Li Chuan Aquafarm

Review

Li Chuan Aquafarm in Gonghe Village, Shoufeng Township, is Hualien's best-known golden clam farm. According to a 2024 Food Next report, founder Tsai Yu-chin settled in Shoufeng from Taitung in 1963 and founded the farm in 1971, naming it for standing among flowing streams. Shoufeng's underground springs stay at about 22 to 25°C year-round, and in this water the clam shells turn golden brown, hence the name golden clam; the farm calls itself the home of the golden clam.

It is more than a restaurant: a leisure farm combining aquaculture, hands-on activities and dining. The favourite activity is wading into shallow ponds to feel for clams by hand, which comes with a catty of golden clams to take home; you can also feed fish and visit the clam culture museum. The on-site restaurant serves dishes built around golden clams, and visitors often order clam soup or clam and fish ball soup, while some recommend the golden clam ice cream. None of the sources gives clear menu or activity prices, so check before you go.

Fans say clam digging is great for children, the grounds and toilets are clean, there is a nursing room, and kids learn about golden clams while playing. Critics find it heavily commercialised with somewhat dated exhibits, crowded at weekends when it is hard to get space, and some think the restaurant is pricey.

Online listings say the park opens daily from about 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; entry to the grounds is free, with separate charges for activities and the museum. The site is large with parking, so driving is easiest. In summer bring a change of clothes and sun protection for the ponds, and weekdays are quieter.

Ideal for families and travellers curious about Hualien's local industries, and it fits neatly into a Liyu Lake or Shoufeng itinerary. Dig for clams first, then eat at the restaurant with a bowl of clam soup and a main dish, and pick up clam essence or other products in the shop as souvenirs.