Courtesy of Wei-Chun Chiang, Yoti Hsueh & Editorial Office
In the inaugural Taiwan Culture Base 2025 awards, five sites in Hualien were selected. Together with other cultural hubs, these bases weave the threads of local history and culture into spaces that embody the spirit of Hualien. Step inside, and you’ll discover the authentic flavor of this land and its people.
Practicing Life’s Lessons with Children｜Etude Bookstore
Located near Xincheng Catholic Church, Etude Bookstore was founded in 2017 by Steven Hu, who became a baseball coach and saw firsthand the family struggles and lack of educational resources in rural areas. He created the bookstore as a safe haven for children - a place where they could come after school to eat, do their homework, and read. The bookstore thus took on part of a family’s role, becoming a “home” that accompanied kids through their growth. Its visual identity features the baseball home plate as a symbol of foundation and unity, with block-like patterns suggesting solidarity, growth, and shared progress. The books here are for borrowing, not buying, making it an ideal place for travelers to spend a quiet afternoon surrounded by the fragrance of books.
INFO｜Etude Bookstore
Address: No. 252, Xinyi Rd., Xincheng Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 0929-102286
Business hours: 09:00-18:00
Lavatory: No
Ocean Sustainability Begins at the Table｜Fish Bar
Fish Bar was founded in 2016 by Wen-Chi Huang, whose mother’s family has long operated fixed-net fisheries in the Qixingtan Scenic Area of Hualien. Growing up in this environment, she naturally absorbed the knowledge of how fish are caught and prepared for the table. Initially focused on fish-eating education and preserving fishing culture, Fish Bar became Taiwan’s first fish-eating education center when it moved into the Qixingtan Visitor Center in 2024. Here, visitors learn about Taiwan’s marine species, responsible fishing, and ocean-friendly dining choices - from sea to table.
Although the center was severely impacted by earthquakes soon after its opening, government and private support helped it recover. By the end of last year, Fish Bar earned certification as a B Corporation, recognized for promoting sustainable seafood education. At Qixingtan, after watching the waves and stacking stones by the shore, visitors can stop by the Fish Bar to learn, taste, and embark on a journey together toward a sustainable future for people and the sea.
INFO｜ Fish Bar
Address: No. 32, Qixing St., Xincheng Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 03-8225898
Business hours: 10:00-17:00（Closed every Wednesday）
Lavatory: Yes
Hualien’s “Little Eslite”｜cafejade x Island of Light Shared Base
Opened in 1998, cafejade has spent over 20 years growing with Hualien, inspiring new possibilities along the way - and was once fondly called the city’s “Little Eslite.” Step inside and you’ll find leaflets and brochures filled with arts and cultural events. Over the years, countless piano and flute recitals by Hualien locals have taken place here. The café itself blends towering trees with an old house, while its expansive windows radiate a sense of boundless goodwill and quiet cultural influence.
Now run by the Island of Light Foundation, cafejade has transformed into a shared base for creativity, a name that reflects its new mission. Within this shared base, Hualien’s artists and cultural workers find not only space to create and showcase their work but also a supportive network that connects them with the local community through exhibitions, performances, and talks. It’s a place where creativity resonates with the land and its people, offering companionship to practitioners at every stage of their journey, and making it possible for them to truly build a life in Hualien—one where art is not only sustained but woven into the fabric of everyday living.
INFO｜ cafejade x Island of Light Shared Base
Address: No. 8, Mingli Rd., Hualien City
Telephone: 03-8345968
Business hours: 13:00-17:00（Closed on Saturdays and Sundays）
Lavatory: Yes
Connecting Children and Communities through Books｜Kita Bookshop
Kita Bookshop sits in the Rinahem community of the Amis people in Shoufeng Township. It was founded by former radio host Ching-Sheng Lin, who, after stepping away from broadcasting, committed himself to “walking alongside a whole generation of children with books.” In late 2024, he opened this community-based bookshop, devoted to the essence of reading. From its book selection to the way the space is arranged, everything reflects a quiet care for both children and the land. This is more than a place to buy books. It has become a cultural hub where local children can come and go freely, a third space woven into daily life where reading feels natural and accessible.
The shop also connects with nearby schools, indigenous communities, and travelers. It hosts book launches, film screenings, tarot readings, and participates in the “Bookstream Hualien” literary fair. Rather than being driven by commercial forces, Kita Bookshop moves gently forward on a foundation of romance and conviction. It has evolved into a gathering place for dialogue within the village and a destination for travelers seeking the soul-stirring experience of reading rooted in place.
INFO｜Kita Bookshop
Address: No. 86-1, Sec. 7, Zhongshan Rd., Shoufeng Township, Hualien County
Business hours: 13:00-18:00（Closed from Tuesday to Thursday）
Lavatory: Yes
An Old Theater Reborn as a Community Landmark｜Fengtian Datong Theater
In the 1960s, the Datong Theater in Fengtian Village, Shoufeng Township, was the only entertainment venue in the area. After standing abandoned for more than forty years, it was revived in 2023 by a group of young people who had returned to their hometown. Today, it is run by the Nlica Community Association and has become a lively hub that combines a café and dessert space (Bando Studio), children’s play areas, stage performances, and art markets. It brings together local farmers, performers, and residents, creating a place where generations can share and interact across ages.
Guided by the vision of “the village as a classroom,” the association promotes child-friendly spaces and develops teaching tools for elder care. To address the real challenges of local development, it also collaborates closely with youth-led community groups through the “Mount County” platform, integrating local crafts, agriculture, and cultural performances. The reopening of the old theater is more than spatial reuse - it has become a living stage where everyday life itself is enacted as community practice.
INFO｜ Fengtian Datong Theater
Address: No. 28, Fengshan St., Shoufeng Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 03-8650338
Business hours: 11:00-17:00（Closed every Sunday to Tuesday）
Lavatory: Yes
A Place Where Spirits Meet｜Pising Bookstore
Located in Guangfu Township’s arts and culture base, Pising Bookstore was once known as “Pasela’an Slow Book House” in the former station master’s residence at TRA Guangfu Station. When the lease expired in 2024, it moved to its current location nearby. “Pising” means “face” in the Amis language, symbolizing the meeting of minds and hearts that strengthens community ties and sparks new cultural vitality.
The bookstore is run by Awa Liu from Changhua and her husband Moli Kati of the Tafalong Amis community. They first met through a theater camp in Hualien, and together they now shape this space with shared dedication. Pising Bookstore offers more than books for sale. It features picture books and indigenous works, exhibitions of local authors, regular reading events, and displays of local handicrafts. Collaborating with friendly businesses in Guangfu, it also hosts talks and activities. In this way, Pising is more than a bookstore - it is a space where intentions and affections converge, where hearts meet, and community grows.
INFO｜Pising Bookstore
Address: No. 127-1, Sec. 1, Zhongzheng Rd., Guangfu Township, Hualien County
Telephone: 0910-569143
Business hours: 13:00-18:00（Thursday to Sunday）
Lavatory: Yes