The Xiuguluan River is a river within Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County. It originates from Xiuguluan Mountain in the Central Mountain Range. The upper reaches flow northward along the Huadong Valley to Rueisuei, then turn eastward and cut across the Coastal Mountain Range and enter the sea at the Dakang Port. The main tributaries of the Xiuguluan River are Fuyuan River, Hongye River, Fengping River, Zhuoxi River and Lele River.
At the downstream estuary of the Xiuguluan River, there is an arch-shaped single-hole long bridge. It is like a rainbow lying horizontally. The surging river flows by. It is named ‘Changhong Bridge’. Tourists can not only enjoy the scenery of the Xiuguluan River valley upstream of the Ruigang Highway, but those who like excitement can also participate in the local well-known boating activity, which is similar to rafting. The starting point of the Xiuguluan River boating activity is at the Xiuguluan River Visitor Center, next to the Ruishui Bridge in the Huadong Valley. There is also a camping area here. Every year during the boating season from May to June, the Xiuguluan River is filled with tourists. Some families with old and young people, and some couples come here to boat on the lake, see this beautiful scenery and experience the authentic natural beauty of Hualien. The Xiuguluan River boating takes Qimei as the center and can be roughly divided into two sections. The water flow in the front section of the voyage is stable and it is an optimal voyage section for cultivating tacit understanding and training skills. The water flow in the latter section is very turbulent with continuous vortices and dangerous shoals. You can move forward without rowing, but you need to be careful to control the direction, otherwise it is easy to capsize. There are a total of 23 rapids along the whole journey. There are seven rapids from Ruishui Bridge to Qimei. The rest are distributed between below Qimei and Changhong Bridge. The seventh rapid is very thrilling. After passing several rapids in succession and passing through the Qimei Suspension Bridge, the seventh rapid is coming head-on. After passing the test of this level, you can come to the Qimei resting place and temporarily moor and rest. This place is a vast sandy beach area where many tourists eat and rest here. After Qimei, a different beautiful canyon scenery is presented. In this section of the water area, the pool is deep and wide. Along the way are a series of vortices and dangerous shoals. At this time, the real climax of boating begins. When Changhong Bridge appears, the rapids and dangerous shoals have become the past. Instead, there is a wide and gentle water area, and the boating journey ends here. From Ruishui Bridge to the estuary of Changhong Bridge, ten people in one kayak. There are staff members driving speedboats to protect around. The journey is very exciting and worth a try. The specific opening hours and business status are subject to the opening situation on that day.Must-see tips: 1. People with poor physical strength are advised not to participate in boating activities. 2. Pay attention to safety when going down to the riverside. 3. After heavy rain, when driving on the Ruigang Highway, ask about the road conditions in advance and be careful of landslide sections and falling rocks. 4. Pay attention to climate news when participating in water activities. A few days before and after typhoons are not suitable.
