finally the road connects with Dongdamen Night Market. 

Usually Hualien also has red lanterns hung up downtown.

The lanterns can be quite photogenic. 

Celebration of black duckies.

And we end up back at Hualien Train Station. 

You can find more tours and activities in Hualien on Klook here or KKday here. 

You can also check out our full guide to Hualien here, our full guide to Taroko Gorge here, and our full guide to Taroko National Park here.

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. 

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