Farglory Ocean Park

Located in the Shoufeng Township of Hualien, Farglory Ocean Park is the very first theme park in eastern Taiwan. Sitting right above the coastline, the amusement park not only boasts an incredible view over the Pacific Ocean but also covers a vast area of 51 hectares. It is divided into eight different sections: Mariner's Cove (海洋村), Discovery Island (探險島), Dolphin Lagoon (海洋劇場), Main Street (嘉年華歡樂街), Harbor Square(海盜灣), Brighton by the Sea (布萊登海岸), Underwater Kingdom (海底王國), and Crystal Castle (水晶城堡).

Near the entrance, Mariner’s Cove is home to a number of coastal-themed shops, and visitors are allowed to go up to the lighthouse to have some absolutely wonderful and clear views of the sea. Discovery Island houses a giant aquarium, where the adorable sea lions will turn the heads of small children who typically show interest only in creatures like teletubbies. From here, you can also take a fun ride on the cable car to get to Crystal Castle, and the views of the coastline offered on the way will be the sheer delight. At Dolphin Lagoon, of course, the dolphins show off their latest stunts. The 250-meter-long Main Street is full of food vendors and delivers a festive carnival scene where the ocean-themed mascots such as dolphins, sea lions, sharks, and even mermaids make sure you have fun with their company. The Ferris wheel at the far south end is a crowd magnet especially for the lovebirds. Harbor Square is known for its multitude of rides that are probably not for the fainthearted, while the amusement rides at Brighton by the Sea are much milder and suitable for all family members. Underwater Kingdom is tailored for very small kids, and Crystal Castle is a towering medieval castle where live performances such as musicals, magic and stunt shows take place.

We all know that Hualien is home to myriads of beautiful hiking trails that draw in seasoned hikers from all over the world, but not everyone is physically capable of going out on a serious hike, especially those traveling with kids and senior citizens. So what else can you do in Hualien as a family? Well, an extremely fun day at the very family-friendly Farglory Ocean Park for sure!