Meilun Mountain Trail: Explore Together

Mr. Luo Xianglin, the chief editor of the Hualien County Gazetteer, wrote "Eight Scenic Views of Hualien" in 1949. These eight scenes were: "Taroko Confluence, Eight Snail Peaks Covered in Green, Returning Sails at the Harbor, Leaping Carp in Clear Pools, Nenggao Waterfall, Autumn Leaves on the Trail, Xiuguluan Gorge's Jade Water, and Antong's Warm Springs." Among these, "Eight Snail Peaks" refers to Meilun Mountain. Meilun Mountain is a landmark of Hualien City, standing out prominently in the Hualien plain. It has an elevation of 108 meters and covers an area of over 50 hectares. To its east lies the vast blue Pacific Ocean, while to its west, the Meilun River meanders through. It is Hualien residents' backyard garden and an excellent place for people to exercise and enjoy the scenery in the morning and evening. **Rich Ecology of Meilun: Hiking, Strolling, and Family Fun** Entering Meilun Mountain Park from Shangzhi Road, you'll see barrier stakes at the entrance, restricting vehicle access. Walking further up, to the right, is the Meilun Mountain Park Ecological Exhibition Hall. This exhibition hall is the first in Eastern Taiwan dedicated to firefly conservation and covers an area of about 100 ping (approximately 330 square meters). Before entering the Meilun Mountain Trail, you can visit the Ecological Exhibition Hall to learn about the delicate guests of nature. The Meilun Mountain Trail is gentle and flat, where you often see groups of two or three people walking and chatting. There's also a large, bright green family playground lawn with slides, making it a wonderful place for children to play. On a sunny winter afternoon, the joyful laughter of children fills the air, adding a lot of warmth and charm to Meilun Mountain Park. **Viewing Hualien, Enjoying Historical Charm** Above the family playground lawn, there is a hexagonal pavilion where people can rest and enjoy the view. Climbing to the pavilion, you can look down and see Hualien's unique landscape: lush green mountains framing a nearby stream. This excellent scenery, nestled between mountains and water, has always been loved by tourists. If you're lucky, you might even see fighter jets making low passes, their roaring engine sounds a distinctive feature of Hualien. Besides being a place for daily leisure and exercise, Meilun Mountain Park also preserves ancient historical relics. Meilun Mountain was previously known by names such as Biegui Mountain, Bali Mountain, Baluo Mountain, and Milun Mountain, before being officially renamed Meilun Mountain in 1951, a name it has retained to this day. Due to its strategic geographical location and elevation, Meilun Mountain became a military stronghold in Hualien. Starting from the Qing Dynasty, farmer-soldiers operating under a civil-military integration system were stationed here. During World War II, the Japanese army also built bunkers, tunnels, and other facilities below Meilun Mountain, and even the ROC armed forces were once garrisoned here. It also hosts Taiwan's only presidential guard cemetery. The Meilun Mountain Trail is a route suitable for all age groups. Not only can you enjoy family time, but you can also visit in your leisure to strengthen your body and mind, breathe in the phytoncides of nature, calm your busy life, and experience the beauty of Hualien.