It's beautiful and magnificent with a lot of marble gorges, caves, trails and cliffs. For me one of the most beautiful places in Taiwan, it's worth to visit. From Taipei main station, you can take a train to Hualien, there you can rent a motorbike and drive by yourself to visit Taroko park.
Accommodation in Hualien: Nearest accommodation is in Hualien.
Ivy International Youth Hostel
No.30, Ln. 427, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, Hualien County, http://www.ivystay.com.tw
Very cute houses. Special rate of NT$700 per person with Youth Travel Card.
Getting to the Park
Taipei – Hualien (there are frequent trains from Taipei, 2hr5mins, NT$365 = cheaper train juguang)
Hualien bus company: Bus to Taroko National park
Buses leaves from Hualien train station and head to Taroko National Park Headquarters and Tianxiang. (about 1 hr(26 km) to Park Headquarters; 1.5 hrs(46km) to Tianxiang).
There is also free stuttle bus from Hualien train station to Taroko NP which leaves every hour. Bus schedule is available on http://www.taroko.gov.tw/English/?mm=5&sm=3&page=4#up.
Transportation through the Park -> You can take bus of Hualien bus company.
Bus Route – Hualien Bus company (Hualien -> Taroko NP and around the Taroko NP):
Hualien Train Station---28.3 km---Eternal Spring Shrine (take off the bus),after visiting the place take the bus to – Buluowan (lunch) —Swallow Grotto (1372m, 50 min)- Tunnel of Nine Turns (The best Gorge Trail in Taroko National Park, 2km/40mins on foot, about 14km away from Park headquarters) (again take off the bus) ---2.2km --- Cimu Bridge(Motherly Devotion Bridge)--- 300 m—Lushui ---2 km--Tianxiang(19km west of the park headquarters/30 minutes by bus.)
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| Eternal Spring Shrine |
Eternal Spring Shrine: At the back of the Eternal Spring Shine there are stairs leading to Guanyin Cave, Taroko Tower, Bell Tower (the highest point), and across a suspension bridge to Changuang Temple (Zen monastery). The river valley next to the Changuang Temple has a bottle gourd shape, and it is named thereafter as Bottle Gourd Valley (Hu-lu Gu). The trail is a 1.3km/085mile leisurely walk will take 50 minutes to an hour for the entire loop.Start it from the Chanhuang Temple will be less strenuous.
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| Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail |
The trail starts from either one of the east or west entrances to the Tunnel, at the Central Cross-Island Highway about 14km away from the east entrance .It takes about 40 minutes to walk one way. Along the trail one can enjoy the marble gorges, the rivers, the cliffs, tunnels, and the ecosystem of the vegetation growing amidst the rocky terrain. This is one of the best trails in Tartoko NP.
Swallow Grotto (Yanzihkou)
Along the Yanzikou (Swallow Grotto) trail which runs about a half kilometer starting from the entrance to Swallow Grotto to the Jinheng Bridge, you can enjoy the sights of the Liwu River from nearly straight above the water, the potholes on the cliff faces, the springs sprinkled along the lower parts of the walls, as well as the famous rock formation "Chieftain's profile rock". On the trail, you will notice caves and small waterfalls.
Chongde Shingle Beach -> take a rest!!
Follow the Chongde Trail, and go down to the steps, and walk for about 10 minutes and you will reach Chongde Shingle beach, which is covered with colorful shingle. Down to the shingle beach, you can view the lovely coastal scenery, with the azure blue sea and touch the soft beach. Looking to the north, you can see the Qingshui Cliff which is one of the "Eight Wonders" in Taiwan. You can admire the majestic appearance coastal cliffs.
The Baiyang Waterfall Trail
The Baiyang Waterfall Trail is characterized by the number of tunnels. Beginning with the entrance tunnel of 380 meters (by the Central Cross-Island Highway 900 meters west of Tianxiang) to the last tunnel before Water Curtain, you will pass through seven tunnels along the 2 kilometer trail ( the 4 km round trip will take about one hour and a half).
Buses from Tianxiang to Hualien Train Station
Last bus to Hualien train station leaves at 18:30.
Dinner in Hualien
Mai Ken Hsiang Northern Chinese Cuisine
Address: No.39, Zhongmei 10th St., Hualien City; 03-822-6802
10% discount on orders of traditional noodles, menu dishes and set meals with YTC card.
Kang- Ting Healthy Food House
Address: No.50, Fuji Rd., Hualien City; 03-857-5383
10% discount with YTC on dining bill; 20% discount on food product purchases.
OTHER ALTERNATIVES IN TAROKO GORGE
You may use discounted (YTC) Tour bus:
- Taroko Gorge Half-day Tour (Depart from Hualien), 03-8355447
- Taroko Gorge Day Tour (Depart from Hualien): 03-8355447
Meeting point → Taroko National Park Admin. Visitor Center → Buluowan Plateau → Pass by Jinheng Park, Cihmu Bridge → Tiansiang Grand Formosa lunch → Walk Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail → Changchun Shrine → Cising Beach → Return
- Taroko Gorge Day Tour 2 (Depart from Hualien): 03-8355447Meeting point → Taroko National Park Admin. Visitor Center → Buluowan Plateau → Pass by Jinheng Park, Cihmu Bridge → Tiansiang Grand Formosa lunch
→ Walk Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail → Changchun Shrine → Cising Beach → Return - Hualien Taroko Gorge One Day Tour (Foreign languages tour guides available): 02-25713001, 02-25363782
Taipei → Hualien Airport (By plane) → Taroko Gorge → ( Eternal-Spring Shrine / Swallow Grotto/ Tunnel of Nine Turns / Marble bridge / Tiansiang) → Marble factory → Chi Hsing Beach → Stone sculpture Park → Return (By train)
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