Taroko Gorge is a canyon located in Hualien County, on the east coast of Taiwan.The famous mountain road through the gorge is full of blind curves, sharp turns, and narrow paths,some sections of the road are often inaccessible due to heavy rainfall and typhoons causing rock slides.
Taroko National Park is one of the most popular places in Taiwan. It is located on the eastern side of the island, where the mountains of the national park rise from the beaches of the Philippine Sea to an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. The park is accessible to visitors via a road that was built in the 50s to connect the east and west of the island.
The road are sometimes very narrow, full of tunnels, bridges and bends.The most popular stop – especially for photographers is the Nine Turns Tunnel.The mountain serpentine began to be built in the 1950s to connect the eastern and western coasts of the island. The road took several years to be built and more than 200 people died during construction.
Today the road is full of tourists in buses, cars and on motorcycles and has gained a reputation as one of the most dangerous roads in the world.
Access : Coordinates: / Taroko Gorge can be reached via Provincial Road 8 , which connects the west and east of Taiwan, runs through the park.
Highlights :
- Taroko national park It was named after the Taroko Gorge, which in turn took its name from the Truku indigenous people. With 4.5 million visitors, the park was the second most visited in Taiwan.
- Hiking Trails : Dekalun Trail: an approximately 3-hour round-trip , Zhuilu Old Trail: which gives a complete overview of the Gorges by following the river, passing through the forest and several suspension bridges. Lushui Wenshan Trail: a 5.5 km hike passing through narrow and sometimes dangerous passages.
- The Scenic Trails : Shakadang Trail: one of the best known , Baiyang Trail: which provides access to the Bayang waterfall and a tunnel in which a curtain of water flows , Luishi Trail at the entrance of which you will find a small exhibition on the geology of Taroko Park,Tunnel of Nine Turns: a short walk of around 1 hour.
Go next : Tienhsiang Village, the only village in the gorge / Xiulin, Hualien / Hualien City ,located on the east coast of Taiwan on the Pacific Ocean.
