Located along the beautiful East Coast National Scenic Area is the Siougulyuan River. Veteran and beginning rafters alike will enjoy  the moderately challenging Siougulyuan River, with additionally provides a nice getaway from the heat and humidity. It’s easy to do, once you arrive in the eastern town of Rueisuei, a few km inland from the Changhong (Rainbow) Bridge, where you pick up the road. The raft trip runs from roughly 10 am to 2 pm, broken up with a break for lunch. When you arrive at the Rueisuei Rafting Center (get there at 9 am for the mandatory safety talk in Hokkien Chinese), you’ll get grouped with enough people to make up 7 or 8 people per raft, get your life jacket strapped on, and you’re on your way. Friendly Taiwanese will do everything to help you have a great time, although they probably won’t speak your western language. When WoWasis was there, we were the only western people among the 200 or so rafters (also maybe the only one over 30 years of age). The price is NT$ 650, which includes lunch, and a ride to and from your hotel.

About the river

Starting in the Coastal Mountain range and flowing for 103 km, the Siougulyuan is eastern Taiwan’s longest river. It drops 65 meters over the 22 km raft run. On the first segment, the course runs past deeply uplifted, stratified rock formations before reaching the Amis aboriginal settlement of Qimei (where you’ll break for lunch). These first few km of the 22 km trip are the easiest, allowing for rafters to work on their skills. The post-Qimei part of the river requires the most skill, and contains the  most challenging of the trip’s more than 20 groups of rapids. In June or July each year, Taiwan’s biggest rafting competition takes place here.

You will get wet, both from the cataracts as well as fellow rafters, who delight in using buckets to splash those in every raft within eyeshot. It’s always hot in April through October, when the water runs best, so a good splash from a passing raft is always welcome. The rafting company will help you to bag your dry clothes, label it, and will have your bag ready for you when the trip ends at Rainbow Bridge, right at the ocean.

For more information

Rueisuei Rafting Service Center
215 Jhongshan Road, Section 3
Rueisuei Township
Tel: (03) 887-5400
For additional rafting options, visit the East Coast National Scenic Area rafting website