Whether you’re heading into Hualien City, exploring the east coast, or planning a trip to Taipei, Hualien’s public transportation system is here to help! Here's how to use buses and trains as a CSIE international student.
Main Routes
🔵 1121 — NDHU ↔ Hualien City
🟢 301 — NDHU ↔ Hualien Train Station / Dongdamen Night Market
How to Pay
Use an EasyCard 悠遊卡 (Student ID Card) or iPASS 一卡通
Tap once when you board, and again when you exit
You can top up your card at any 7-Eleven or FamilyMart
Helpful Apps
iBus_公路客運 (Real-time Bus Tracking)
Google Maps also shows routes & times
Nearby Train Stations
Zhixue Station 志學站 – only 5 minutes from NDHU by bike
Hualien Station 花蓮站 – the main station for long-distance travel
Types of TRA Trains
Local (區間車): Slow but cheap – for short trips
Express (自強號): Fast and comfortable – for big city travel
Booking Tickets
Website: https://tip.railway.gov.tw
T Express App (for e-tickets)
Ticket machines at all stations
Discount for ISIC: https://www.isic.com.tw/en/local-discount_list.html?providerId=256362
✅ Carry small cash (NT$100) — some rural buses may not accept cards
✅ Arrive 5–10 min before your bus or train
✅ Sit on the right side of the train when traveling north — better views of the coastline
These are Taiwan’s main transportation cards. You can use them on most buses, trains, metro systems, and even in convenience stores.
👉 You can buy them at 7-Eleven or FamilyMart near campus.
👉 Look for top-up machines at train stations or ask the cashier to help you.
TRA English booking site: https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip?lang=EN_US
Optional image sources: search for “花蓮公車”, “志學站”, “東華大學校園公車站” for visuals
