Hualien is often described as Taiwan’s last unspoiled frontier. This has not stopped rabid exploitation of its mineral wealth, which has done much to disfigure the area’s scenery, nor has it prevented unregulated expansion of tourism, which has also put some notable blots on the landscape. In recent years, efforts have been initiated to reclaim Hualien’s environmental heritage, starting with the launch of the non-toxic agriculture (無毒農業) movement in 2004, which is now increasingly visible in the marketplace and is helping to burnish the area’s eco-friendly credentials.
Jumping on this bandwagon, the recent reopening of the fully renovated, remodeled and renamed Chateau de Chine, Hualien (花蓮翰品) — it was formerly the China Trust Hotel, Hualien — is pushing an eco-friendly agenda while striving to maintain the style and comfort of a top-class hotel. Chateau de Chine is one of three new brands that has been launched by the L’Hotel de Chine Group (雲朗觀光股份有限公司) over the past two years, and stands between their top-tier Palais de Chine (君品), which opened in Taipei behind Taipei Railway Station in June, and Maison de Chine brand, which now has branches in Miaoli, Chiayi and Taichung. The Hualien hotel’s facilities would rank it at around four stars, but the management has been able to draw on the experience and staff of the group’s five-star operations to give the hotel a bit of a lift, setting it apart from local competitors.
While Hualien might be notable for its rustic charm, the hotels of Hualien city are not known for their modern styling, and this is something that the management of Chateau de Chine has been at pains to remedy.
It is hard not to notice the hotel’s bright and very modern facade, which is in keeping with Hualien’s holiday mood.
Beneath the facade lies a more important part of this new venture. Chateau de Chine, Hualien is marketing itself as Hualien’s first eco-friendly hotel, and considerable sums have been spent on achieving the hotel’s green makeover. This includes features such as windows equipped with automated adjustable shutters to reduce sunlight and heat, EPS (expanded polystyrene) wall insulation, water recycling facilities and solar panels. There is even an ecological pool, home to local freshwater creatures. The newest technologies have been deployed, but visitors could remain unaware of all these developments throughout their stay, unless they read the hotel’s brochure.
According to CEO Nelson Chang (張安平), further efforts will be made to link up the hotel’s green technology with a wider public awareness of green architecture. The hotel has already taken advantage of the upcoming Flora Expo (2010台北國際花卉博覽會) to promote its eco-friendly credentials.
Chang, while unwilling to go into financial specifics of the extensive remodeling, said that in the short term, this kind of work could not be implemented on purely profit-based considerations. “At this point in time, there is no direct return on the outlay,” Chang said at an interview earlier this month. “It is about a sense of social responsibility. Financial considerations alone are insufficient to justify this ... But as for the future, if there is an increase in electricity prices, then a cost benefit is possible.”
For all its eco-friendly credentials, the customer’s comfort comes first, and the hotel’s efforts to achieve energy efficiency and an environmentally friendly vibe are never in your face.
The hotel has linked up with a number of local environmental awareness operations such as the CIDAL Hunter School (吉籟獵人學校), which provides various levels of immersion into the lives of Aboriginal hunters. This provides an opportunity to get away from the poolside or the buffet and rough it in the mountains for which Hualien is famous.
For those who would rather remain in the comfort of the hotel, fruit and vegetables from farmers participating in the non-toxic agriculture movement are available in the hotel, so visitors can take a little piece of Hualien’s unsullied produce away with them when they leave.
Chang emphasized the huge importance of working with the community to raise awareness across all of Hualien’s tourism industry. “We want more people to see this hotel, and perhaps be inspired by our endeavors,” he said. “This will raise the overall level of tourism in Hualien.”
Chateau de Chine, Hualien (花蓮翰品) is located at 2 Yongsing Rd, Hualien City (花蓮市永興路2號). Call (03) 823-5388 for bookings or visit the hotel’s Web site at hualien.chateaudechine.com. More information about the Hualien’s non-toxic agriculture movement can be found at www.hoa.tw, and additional information about CIDAL Hunter School can be found at www.cidal.com.tw.
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