The east is Taiwan’s premier outdoor playground, and an ideal environment combining knockout scenery and good roads. Cut off from the country’s crowded west and north by the cloud-piercing central range, the East Coast National Scenic Area and East Rift Valley National Scenic Area are defined by picturesque landscapes and outdoor activities like hiking, surfing, snorkelling, diving, and whitewater rafting on rivers such as the Xiuguluan. The main cities of Hualien and Taitung are fairly slow-paced and well equipped for tourism, with numerous nearby attractions. While the region is best known for the awe-inspiring Taroko Gorge – the centrepiece of Taroko National Park – it encompasses a broad array of geological wonders and Taiwan’s most diverse national park along with island’s top tourist destinations.