Hualien Port 花莲港

Oct. 29, 2023: Our ship arrived at Hualien Port, not far from our previous stop at Hirara Port in Japan. Our Taiwanese compatriots greeted us warmly, sang, and danced on the dock as we disembarked at six in the morning.

Our day was filled with excitement as we embarked on the shore excursion organized by the cruise during this trip: a visit to Taroko National Park. Our first stop was to capture a photo in front of the sign marking the Central Cross-Island Highway. Then, we went on a 3-kilometer hike along the breathtaking Shakadang Trail, winding beside a river valley carved by a crystal-clear stream flanked by imposing cliffs and magnificent scenery.

Our journey continued with a visit to Changchun Shrine, a solemn monument dedicated to the workers who lost their lives while constructing tunnels and trails. However, our enthusiasm waned slightly when we reached the park's visitor center, which offered little to see and lacked any refreshment options. This unexpected downtime cost us fifty precious minutes of exploration.

But our spirits were soon lifted when our guide suggested a visit to Qi Xing Tan, an additional attraction. Here, we indulged in the delectable delights offered by street vendors, including small sausage wrapped with rice, scallion pancakes, and grilled squid. The flavors were simply divine, especially after our adventurous day left us famished.

As our nearly four-week cruise journey draws to a close, we anticipate our arrival at Keelung Port tomorrow. It's a bittersweet moment as we bid farewell to our voyage and eagerly anticipate returning home.

十月二十九日：花莲港离上一站日本的平良港不远，早上六点船就靠岸了。台湾同胞也很热情，在码头上唱歌跳舞欢迎我们。

今天我们参加游轮组织的岸上游，去了太鲁阁国家公园，也是这次游轮中我们唯一一次参加游轮组织的岸上游。先在东西横贯公路门牌前照个相，然后就去溪谷边的砂卡当步道徒步3公里，狭谷被清澈的溪流切割而成，岩壁陡峭，景色壮观。

接着来到长春祠，那是为纪念修建隧道和步道而牺牲的劳工们而建造的。参观完长春祠后，导游就把我们放在公园游客中心。中心实在沒什么可看，并且居然没任何吃的地方，更别说喝咖啡和吃甜点了，白白浪费了五十分钟。回到大巴，导游说带我们去七星潭，算是外加的景点。在那里，从街头小贩那里要了大肠包小肠，葱油饼和烤鱿鱼, 那味道太棒了，饿晕了的时候真是什么都好吃。

明天就要下船了，近四个星期的游轮行也将在基隆港结束，终于可以回家了。