A must to visit.
5
Dramatic marble cliffs and deep gorges stretch across northeastern Taiwan's wilderness. Home to 500+ bird species, with trails leading through ancient canyons and mountain streams.
Taroko National Park covers Taiwan’s eastern mountains, shaped over millennia by the Liwu River cutting through marble to form the 19-kilometer Taroko Gorge. Imagine walking trails that pass the Baiyang Waterfall, crossing bridges suspended above bright blue rivers, and seeing shrines built into cliffs. The park spans 920 square kilometers, from lowland forests to peaks like Nanhu, connected by roads such as the Central Cross-Island Highway. You can walk across bridges hanging over the gorge, visit the Changchun Shrine, and see rock layers showing the area’s ancient geological shifts. The park is a 40-minute drive from Hualien City, mixing natural landscapes and human history visible in its trails and temples.
Start your trip from Hualien City, the main gateway located 15 kilometers west of the park. Public buses leave every hour from Hualien Train Station, with stops at major points like the Eternal Spring Shrine. The nearest train station is Xincheng, 7 kilometers from the park entrance; take a taxi or local bus to reach trailheads. Renting a scooter lets you stop freely at viewpoints, but drive carefully on narrow roads. Guided group tours handle transportation and permits, useful if you’re new to the area. Always verify road conditions online before heading out, as heavy rain or earthquakes can block routes.
The Eternal Spring Shrine sits next to a waterfall, built to remember workers who died constructing the Central Cross-Island Highway in the 1950s. At Swallow Grotto, flat paths let you see cliffs dotted with small caves where birds nest above the Liwu River. Zhuilu Cliff has a trail along a 500-meter drop—secure a permit online and wear hiking boots with grip. Walk through the Tunnel of Nine Turns to see marble walls lit by lamps, narrowing to just 10 meters wide in sections. For coastal views, drive southeast to Qingshui Cliffs, where rock faces fall sharply into the Pacific Ocean.
Follow the Shakadang Trail along a blue-green river for 4 kilometers, stopping at stalls selling handmade Truku crafts. On the Baiyang Trail, expect to get wet where water drips from a tunnel ceiling—carry a raincoat. The Zhuilu Old Trail takes 6–8 hours to hike, with sections requiring you to hold onto cliffside cables. If you prefer shorter walks, the Lushui Trail loops 2 kilometers through woods to a clearing with gorge views. Between July and October, check which trails are open, as typhoons can trigger landslides.
Truku communities lived in the Liwu Valley for centuries before the park’s creation; learn about their bamboo weaving at Buluowan Village. In Tianxiang, a stone marker explains how Atayal hunters once tracked game here. The red pagoda at Changuang Temple looks over the gorge, reached by climbing 300 steps from the parking area. Along the Central Cross-Island Highway, plaques list the names of workers killed during its construction.
Marble in the gorge started as ocean floor sediment, pushed upward by tectonic forces over millions of years. The Liwu River still carves deeper each year, exposing stripes of gray and white stone. Watch for a cliffside rock formation near Swallow Grotto that looks like a human face in profile. From lowland ferns to high-altitude pines, the park’s plants change with elevation, sheltering animals like Formosan macaques and mountain goats.
No fees apply for park entry, but register online for the Zhuilu Old Trail or overnight camping. Carry snacks, a refillable water bottle, and a hat—shops are rare beyond Tianxiang. Free helmets are available at Swallow Grotto and Tunnel of Nine Turns due to occasional loose rocks. Arrive before 9 AM on weekends to avoid tour groups at busy spots like the Eternal Spring Shrine. Buses back to Hualien stop running by 6 PM, so time your return if you’re not driving.
Qixingtan Beach, north of Hualien, has smooth black stones and a cycling path along the coast. Drive two hours west to Hehuanshan, where trails above 3,000 meters pass through grassy slopes that sometimes get snow in January. For hot springs, take a rough road to Lisong, where steam rises from pools beside a river. Pair these with Taroko Gorge for a three-day trip covering Taiwan’s eastern terrain.
A major earthquake in April 2024 damaged roads and trails, closing Zhuilu Old Trail until at least 2026. As of mid-2025, Highway 8 through the gorge opens only from 7 AM to 5 PM, with hourly entry quotas. The Shakadang Trail and Eternal Spring Shrine are accessible again, but Buluowan Village’s exhibits remain closed. Check the park’s website for the latest updates before booking your visit.
