Hualien (Taiwan China)

Hualien is a port city in Taiwan (on the island's east coast) with population around 110,000 and total area approx 29 km2 (11 mi2).

Other cruise port cities in Taiwan include Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Anping, as well as Magong/Penghu.

In 1622, the Spaniards opend gold mines here. Permanent settlements were established in 1851, when around 2200 Chinese farmers from Taipei arrived. More farmers settled at Fengchuan in 1875.

Until early 20th century, the town was named "Kiray" - after Sakiraya Taiwanese aborigines. By the start of Japanese rule, the number of local settlements remained small. After 1895, when Taiwan came under Japan's rule, its governors changed the name as "Kiray" is the Japanese word for "dislike". Eventually, the name was changed to Karen Harbour. After WW2 (1939-1945), China kept the Kanji spelling, but the city name was shortened to just Karen (Hualien) via Chinese romanization.

In 1912, the city was expanded by incorporating two villages. Karenko Town was established in 1920, and was extended in 1923 to Riran Port (currently known as "New Port"). In 1940, the city was upgraded to Karenko City. On October 25, 1945, Japan handed over Taiwan to China.

Port Hualien is the city's international port, managed by Taiwan International Port Corporation (abbrev TIPC). The company manages all 7 Taiwanese ports: Anping, Hualien, Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung, Taipei, Su-ao. Cargo ships and cruise liners from Hualien Taiwan operate on the marine shipping routes to the Middle East, as well as in Southeast Asia, to Japan and South Korea.

Hualien cruise terminal