Hualien–Taitung Travel & Food Passport: From a B&B Spark to Local Co-Prosperity — An Ongoing Travel-Food Revolution
Between the emerald mountains of Hualien–Taitung and the Pacific Ocean, a group of people quietly dedicates themselves to this land. With a single “passport,” they connect travelers with the stories and feelings of local life.
This local publication, the Hualien–Taitung Travel & Food Passport, started as a simple discount DM. Ten years later, it has grown into a co-prosperity platform linking nearly a hundred businesses across Hualien and Taitung.
1. A Thought That Began with B&B Guests
The story began with two B&B hosts — Yang Chang-Kai (Akai) of Hualien’s “Low-Key B&B” and Qu Yi-Min (Brother Qu) of Yuli’s “Gaoliao 26-2.”
Akai is warm-hearted and full of drive, while Brother Qu, with a background in publishing and design, prefers to work quietly behind the scenes.
At first, they simply wanted to better serve their own guests, helping travelers experience local food and lodging more deeply. Unexpectedly, that intention gradually evolved into a local cultural movement.
The first two issues were just simple coupon sheets. Starting with the third, the Hualien–Taitung Travel & Food Passport took shape as a magazine with a cover and features.
The covers shifted from celebrities in the early days to everyday people and landscapes — not just a stylistic change, but a return to making the land itself the protagonist.
2. From DM to Magazine: Only Sincerity Travels Far
Brother Qu laughs: “We knew nothing at the start — we just wanted to introduce good places to travelers.”
In the early days, they paid for printing out of pocket and visited shopkeepers one by one.
Leveraging his radio and variety-show contacts, Akai helped the publication gain broader exposure.
But as things developed, they realized that while celebrities bring buzz, they can overshadow the true brilliance of the locale.
So the team chose to return to the values of “ordinary people, authenticity, and everyday life,” letting Hualien–Taitung’s nature and human warmth speak for themselves.
Now the ninth issue has been published, themed on “women-led businesses,” highlighting stories of female entrepreneurs putting down roots in Hualien–Taitung.
The next issue will focus on “independent bookstores,” letting the spirit of reading become a new landscape along the coast.
3. The Spirit of Co-Prosperity: It Starts with Curating Shops
Shops are never added casually.
Almost every newcomer is personally tried and visited by area advisors and the editor-in-chief, and generally needs a Google rating of 4.5+ to be considered.
Even more important are “care” and “warmth” — a willingness to interact sincerely with travelers, rather than simply chasing exposure.
Established old shops are steady, but actually join less often; new, small businesses tend to resonate more with the mission, keeping the overall vibe youthful and energetic.
At present, coverage reaches as far north as Xincheng in Hualien — not yet including Chongde and Heping — and extends south to Dawu.
Each area has “regional advisors” helping with operations, and photographers, writers, and local page moderators are welcome to join.
Their vision is to let more people see the beauty of Hualien–Taitung, and to make the publication a warm axis for co-prosperity between travelers and local communities.
4. The Road Ahead: Making Co-Prosperity Sustainable
Akai says, “We’re not just a magazine; we’re a platform that links businesses to one another.”
Next, they’ll launch a “Small Circles Project,” using vouchers or cooperative cashback so travelers can put local circular economy into practice while on the road.
The message of the Travel & Food Passport is this — this land should not only be “seen,” but also “walked into” and “co-lived with.”
From B&Bs to publishing, from coupons to a cultural zine — this travel-food initiative records not only landscapes, but also hearts.
With a small piece of print, the Hualien–Taitung Travel & Food Passport has brought to life the most genuine local stories of the east coast.
