TAROKO NATIONAL PARK & QINGSHUI CLIFF
Taroko National Park in Hualien is home to the world’s largest marble canyon, dozens of hiking trails, countless opportunities for photography enthusiasts, and the island’s most iconic cliff walk. The National Park is also bisected by one of Taiwan’s most impressive roads—the Central Cross-Island Highway—which travels from Manbo Beach outside of Taroko, all the way to one of the park’s highest 3,000 meter peaks, Hehuanshan.
Qingshui Cliff
Qingshui Cliff, where several of the park’s 2,000 meter mountains drop precipitously into the Pacific Ocean, is one of Taroko National Park’s most accessible natural wonders, and is often the first sight most visitors see if traveling from Taipei. This substantial elevation drop is one of the rarest in the world and only rivaled by the fjords of Norway. The road trip along the Suhua Highway—the only road connecting Hualien to Yilan, which happens to run along these unforgiving cliffs—is breathtaking. A series of new tunnels have dramatically shortened the trip, and now, day trips to Taroko from Taipei are possible via car as well as rail. Several lookout points along the highway offer unbeatable views of the cliffs and the turquoise ocean just below. During the summer, sunrise kayaking tours offer yet another perspective on this natural marvel.
Central Cross-Island Highway
The Central Cross-Island Highway, which travels through Taroko Gorge and along the pristine Liwu River, takes visitors underneath sheer cliffs that rise up to 500 meters above the road. The trip up into the gorge passes countless bridges and numerous temples, and for those traveling to the upper reaches of the gorge, requires navigating single lane switchbacks. At a certain point, one of the island’s most impressive hiking trails, the Zhuilu Old Trail, can be seen directly above.
Zhuilu Old Trail
One of Taroko National Park’s most strenuous and unique trails, the Zhuilu Old Trail (also known as “Zhuilu Old Road”) is a hike for daredevils. Permits are necessary for each hiker and may be applied for up to two months in advance. The trail climbs hundreds of meters above the gorge, passing through indigenous settlements, the ruins of Japanese police stations, and dramatic suspension bridges along the way. The thrilling final section, a 500-meter-long exposed ledge, is the main attraction here. As the cliff-walk portion doesn’t have many barriers, hikers who attempt the hike should be comfortable with walking on exposed paths and using steel chains.
Buluowan Suspension Bridge and Recreation Area
The park also offers accessible and wheelchair-friendly thrills in the form of the newly opened Buluowan Suspension Bridge, and the Swallow Grotto Trail, among others. The Buluowan Suspension Bridge offers an experience similar to the Zhuilu Old Trail, but without the potentially tiring hike. From the bridge, which is suspended 152 meters directly above the river, visitors can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the gorge. The entire length of the half-kilometer trail, including the 196-meter-long bridge, is accessible to wheelchair users.
Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) Trail
Just a bit farther into the gorge, the Swallow Grotto Trail, otherwise known as the “Yanzikou” Trail, is another of Taroko National Park’s popular and iconic destinations, and it’s suitable for visitors of all ages. This easy and accessible walking path traces up the narrowest section of Taroko Gorge through a series of tunnels, allowing visitors to peer directly down into Liwu River and experience its erosive power from within the canyon walls.
Shakadang Trail
The “Mysterious Valley Trail”, otherwise known as the Shakadang Trail, is another popular day hike which follows the pristine Shakadang River as it flows through a beautiful marble gorge. While the hike begins with a 3-story staircase, the rest of the walk follows a rather flat path that has been carved into the side of the canyon wall. This out and back hike is perfect for forest bathing as visitors can decide how far up the 4-kilometer-long path they would like to travel and there are plenty of areas to rest in nature along the way.
Taroko Gorge’s dramatic and ever-changing landscape is also home to over 1,500 species of wildlife, including the Formosan rock macaque, the shy Formosan serow, and the Formosan black bear. Regardless of what path you take while touring around the park, keep your eyes open as you’re bound to encounter a rock macaque or two.
Along with Alishan, and Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge is one of Taiwan’s must-visit natural wonders.
