Liyu Lake

Introducing Liyu Lake

This very scenic 2km-long lake (Lǐyú Tán), shaped somewhat like a carp lǐyú means‘carp’ in Chinese, sits in the foothills of the Central Mountain Range about 19kmsouthwest of Hualien. It’s the largest natural inland lake in Taiwan, and has a splendid backdrop of lush green hills. It’s also blessedly free of overdevelopment. There are pavilions and walking trails and even boat rental shops along the shores, but they are mostly of wood-and-stone construction and blend in nicely with the environment.

Families with small children who enjoy camping or picnicking will like it here. There are safe bike trails around the lake, and short hikes in the nearby hills. There’s also a forest recreation centre just 1km away that highlights the history of the logging industry in Taiwan. Most kids will get a kick out of the real locomotive engines on display and the old logging equipment.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009