Night timetable, posted on the wall at Hualien Station.
One red line first: of twenty-two bars and bistros on file in Hualien City, zero dance-floor clubs. The county has zero too. If you searched “Hualien club picks” to dance, there is no train; if you want to drink late, hear music and change stops three times, read on. Hualien club guide asked five questions at the ticket window; this board only lists departures. Every name and number comes from the Hualien City shop registry.
20:00 first train
Fuxing St 4-1, 文藝復興音樂酒吧, 4.9 stars and over 3,400, mobile 0920 321 365.
The most-reviewed shop in all of Hualien, any category. On live-music nights there are no seats after eight, call first. About ten minutes on foot from Dongdamen Night Market (Zhongshan Rd 50); enter the market at six, eat until eight, stroll over and catch the first train.
Next door at Fuxing St 2, 嗨烤活海鮮燒烤屋, 4.9 stars and over 180, for anyone eating before drinking.
22:00 second train
Guangfu St, two shops.
No. 52, Triangle bar, a perfect score and over 780, no listed phone. No. 80, 1F, 和嶼酒吧 Bar Peace Isle, 4.8 stars and over 360, phone 03 832 0183. A few dozen numbers apart, three minutes on foot.
From Fuxing St to Guangfu St is about ten minutes. At ten, this stretch is where Hualien’s people are.
瀾酒吧 蘭姆酒主題餐酒館 RUM BAR BISTRO at Zhongzheng Rd 474, 4.9 stars and over 270, for anyone who only drinks rum.
00:00 third train
Xingang St 62, Ginsman Bar 琴詩酒吧, 4.6 stars and over 560, phone 03 833 8801. Sanmin St 3, 叢林音樂酒吧, 4.9 stars and over 110, mobile listed, with music.
These two are still going around midnight. 天尼斯茶酒館tennis酒吧 at Linsen Rd 210-2, a perfect score and over 260, mobile listed, the backup.
Plainly put, Hualien at midnight and Hualien at ten are two cities. At ten the streets have people; at midnight only these few doors are lit. Each shop’s posted hours rule; call before going.
02:00 last train
After two the city goes quiet.
Guolian 3rd Rd 82, 享溫馨KTV花蓮店, 4.2 stars and over 590, phone 03 835 0668, chain private rooms, the last train on this board. 龍鳳鎮平價KTV at Guolian 1st Rd 13 with over 110, the backup.
After the last train there is no service. The waterfront is windy and dark; do not walk toward Nanbin.
Fares
The registry does not record prices. Going rate: cocktails NT$250 to 400, beer NT$150 to 250, music bars may charge a minimum on live nights. Two or three stops run a little over NT$1,000, posted prices rule. Hualien nightlife guide posted three fares, NT$500, 1,000 and 2,000, and how far each rides.
Passenger notice
The city is small. Fuxing St, Guangfu St, Xingang St and Sanmin St are within ten minutes of each other on foot; four transfers, no car.
To get home, always taxi or designated driver, under ten minutes toward Hualien Station. After the small hours taxi capacity is limited; save a company’s number before you leave. Hualien late-night transport covers getting home in a county with few services.
November to February the northeast monsoon makes city nights windy; bring a jacket for the ten-minute transfers. July and August bring summer tourists, and the first train fills before eight, so book a day ahead.
Bars around the old railway district have their own ticket in Hualien City bar belt. All twenty-two are listed on Hualien City bars and bistros.