Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park in Taiwan
Taroko National Park Slideshow
Taroko National Park Photo Gallery (Downloadable Pictures)
Taroko National Park in Eastern Taiwan covers a wide area
including parts of Hualien, Taichung and Nantou Counties .
Its topography is mountainous: valleys, gorges, mountains,
rapid rivers and waterfalls characterize most of the area.
Its spectacular scenery has long been world-renowned,
especially along the Central Cross-Island Highway between
Taroko and Tiansiang.
Taroko is located where the Central Cross-Island Highway and
the Suhua Highway meet. The spot is marked by a
Chinese-style gate to commemorate the construction of the
Central Cross-Island Highway . The starting point for the
highway, a famous photo spot, is a gathering place for many
local aborigines who still wear traditional costume for
photographers. The Highway winds its way through the
mountainous forest. The Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jioucyudong)
is a man-made wonder created by the builders of the highway.
Here the highway penetrates the mountains through winding
stone caves and tunnels. On one side of the road is a deep
valley and on the other side are vertical stone cliffs. It's
not hard to imagine how difficult and heroic its
construction was. Cihmu Bridge is another attraction along
the Highway. The bridge is faced with snow-white marble from
Hualien and is located at the confluence of the Liwu and
Laosi Rivers .
Taroko Gorge is formed by the Liwu River cutting through the
marble mountains. Because of the continuous tectonic
movement in this area, cliffs, faults and creases in the
marble surface are very common. As the river flows through
the gorge, it forms V-shaped valleys and precipitous cliffs,
on which beautiful stone patterns can clearly be seen. In
some places, the stone walls of the valley stand so close
together that they only allow a thin line of sunlight
through to the floor of the gorge. Waterfalls cascade off
the cliffs, and trees cling to their vertical surfaces. The
majestic scene is like that of a poetic Chinese brush
painting. The Gorge is one of the natural wonders of Asia
and should not be missed.
The Eternal Spring Shrine was built to commemorate those who
died building the Central Cross-Island Highway . A plume of
white water flows down from the cliff before the shrine.
Behind the shrine are some stone steps, called “The Heavenly
Stairs”, leading up to Guanyin Cave and Changuang Temple .
Swallow's Grottos (Yanzihgu) are natural holes carved out of
the marble by the erosion of the Liwu River . During late
spring and early summer the holes are the nesting place of
thousands of swallows.
Tiansiang marks the terminus of the Taroko section of the
highway, and the township has lots of tourist facilities
such as the Grand Formosa Hotel, the Tiansiang Suspension
Bridge , Pudu Temple , and the nearby Baiyang Trail. Return
back down through the gorge and you'll reach the Suhua
Highway , which is set between the Pacific and the high
mountains of Eastern Taiwan . The Cingshuei Cliffs are a
particularly magnificent sight that you don't want to miss.
(Taiwan: The Heart of Asia)
