Donghe

Many foreigners like to come to Taiwan for its surfing. Of the many surfing destinations on offer, the most famous would have to be Kenting. But Kenting is far from ideal: there are not many times of the year when it is suitable for surfing, many tourists visit it, and it is not unusual to hear of accidents happening to surfers. However, the East Coast has some places that are actually even more suitable for surfing, because of the fact that there are few tourists, and because of its better geology and waves. Among them, Jinzun Fish Harbor in Taitung’s Donghe is a place that holds many international surfing competitions.

Despite its surfing fame, Donghe is perhaps even more renowned for its northern Chinese style steamed meat buns - Donghe Baozi (東河包子), which can be bought from a cute little shop on Provincial Highway 11, the major road that crosses the mountains between Kaohsiung and the east’s Hualien and Taitung. Indeed many travellers just park here, order their buns and then continue on their way! Donghe’s tiny population is made up of a majority of indigenous people. Unlike the rest of busy Taiwan, you will not find many cars here. Given Donghe’s beauty, the blue of the ocean meeting with the green of the fields, the village has even been given the title of “utopia of the East Coast”. Come to Donghe for a taste of rural life in Taiwan, scrumptious steamed buns, and the endless fresh, seasonal fruits grown here.