After the Qingshui Cliffs, Tiffany our guide and driver took us to Taroko Gorge.
Taroko Gorge (太魯閣: Tàilǔgé) is an impressive 19-km-long canyon, situated near Taiwan's east coast. The area of the gorge is also identified as Taroko Gorge National Park. Taroko Gorge and its surrounding area are well known for their abundant supply of marble, leading to its nickname, "The Marble Gorge". The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe who resides in the area.
The most phenomenal aspect of the park is the amazing relief. In a single afternoon you can travel from rugged coastal cliffs through a maze of subtropical forested canyons to high elevation sub-alpine coniferous forests.
In about 60 kilometers the landscape rises from sea level to some of the tallest peaks in Taiwan at over 3400 meters. That's steep!
The scenery is breath-taking. The good thing about going with a fre and easy guide is that one can come out of the vehicle and experience the air and the landscape without any constraints.
The next stop-over is Swallow Grotto (燕子口) which is where most visitors walk through to appreciate the marvel of Taroko Gorge. This older portion of the highway diverges from the new thruway that services vehicular traffic and is meant to be walked to fully appreciate this marvel of nature. The Grotto trail is interspersed with tunnels and overlooks the narrowest portion of Taroko Gorge where the river is most rapid. Here one can appreciate the awesome power of nature that carved its path.
While walking on the Swallow Grotto trail, we challenge you to find the Chieftain's Profile Rock that bares an uncanny likeness to that of an Indian Chief. Can't find it? You're not looking hard enough! Many visitors miss this secret, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Next, we went to Tianxiang (天祥) for lunch. This is a large river terrace located on the eastern section of the Central Cross-Island Highway, features architecture from different cultures, including a Chinese temple, Western church, and traces of a Japanese Shinto shrine. It is the largest recreational area in the Taroko Gorge area and most visitors break to have a meal or stay overnight here. Friendly local food vendors often set up shop here to cater to park staff and visitors.
To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link
Taroko Gorge (太魯閣: Tàilǔgé) is an impressive 19-km-long canyon, situated near Taiwan's east coast. The area of the gorge is also identified as Taroko Gorge National Park. Taroko Gorge and its surrounding area are well known for their abundant supply of marble, leading to its nickname, "The Marble Gorge". The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe who resides in the area.
The most phenomenal aspect of the park is the amazing relief. In a single afternoon you can travel from rugged coastal cliffs through a maze of subtropical forested canyons to high elevation sub-alpine coniferous forests.
In about 60 kilometers the landscape rises from sea level to some of the tallest peaks in Taiwan at over 3400 meters. That's steep!
The scenery is breath-taking. The good thing about going with a fre and easy guide is that one can come out of the vehicle and experience the air and the landscape without any constraints.
The next stop-over is Swallow Grotto (燕子口) which is where most visitors walk through to appreciate the marvel of Taroko Gorge. This older portion of the highway diverges from the new thruway that services vehicular traffic and is meant to be walked to fully appreciate this marvel of nature. The Grotto trail is interspersed with tunnels and overlooks the narrowest portion of Taroko Gorge where the river is most rapid. Here one can appreciate the awesome power of nature that carved its path.
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| Swallow Grotto - a wonderful walk through amazing scenery |
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| Swallow Grotto - for better protection against falling rocks, wear helmets |
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| Swallow Grotto - watch out for the many tourists buses |
While walking on the Swallow Grotto trail, we challenge you to find the Chieftain's Profile Rock that bares an uncanny likeness to that of an Indian Chief. Can't find it? You're not looking hard enough! Many visitors miss this secret, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Next, we went to Tianxiang (天祥) for lunch. This is a large river terrace located on the eastern section of the Central Cross-Island Highway, features architecture from different cultures, including a Chinese temple, Western church, and traces of a Japanese Shinto shrine. It is the largest recreational area in the Taroko Gorge area and most visitors break to have a meal or stay overnight here. Friendly local food vendors often set up shop here to cater to park staff and visitors.
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| Local beef noodles and vegetable for lunch |
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| Spoilt for choice |
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| Tianxiang - Steel bridge leading to a temple |
To check My Taiwan 12-Day Vacation Itinerary - See Link
Hi Choi,
ReplyDeleteCan i know how do you get the contact for the private driver/tour? and how much did it cost? Thanks
Hi Michael
DeleteSorry about the late reply.
You can contact Tiffany Chang, the guide for Hualian, on whatsapp at +886 912 522 118. She prefers to communicate in Mandarin. You need to check with her on costs as It may have changed.
Cheers.
May I ask is the weather cold in Taiwan during the end of March?
ReplyDeleteHi A thinker
DeleteYes, end March can be chilly at times. But it is nice and good for walks and sight-seeing. Also, end of March is where you can see cherry blossoms.