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Satellite. Should I arrive from Taipei in the evening of 15th, stay overnight at Taroko and start early 17th oct at the national park and take train back or stay at Hualien. The steep mountain ranges are covered in thick forest. I am a bit concerned after reading your comment about the road being closed due to land slides? For a good mid-range option, Happiness is My Home (see on Booking) lives up to its name the owners of this guesthouse are super welcoming and helpful. Zhuilu Suspension Bridge with road bridge behind it, Taroko National Park as seen from a moped, 2011, Zhuilu Suspension Bridge(East of Zhuilu Old Road), Bell Tower at Eternal Spring Shrine Trail. If you have a small stroller that is easy to push over bumps or carry sometimes, then it would probably be OK. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website is my full-time passion project. Bring the family and enjoy the children's pool, playground, and arcade/game room. Slower trains take anywhere from 2 hours 15 min to 3 hours 30 min(TWD 340). Then, Level 0 to 5 refers to the various hikes in Taroko Gorge by difficulty. The national park area covers an area of 360 square miles (920 sq km). At busy times you can also rent bikes there to ride along the coast or all the way back to Hualien City, where you can arrange for them to meet you and pick up the bike (some Mandarin skills may be necessary to arrange this). The hot spring is located 2.5 kilometers past Tianxiang, and is probably the furthest point that you will consider going in Taroko Gorge unless you are planning to on traveling up the long, winding, and often closed road to Hehuanshan (see below). Heliu Campground is the start of the Lushui Trail (), a pleasant trail that includes sections of forest, a 30-meter cave, a spirit tablet, and river views. You cant swim there because the tide and waves are very strong, but the views are unbeatable. The closest train station to the park is Xincheng Station of the Taiwan Railways Administration, roughly 7 kilometres (4.3mi) from the park's main headquarters. Yes, the order of sights above is pretty much exactly as you would encounter them. Sanzhan is the starting point for the infamous river trace to Golden Grotto (), a long, difficult, and at times unsafe river trace that is considered one of the best in Taiwan. Stefan also from Belgium Choosing where to stay when you visit Taroko Gorge can be a tough decision. "Recommend that place to anyone who wants to visit Taroko National Park. Taroko National Park is well known for its marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Taroko National Park is one of Taiwan's top tourist attractions. There are even more spots around here and a little further up on the Sanzhan River, which is the start of the route to Golden Grotto (see below). The tour also includes some off-the-beaten-track spots that other tours dont, such as the Changuang Bell Tower Trail, the Baiyang Waterfall Trail, and the Water Curtain Cave, which you will read about below. In Taiwan, its fairly common, outside of cities especially, for people to not bother using locks though. Another plus is that once you get to Hualien, you dont have to figure out how to get to Taroko Gorge, because you can just drive through the gorge by yourself. But most visitors come to see just one area the eponymous 18km-long gorge whose marble walls rise out of the blue-green Liwu River with a crowded backdrop of green mountainsides soaring above and several enticing hiking trails clinging to cliff edges. I'm David, an American with a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and all things travel. Im hoping to do it by bike and so far research hasnt shown us a giant station next to xincheng. The road follows the river, sometimes next to it but sometimes high above it on the mountain slope. Recommend!" Show more 8 To get there, cross the bridge that goes over the river at the Taroko Gorge Entrance Gate. That means that roads and, Picturesque for its setting, backed by toweringly steep mountainsides, this small shrine sits above a gushing spring that pours out onto the rocks below,, This half-kilometre slice of gorge-side old road twists and turns between rock-cut pillars and minitunnels, reminding visitors of how the Taroko route, Falling a total of around 200m, this waterfall is in fact a pair of cascades, only parts of which are visible from the viewing bridge. Covering 1,200 sq km, the park is 90% mountainous and boasts 27 peaks over 3000m. If not can you give me a rundown of places to see starting from the start until the end? Its weird that most recent reviews they have on FB and Google maps are from 2020 :-/. Hualien Farglory Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / Klook / TripAdvisor) is the best resort option. Tickets cost $9 - $14 and the journey takes 1h 54m. The trail passes Guanyin Cave (), which seems to be currently closed, and Taroko Tower before reaching the Bell Tower. From a very quiet stay in a beautiful local house, try Crossing the Rainbow B&B (see on Booking / Agoda / Klook / TripAdvisor). Never heard of Shakadang Trail before your blog post but its now on my to-do list! These national parks cover 7,489.49 square kilometres (2,891.71 sq mi). Taroko National Park (; Tilg Goji Gngyun), the east coast's top tourist attraction, really puts the formosa (beautiful) into Taiwan's historic name. The National Park stretches over 90,000 hectares - about 230,000 acres. All four of these are pretty flat and easy enough with kids. Also, their groups are small and their tours are conducted in English. It could be totally fixed before your trip, but also possible its not. There are lots of cheap flights and trains from Taipei, with a flight taking 1 hour for about $1,200 NTD ($40 USD), or a train journey taking 2 hours for less than half the cost $450 NTD. Ive been researching on the NP and find your website super useful. From Xincheng station, it only takes 15 minutes to cycle to the entrance of Taroko, or you can take the bus to the entrance and rent a bike there. Buluowan is a grassy terrace sitting above the highway. The air is cool and refreshing, it's one heck of a place to explore. More places to visit near Taroko Gorge will be covered in the next section below. You can also go whale watching off the coast of Hualien! After you book and pay online, you can pick up your physical ticket from a convenience store iBon machine or at the ticket window at the station in Taiwan. Helmet and rain jacket are provided, and youll need a local Taiwanese scooter license or IDP (international drivers license). Ill be there for five days and will be exploring the area. We had a great day tour to Taroko National Park with our guide Alan and 3 other participants. The room prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal. Thanks. Hualien county runs regular buses (NT170 per person, no change given, four per day) and tourist shuttles (NT 250 day pass, 13 per day) from Hualien through Taroko Gorge to Tianxiang, the village at the head of the Gorge, stopping at Xincheng station on the way. Taiwan Railway operates a train from to hourly. Explore the natural wonders of Taiwan on a 5-day tour from Taipei. We stayed at Xiong Zhi Mi B&B in Hualien city for $900 NTD ($30 USD) per night and loved it. The main reason you might consider doing this is because it is a beautiful drive from Taipei to Hualien, especially the coastal section from Suao to Hualien. Taroko National Park in Taiwan stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the peaks of the Central Mountain Range, rising to over 3,700m/12,000ft. Taiwan's second biggest national park (the first place goes to Yushan NP). Some of the pages on my travel blog contain affiliate links. This hike is still on my Taiwan bucket list, so Ive used a friends photo above. It lies across 3 administrative areas, Hualien County, Taichung County, and Nantou County. Taiwan Asia Taroko National Park is located northeast of the midpoint in the island nation of Taiwan, and southeast from the capital city of Taipei. Island Life Taiwan Adventures & Experiences: Taroko Gorge - See 365 traveler reviews, 327 candid photos, and great deals for Hualien City, Hualien, at Tripadvisor. Click News then Roads and Trails. Obviously with kids, I am not going to be able to visit Taroko in single day. Fortunately, the park came back in 1986. On this tour, you can get flashlights and raincoats for entering Water Curtain Cave, so you dont get too wet. It includes the marble gorge of Taroko, the Qingshui Cliff, the trail along the Shakadang River, and the waterfalls of the Baiyang trail. Let me know if you have any more questions! I'll be traveling to Taiwan in a few weeks for the first time, and am planning on taking a day in Taroko National Park. Earthquakes, typhoons, and landslides regularly destroy roads and trails in the gorge, continually reshaping its landscape. Taroko Gorge National Park has 27 of the 100 Peaks of Taiwan, a widely recognized list of top mountains. My wife Intan and I are usually in our second home Bali, but our journeys take us to destinations all over the world. But for Shakadang trail, you have to cross a bridge right after the entrance gate to the other side of the gorge, where youll find the visitors center, and a little further down, the Shakadang trail. Sanzhan is a great spot for swimming and jumping into the river (see the end of the article for pictures). Many thanks, Hi Nick, do you know by chance if Island Life tours in Hualien/Taroko are still operating? It's a must-see attraction whether you're hiking its trails, peering at its, Nearing completion at the time of research, a breathtaking new suspension footbridge at Bulowan will soon cross the gorge, dizzyingly high above the river, Very steep rock-and-forest mountainsides north of Taroko descend directly into the sea from several hundred metres' altitude. However, the ground is sometimes bumpy, and there could be a few stairs on all of them. Just past the gate, turn right and cross the bridge over the river to reach Shakandang Trail (see below) or the Taroko National Park Visitors Center. Hualien City is the furthest, but it has the best choice of budget accomodations and many things to do. Your post makes me SUPER excited about my upcoming trip to Hualien! Taroko National Park is one of the highlights of Taiwan, with the Taroko Gorge ranking among the great natural wonders of Asia. [1] Taroko National Park covers an area of 92,000 hectares (360sqmi). You can also cross Zhuilu Suspension Bridge nearby, which is the start of the Zhuilu Old Trail (see next entry). They are so useful! After the Japanese left, the KMT government later abolished the national park, and it wasnt reestablished again until 1986. Carved by the Liwu River, Taroko Gorge is one of the most beautiful places we saw while traveling Asia. The first 19 kilometers or so of the highway are the portion in Taroko Gorge. Taiwan was part of the Empire of Japan when the park was established and at the end of World War II China took control of Taiwan and the park was abolished. Im planning to visit Taiwan in August and would like to spend a weekend in Taroko Gorge. It used to be the site of a real Truku (Taroko) aboriginal village. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. If you come here with a private driver, they will be willing to park and wait for you while you do the hike. It only takes 15-30 minutes roundtrip. In 2017, a Japanese cyclist died from a landslide in Taroko Gorge for this reason. Fortunately, the tunnel was finally reopened to the public in 2019, after being fully renovated and made safe. Highway 14 goes south and then also traverses Taiwan via Wuling Pass (the highest navigable pass in Taiwan, at 3275 m) and Hehuanshan (Hehuan Mountain). The most convenient way to see Taroko Gorge, especially if you want to cover the main sights in one day, is by taking a tour from Hualien city. Meet your guide in the early morning, and enjoy a cozy ride to Hualien. This is quite normal in the US but Ive never had a chance to camp anywhere else so Im a little bit worried about the safety. Thanks for all the info you provide on your various blogs ! You can park at the side then walk along the road, peering over sheer vertical drops to the river far belowclassic Taroko Gorge scenery. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. So what times would the campground be opened for walk-up and how would I pay the fees (in cash)? If youve walked into Taroko Gorge, you can walk from the Visitors Center to the start of Shakadang Trail on a trail along the river (also called Shakadang Trail on GoogleMaps), which is nicer than walking along the road. Im not sure whether the have Giant brand, but they definitely rent bikes. Taroko National Park features the Taroko Gorge, a landmark of the park which was carved by Liwu River. Enjoy the indoor pool and perks like free self parking and free WiFi. Its got a fancy swimming pool and incredible views. Taiwan has 8 Stunning National Parks and many nature parks with amazing wildlife and nature to explore. This is an awesome guide! At Xincheng Station you can rent bikes at TR9-Xinchengzu Station or , both right outside the station. From Hualien city, the park is only a 1 hour drive and there are daily buses and tours available. Wasn't able to apply in advance for an old road permit, since I'd originally planned on doing Jade mountain, but am going to Taroko since I was not drawn in the lottery. However, demand for these trains is very high, especially the express ones (called Puyuma Express or Taroko Express), and they often sell out, especially on weekends, long weekends, and holidays. We spent 2 days in the National Park - the first day deciding to opt for the shuttle bus (which cost us maybe $150) to explore the Shakadang Trail, walk around a bit and Tanxiang. Taroko National Park has a total of 140 named mountains, the highest of which is Nanhudashun () at 3,742 metres (12,277 ft) in elevation. Because the road is prone to landslides, dont be surprised if it is closed when you visit. Also note that, like most of Taiwan, Taroko Gorge are very safe for solo or female travelers. I must say that despite the conveniences of the busses, they were still a little confusing. Then youll need to stand in the aisle or sit on the floor in the space between train cars (its not comfortable, but Ive done it many times). A picturesque waterfall streams out from the mountain, with a large colorful shrine built up around it to honor the many who died when the highway was first carved out by the Japanese in the 1910s. Taroko Parks most exhilarating hike, Zhuilu Old Trail or Zhuilu Old Road (), features narrow trails along sheer 500m+ cliffs and expansive, birds eye views over Taroko Gorge. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission. Do you need a license to rent a scooter and are there a lot of bugs? Be warned that some of the roads in Taroko Gorge are very narrow and dont provide much space between you and passing tour buses. Visiting Taroko Gorge by bus is the slowest and most inconvenient, but cheapest way. For more general info about traveling in Taiwan, also be sure to see my introduction to Taiwan travel. The biggest city on the east coast, HUALIEN (; hulin) sits on a mountain-fringed plain 26km south of Taroko Gorge, making an ideal base for expeditions to Taroko National Park. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is . The bus station is the bright orange building right next to the entrance for Hualien Train Station. I am planning to drive through from Hualien to Cingjing, visiting Taroko Gorge in between. Currently there are nine national parks in Taiwan, all under the administration of the Ministry of the Interior. Taroko National Park. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there! Heres the most recent Taroko Gorge bus route and schedule. Welcome to Taroko Gorge! Taroko National Park Visitor Center, Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, +886 3 862 1100 Local tips There are a few restaurants near the hotels that are located in the gorge itself, but these are a little overpriced. This day hike takes you up to the top of the canyons, where you can walk along the steep cliffs and get some crazy views of the valley below. Taroko can even be done as a day trip from Taipei, but it makes for a very long day. Few visit without being blown away by its sheer magnificence and raw natural beauty. A simple rental than off Id go, with wife in tow. 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