The short answer
Search a direct train to Luodong first; split the journey at Hualien only when needed.
Reserved east-coast trains fill quickly on weekends and holidays. Search the full journey, then compare Taitung–Hualien and Hualien–Luodong separately. Split tickets do not guarantee the same train or seat, so leave a real connection margin.
Use Luodong for Luodong Night Market, Dongshan River Water Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts and riverside accommodation. Get off at Jiaoxi for hot springs, or Yilan for the city centre and Jimmy Park.
Yilan County gives a fastest reference of about 56 minutes from Hualien to Luodong and 1 hour 4 minutes to Yilan. Taitung journeys vary by train; the checked train 423 example left Taitung at 13:20 and reached Luodong at 16:23, taking 3 hours 3 minutes.
- Simplest
- Direct TRA to Luodong or Yilan
- Allow roughly 56–90 minutes from Hualien to Luodong, or 2h 45m–3h 30m from Taitung, depending on the train. Search your exact date.
- Checked example
- TRA train 423
- Checked times were Taitung 13:20, Hualien 15:25, Luodong 16:23 and Yilan 16:31. Treat this as a verified example, not a permanent timetable.
- Best local hub
- Luodong station and bus station
- Walk to the night market; take Green 21, route 621 or a taxi to the water park and arts centre, and route 281 or a taxi to Meihua Lake.
From Hualien and Taitung · East coast to Yilan
Direct rail is fastest and most predictable; split tickets are a seat backup, while driving suits groups with several stops.
Routes were checked on July 24, 2026. East-coast timetables, holiday route 1918, local buses and the Suhua road corridor can change, so run a fresh search for your travel date.
Direct TRA｜Hualien or Taitung to Luodong and Yilan
Take a northbound east-coast train and get off at Luodong, Yilan or Jiaoxi. Rail avoids Suhua road congestion and gives the most predictable arrival for a Dongshan River itinerary.
- Typical journey
- Hualien–Luodong about 56–90m; Taitung–Luodong about 2h 45m–3h 30m
- Adult one way
- Varies by origin and train type; the booking result shows the current fare
- Best for
- Most travellers, luggage and a dependable arrival
Split rail / route 1918｜Change at Hualien or use the holiday coach
If Taitung through seats are unavailable, compare separate Taitung–Hualien and Hualien–Luodong bookings. Hualien also has reservation-based route 1918 to Su'ao on holidays or selected dates, but road conditions make it a backup rather than the default.
- Scheduled journey
- Split rail depends on the connection; route 1918 also depends on Suhua traffic
- Adult one way
- Two rail tickets or coach plus local transfer, priced by the search result
- Best for
- Sold-out through trains and travellers comfortable changing; 1918 is Hualien-only backup
Drive or private transfer｜Highway 9 through Hualien and the Suhua corridor
Drive north from Hualien on Highway 9; from Taitung, cross the East Rift Valley to Hualien before entering the Suhua corridor. The flexibility comes with major weather, road and fatigue risks.
- In clear traffic
- Including breaks and buffer: Hualien 2.5–3.5h; Taitung 5.5–7h
- Cost
- Fuel, parking or private-transfer charge
- Best for
- Families, heavy luggage and several countryside stops after arrival
Direct TRA｜Hualien or Taitung to Luodong and Yilan
- 1Search Hualien or Taitung to Luodong or Yilan for your actual date. Book Luodong for the night market and river sights, Jiaoxi for hot springs, or Yilan for the city centre and Jimmy Park.
- 2The checked train 423 example departed Taitung at 13:20 and Hualien at 15:25, reaching Luodong at 16:23 and Yilan at 16:31. Recheck both outbound and return dates.
- 3Reserve early for Fridays, weekends and holidays. Booking straight to Luodong avoids backtracking from Yilan; walk to the market or use local buses after arrival.
Split rail / route 1918｜Change at Hualien or use the holiday coach
- 1Compare a through fare with two separate searches. If they are different trains, leave at least 20–30 minutes at Hualien; the same train number does not automatically preserve the same seat across two tickets.
- 2Route 1918 runs from Hualien Transfer Station to Su'ao Transfer Station on advertised holiday or reservation services. It is not a direct Taitung–Yilan bus, and you still transfer locally or via TRA Su'ao for Luodong and Yilan.
- 3Suhua incidents, rain, rockfall and peak traffic can delay the coach. Check iBus, Highway 168 and a rail fallback before leaving, and avoid tight onward bookings.
Drive or private transfer｜Highway 9 through Hualien and the Suhua corridor
- 1Set the first attraction or full accommodation address as the destination. From Taitung, schedule at least one proper break. Coastal Highway 11 is scenic but normally longer and suits a multi-day road trip.
- 2Check Highway 168, weather and roadside notices before entering Suhua. Yilan County lists roughly 105 kilometres by road from Hualien to Yilan, but a clear-road estimate is never a guarantee.
- 3Do not drive tired or rely on the map's uncongested time. If closures or heavy rain raise the risk, rail is usually safer and easier to time.
After reaching Luodong
How to continue to the night market, water park and major sights
The station's front side is best for walking into central Luodong; the rear side connects to the transfer station. Green 21 is the most useful sightseeing spine, but it does not run as frequently as a city bus in Taipei—check the return before getting off.
Luodong Night Market
Walk west along Gongzheng Road toward Zhongshan Park. The market fills the streets around the park and Minsheng Road. On busy evenings, include crowd and walking time in your return plan.
Green 21 also stops at Gongzheng Elementary School (Luodong Night Market). A short taxi is useful with children or in rain.
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk north along Zhongzheng North Road, or take Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station to the forestry park stop.
It works well as your first stop after arrival and pairs naturally with the night market on the same trip into central Luodong.
Dongshan River Water Park
Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Dongshan River Water Park. During major events, follow the organizer's temporary shuttle notices.
Green 21 has limited departures. With swim gear, luggage or a larger group, a one-way taxi is often worth it.
National Center for Traditional Arts
Take Green 21 or Kamalan Bus 621 to the National Center for Traditional Arts. Check the correct bay because the two routes have different schedules.
Seasonal boats may connect the NCFTA and water park, but do not rely on the boat as year-round transport.
Dongshan River EcoArk
Take a local train from Luodong to Dongshan Station. The EcoArk entrance is close to the station; not every reserved express stops at Dongshan.
Pair it with Dongshan Old Street or the riverside cycle route, and check the local train back before you start walking.
Meihua Lake
Take route 281 toward Ren Shan Botanical Garden from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Meihua Lake. Check both outbound and return departures because service is infrequent.
Old guides may still mention Green 25, which stopped running in 2026. Use route 281, another currently announced service, or a taxi.
A workable car-free plan
One day and one night, with taxis only for the awkward final legs
A morning departure from Hualien can combine Luodong Forestry Culture Park, one river attraction and the night market. From Taitung, an afternoon direct train is better followed by check-in and the market, with Dongshan River saved for the next day.
Hualien and Taitung are very different distances from Yilan. Do not copy a Hualien day plan from Taitung: if you reach Luodong in late afternoon, check in and eat first, then give the river sights a full next day.
- Depart
01
Travel north and book the Yilan-area station closest to your first stop
Use Luodong for the night market, water park and arts centre; Jiaoxi for hot springs; and Yilan for the city centre and Jimmy Park.
- 10:30
02
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk from the station, spend 1–1.5 hours, then have lunch near the station.
- 13:00
03
Green 21 toward Dongshan River
Choose either the water park or NCFTA for a longer visit; add both only if the timetable works.
- 17:00
04
Check in near Dongshan River
With luggage, take a taxi from the attraction or Luodong Transfer Station and rest first.
- 18:30
05
Dinner at Luodong Night Market
Travel light and take a taxi back, rather than building the evening around the last local bus.
Four things before departure
Treat the timetable as the structure of your day.
Reserved east-coast seats sell quickly on weekends and holidays. Search outbound and return dates separately and confirm each train's stops and fare.
Split tickets can mean different trains, platforms and seats. Leave at least 20–30 minutes at Hualien, and more with heavy luggage.
Route 1918 is a Hualien-side holiday or selected-date backup and still needs a transfer from Su'ao. From Taitung, rail should remain the first search.
From Luodong: walk to the night market; take Green 21/621 or a taxi to the water park and arts centre; use 281 or a taxi for Meihua Lake.
Connect the journey to your stay
Do not force one more transfer on the final leg.
Water Edge Garden sits between Dongshan River and open fields. With luggage from Luodong Station, the transfer station or the water park, a short taxi is usually the clearest last leg. Include the fare and wait in your plan, and use the booking contact to confirm arrival arrangements.
Sources and pre-trip checks
Confirm the day's service on official pages.
The route prioritises official TRA, Yilan County, Highway Bureau iBus, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle and Highway 168 information. The hero uses a verified real photo of Hualien Station under CC BY-SA 4.0, edited in reference-image mode to remove people.
- TRA timetable and faresTaiwan Railway Corporation
- TRA train 423 · checked official scheduleTaiwan Railway Corporation
- TRA timetable · EnglishTaiwan Railway Corporation
- TRA passenger information · JapaneseTaiwan Railway Corporation
- Official transport guide to YilanYilan County Government
- Route 1918 · Hualien to Su'aoHighway Bureau · iBus
- Green 21 Dongshan River RouteTaiwan Tourist Shuttle
- Local transport in YilanYilan County Government
- Highway 168 live road conditionsHighway Bureau
- Suhua corridor traffic and safety adviceHighway Bureau
- Original hero photo (distant view of Hualien Station, CC BY-SA 4.0)Wikimedia Commons · Mfpan9389115 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified
Last checked July 24, 2026. Trains, route 1918, local buses, fares and Suhua road conditions can change with the date, weather and controls. Follow the operators and road authority on your travel day.