Taroko National Park

Review is for the highway through and up to the top at Lishan: the final boss of scary mountain roads in east Asia. Took us a solid 5 hours to go 150km with no (optional) stops, and I'm not a slow driver. Terrifyingly spectacular, edge of your seat roads the whole way. Plenty of enforced stops for roadwork: at one point we chilled for half an hour watching some dudes 200m up a cliff nailing wire mesh to the rock face. Minus one star for the number of very fast oncoming cars refusing to yield or even slow down on single-lane sections. Try to get a small car with decent ground clearance, have a passenger to take photos for you because you can't stop in the good bits, leave the whole day for it, and be EXTREMELY careful!

In the aftermath of last year's earthquake, most of the trails remained closed, only part of the park now is accessible in a timely fashion. Taroko National Park is at the very top of my Taiwan tour, I was much appreciated the opportunity that I still could get in and visit part of it. The mighty earthquake could be noticed or even felt everywhere, but the scenery was unbelievably beautiful. It was a very memorable experience and tour.

The view was stunning so fresh and windy! Just a heads-up be ready for a workout! I’d recommend preparing your legs and wearing comfy sport sneakers for all the walking. It was super tiring, but totally worth it!

As Singaporeans, we are a very rare type of tourists following the unfortunate events surrounding Taroko. But we still managed to capture the beauty of the mountains by a car ride. It was a pity we couldn't go on foot for now, we shall wait for it to fully open and visit again.

5 Stars – Breathtaking and Worth It, Even With Current Restrictions (May 2025) Taroko National Park is a stunning natural wonder — and even though most trails and side paths are currently closed, the main road is open and still offers plenty of amazing views. If you’re arriving by Bus 310 from Hualien, you can explore the first few kilometers on foot from the visitor center, including temples, impressive bridges, and scenic cliffside paths. It’s perfect for a short hike or half-day visit. Important: Vehicle access is only allowed during specific time windows: • 07:00–08:00 • 10:00 • 12:00–13:00 • 15:00 • 17:00–17:30 At all of these times, only vehicles already waiting at the control points are allowed to pass. Once the time window closes, the road is fully blocked again. At 17:30, the gates close completely and there’s no entry in either direction. How to get there: • Bus 310: Affordable but slow (1.5–2 hours, with many unnecessary stops) • Scooter: Still available for rent. Even without a motorcycle license there are ways to rent a scooter. However, you’re not legally allowed to ride one without the proper license and you won’t be insured — so you’re fully responsible for any accidents or issues. This is similar to renting scooters in Southeast Asia like in Thailand or Bali. Also its a little bit more risky because of the Stones, Rolling down the hills. Also note: Taiwan has a unique left-turn rule for scooters. You must first move to the right at intersections, wait in a marked box, and then cross when it’s safe. • Rental Car: Available from Chai Lease in Hualien • Private Driver: Bookable via Klook for around 90 USD/day Hidden Gem Tip: There are hotels beyond the park gates, e.g., in Tianxiang. Staying there gives you early and easy access to the park — especially helpful for catching the first time slot without stress. Bottom line: Despite limitations, Taroko is absolutely worth the visit. With some planning and awareness of the rules, you’ll experience one of Taiwan’s most dramatic landscapes — whether by foot, car, or scooter. What else is in Hualien/ should we Go or Not? - The Beach Qixingtan is not this cool, okay for one day but no swimming at all - There is no swimming in whole Hualien - Some Nice ways on the Beach for bicycles - As told from other tourists: nice beaches (line 304 with Bus) down the pacific Coast - Whale whatching but no one was there

Absolutely stunning national park!!! I’d put this on the must visit list!!! Definitely need to do it as a tour, hire a bike or car!

At the end of 2023, I took a road trip around the island and drove through Taroko Gorge. The breathtaking scenery was unforgettable! Praying for safety and a swift recovery for the area.

All the trails are closed as of May 2025. The staff at the visitor center told us to walk a little bit to the Chang Chun Ci during the time that the traffic control is open. The water is muddy and gray. If you want to hike the trails, you probably need to wait for a number of years.

I was here three days before the earthquake earlier this year. It's a shame that the earthquake destroyed many parts of the park because it is absolutely breathtaking here. This is definitely a national treasure as the natural view from all around is like no other. Unlike many national parks in the U.S., there aren't many fees that you'd have to pay in order to enjoy and experience the various parts of the park. I was impressed by how well kept and clean the park was. Coming here was my favorite part of my Taiwan trip this year. This destination is an absolute must if you go to Taiwan. You won't regret it!

Our favorite place we visited in Taiwan. There is a 60 minute Peloton cycle thru the Taroko National Park which does not do this beautiful place justice. The water was beautiful, the rocks were multicolored and beautiful and it was just peaceful going around the area. Highly recommend as a day trip, or even better, spend the night and spend even more time in the gorge.

This is an absolute must-see if you are visiting Taiwan. I recommend Yanzikou to experience the wondrous caves (hard hat required), The drawbridge experience, and the Shakadang trail to witness the grandeur of the gorge / sapphire waters. You should definitely bring lots of water and a small towel to keep you cool / wipe of sweat, because of the jungle climate. Also, given that Taroko is home to native Taiwanese, they basically have their own schedule when it comes to having construction in the national park. This means that sections may be blocked off for 50 minutes, with a 10 minute window for cars / tour buses to pass through and check out other fun parts of the national park. Some trails have motorcycle access for native Taiwanese, such as the Shakadang trail, so be careful and stay on the right side of the trail if you hear a motorcycle coming by. As with many national parks, the greater the view, the higher the danger sometimes, so take lots of photos but take precaution when walking around edges or through crowds of people.

Ahh...Taroko Gorge. The most gorgeous of gorges. A place of natural splendor, largely unspoiled by urbanization. Turquoise waters, ethereal pools, neverending waterfalls, multi-coloured cliffs. Is this even a real place? This is actually the end goal for the protagonists of some fantasy novel, isn't it? Taroko National Park encompasses Taroko Gorge, an impressive canyon composed mostly of marble. It is a phenomenal destination filled with adventures, whether you're into leisurely hiking, dipping into natural hot springs, or more rugged climbing. We visited the famous Swallow Grotto, a beautiful natural trail that gives the best first-hand look into Taroko's beauty, with suspension bridges crossing over rushing waters and paths winding through the canyon. Walk far enough and you'll end up at the Water Curtain Cave, where you can even stand under the crashing waters. Shakadang Trail is another famous leisurely hike, with amazing sights of colourful rocks and rivers. Besides the trails, there are several famous attractions, like the Eternal Spring Shrine that sits atop of a perpetual waterfall and Cimu Bridge, a famous bright-red bridge surrounded by marble. The Park is also home to many aboriginal Taiwanese tribes. Some of them have graciously set up shops and hotels to both welcome and educate thousands of visitors on their way of life. It was very interesting to learn about their history and culture, and an honour to try their local cuisine. We were able to stop by the highly-rated Taroko Buluowan for lunch, a hotel-restaurant-museum run by local Truku Aboriginal natives for a truly unique experience and meal. Taroko National Park is best enjoyed with a full day of exploration...along with a comfy pair of sandals and maybe a poncho if you plan to stand under a waterfall. There are plenty of tours going in and out but a good one will give you the opportunity to enjoy Taroko to its fullest (we went with Island Life, who were great). It is a highlight of Taiwan and the epitome of natural beauty. You owe it to yourself to get the best experience. (62/100) - 2019

We wanted to see the whole park in a day so we joined a day trip. We were picked up from our homestay at 8am and returned at 4 pm. The gorge is beautiful and the water was bluish green. We stopped for lunch( incl in our tour) . The bus driver, also our guide was very knowledgeable. He spoke only in Chinese though. When going to Taroko, it's advisable to take a tour Bec the park is too big and if you go on a trail, you won't find any bathroom or kiosk to buy snacks. Not every stop has bathroom facility.

You will NOT regret coming here - the views are breathtakingly gorgeous. Definitely a must-see when visiting Taiwan! There's the kind of massive mountains shrouded in fog and gigantic rock formations towering over flowing blue rivers that look like they came straight out of a movie...except they're real! First, we bought round trip train tickets a day in advance from Taipei Main Station to Xincheng Station (instead of Hualien, it's a smaller station but closer to the park entrance) - would recommend buying early as they may run out of seats, especially for the return trip on the day of. Booking the earliest train there possible, which for us was 7:05am, is a good idea to maximize your day as the ride takes about 2.5 hours. However, there's no need to book the latest train back - the park doesn't "officially" close at 5pm but everyone starts heading back around that time because it starts to get dark. Next, upon arrival, we visited the "motorcycle for rent" shop right outside Xincheng Station, and were able to easily and affordably rent a scooter for the day to travel around in for as little as 600 NTD (~$20 US) for 8 hours with a passport and driver's license. It was fairly easy for the boyfriend to get a hang of it and soon we were off down the road towards the park! We stopped by a variety of sights and trails along the main road, including but not limited to: 1) Shakadang Trail: We didn't do the full route but were told going 1.5km to the 5D cabin would be sufficient. We ended up going a tiny bit further to get some views of the aqueduct. 2) Swallow Grotto: One of the main attractions and definitely a must-see. Hard hats are available to wear in case of rockfall but we tried to limit our time near hazardous areas in general. Seeing the swallows (from which the grotto is aptly named) rapidly dart around was very cool! 3) Xiangde Temple Trail: Lots of stairs here but the views, temple, and golden Buddha statue at the top are worth the trek! 4) Lushui Trail: We may have started at the wrong end here as it's supposed to end near one of the parking lots, so we turned back early. However, it offers some great views of the area and you even get to go through a pitch black tunnel which was eerie but awesome. We also briefly saw a few other sights on the way back (look out for where all the tour buses are pulling off the road). The official entrance sign is also a great photo opportunity. As for alternatives, there are so many other options as for how to get around this free national park - you can join a tour or go solo, travel via tour bus, hop on-and-off bus, hire a personal driver/taxi, etc. We just opted to not join a tour and traveled on our scooter for the day, which was a fun experience, although maybe not for everyone. You can customize your itinerary as well based on how much hiking you're willing to do, since it's impossible to cover everything on the map in one day. We got advice on the best places to stop at from a few visitor centers along the way. There are plenty of bathrooms at most of the stops but you may want to bring your own snacks as there aren't quite as many places to buy food besides by the station and at Tianxiang. Make sure to dress appropriately with walking shoes and bring water and sunscreen if you're going to get down and dirty on the trails - we saw tons of tourists that didn't seem like they were dressed for a hike. Make sure you're fully prepared so you can get the most of out of your amazing adventure here!

This was my first hike every in my life and it was absolutely breathtaking. Most scenic place I have ever been to in person my whole life! Kinda sucks though because it will be hard to beat now. The sound of nature is so serene as you walk up the steps. Warning, sometimes theres monkeys dangling above you. We didn't make it all the way up to the peak because it required us to wear construction helmets to get past a certain point, in case rocks falls on us. Also, in the same region you would be able to spot the Eternal Spring Shrine, a temple that is used to honor Taiwan's veterans during that time period. Due to natural disasters it has been move twice according to my tour guide, but still standing tall. Which, is how I believe Hualian would be able to do once again. #prayforhualian I would suggest though if you are not coming here with a tour guide to look up the history of the Indigenous culture in Hualien/Taroko National Park. It makes the experience more memorable and meaningful.

The most beautiful national park in Taiwan, nice views over the cliff, the mountain, water falls and ocean.

Taroko National Park is destination you must add to your itinerary. The views are absolutely breath taking and the hiking trails are an adventure. PLANNING: Your experience may vary based on the weather and day of the week you choose to go. As for weather, we went during the winter where it was cold enough to wear a jacket and not sweat during long hikes. There was mostly cloudy over cast so it wasn't too sunny. The summer may be a total opposite though, so bring proper clothing. As for the day you choose to go, a lot more people go during the weekend than the week day. We choose to go during the week day and encountered lots of tourist, however traffic wasn't a problem for us. I recommend planning for at least 8-9 hours in the park to see most of the popular attractions and have a satisfying experience without feeling rushed. Some online articles recommend bringing a headlamp, but I don't think it was necessary for our trails. There were a lot of pitch black dark tunnels, but most tourists (and us) used our cell phone flash lights to safely pass through. If you plan on seeing the curtain water fall cave (highly recommend), bring a pancho and maybe good sandals (i.e. Chacos) because you'll get really wet. LODGING: I recommend staying the night in Hualien and booking a hotel a few minutes (walking distance) from the train station. We stayed at Classic City Hotel (few blocks from the station) and had no regrets. The place was clean, breakfast was great, and the staff was friendly. The fact that it was so close to the train station made it really easy to catch an early train ride the next day. If you want to go to the night market (excellent night market), you can easily catch a taxi cab there for about NT$145 (which is about $5 USD) or walk for 30 minutes. TRANSPORTATION: From Taipei Main Station, take the train to Hualien. I recommend booking a reserved seat and sit facing the east coast because of the scenic views later. I expected a prettier scene to be honest, but staring blue water beaches were still better than staring at a wall of green shrubbery. The views get better later in the park, so don't worry if you get stuck with a bad seat. There are many different ways to get around Taroko National Park from Hualien. The most popular ways are by Bus, Taxi, or renting a scooter. I think each way has its pros and cons, but I really enjoyed the simplicity and convenience of having our own taxi for the day. We hired a taxi for 8-9 hours which costed us NT$3000 (about $100 USD). Don't plan on just getting dropped off at the park and expect to hike around on your own because it's huge and each trail head is far apart. Most importantly, the paved roads aren't design for pedestrian foot traffic, let alone bi-directional traffic lol. You'll want to hire the taxi for the day. Lots of taxi drivers do this sort of day trip and know where all the popular attractions are so I recommend this method. Bus tours may be good too but they are a bit more expensive and you are trapped with other tourists, which means you don't go at your own pace. Riding a scooter sounds like a blast, but after seeing the roads, I'm glad we didn't rent one because of all the narrow one lane bi-directional roads and giant buses were intimidating. I don't recommend renting a car either because of the same reasons, and also the limited amount of parking spots you'll encounter. FOOD: You can either pack your own food or expect to eat at a restaurant because there are small towns around then park. I recommend eating close to, but outside the park because it's cheaper.

Absolutely a must see if you're in Hualien. The drive to get to the top of the mountain can be tough with lots of buses and cars. Also, be careful if you get car/motion sickness as the roads are windy. There aren't a lot of pull over areas where you can quickly park and take pics. We've stopped in two locations - one towards the top where there are restrooms as well as a small theater that plays an 18 minute history movie. Don't forget to stop at the Center or Headquarters towards the entrance as it also has bathrooms, tourist shops, coffee, snacks, rest stop. I probably enjoyed the Center the most as it was a serene area with nice trails to quickly stretch your legs and take beautiful pics. Coffee was great as well.

Man oh man Taiwan never ceases to impress me with what it has to offer. So There's 2 ways to get to this place. I heard you can drive straight from Taizhong if you have a car into the center of Taiwan where this mountain range and gorge are located. That's the Western entrance. If you're a bit more adventurous want want to see the East coast of Taiwan first like hitting up the lovely seaside village of Hualien first before going in, you can take a train from Taipei and let it snake southward hugging the coast. Get off at Hualien and from there catch some tour bus or bike or hike your way into this place. The mountains have a blue green hue to them and unlike the mountains of the US or Europe this mountains arent jagged and V shaped but rather a U shaped with steep sides looking like seriously rocks grown from the ground. Taiwan is pretty tropical so don't expect to see your pines any time soon. The water below is crystal clear and blue but like a green blue set against the warm tropical Taiwan day. There are stops along your ascent to the top of these mountains where you can get ice cream and try different Tawanese snacks. There will be a LOT of tourist groups with some pretty awesome bus designs. If you understand chinese, tag along to listen to some of the tours from these groups. There are many small temples hidden along your way up. You don't have to stop at all of them. I promise there will be more at the top but getting a pic or two or trying to hike your way into some of these reclusive temples is pretty fun for the hitchhiker. The top there is a resort with hundreds of butterflies around it. the air up here is super clean and you'll feel the crispness of mountain air but not cold to where you need a jacket. Bugs were not tha tbad of a problem up here. there are fruit stands and bathrooms along your ascent up so it's a nice family trip to go to.

Taroko National Park seemed to me like a huge place with many different trails all around. They have signs to tell you which trail you are going on and then you literally just follow it going on dirt paths, or maybe even crossing small thin bridges which was pretty interesting. To say the least if you are an active person you will love this place and you will also get a really good work out. We ended up taking one of the paths that took about 45 minutes and seriously made me tired. Walking up stairs and down stairs and climbing around in the forrest. But what I have to say is the view was nice and the scenery was picture perfect. Took a lot of photos of nature and honestly during the time of December it wasn't hot at all so I liked that part a lot. If you are with people that are a lot older I would suggest to take a few brakes in between and just stop and take some photos. It can be very tiring and it could also make you a tad bit light headed. I'm not even that old and I felt it!!

All I can say is wow! This place is gorgeous. You feel like a tiny ant hiking through the park as the mountains around you are huge and looming. There are some areas where they require you to wear a hard hat since there are some places that are prone to falling rocks. But have no fear, this park is a wonder. There are lots of scenic lookouts and views that are breathtaking. A must visit if you are ever in this area.

Ever wanted to take a picture that looks like it came out from a painting or a computer generated image (CGI)? If you enjoy nature + taking tons of pictures, I highly recommend devoting an entire day to visiting parts of Taroko National Park. Do note: THIS PARK IS HUGE. Certain sections require a special permit if you want to hike and it's highly advisable that you do research before you start your journey here. Also, having a car will do wonders and can help expedite your travel time around this gorgeous park. For my friends and I, we hired a personal tour guide who pretty much drove us around to all the cool areas. If you decide to do the private tour route, it is definitely worth it to hire your personal tour guide vs doing a tour group / tour bus. Why? For us, our guide knew exactly when the hoard of tour buses were coming, which areas were a no no (a.k.a permit was needed) and he even helped us get hardhats for a section of the park where it was required to wear one. Plus, we didn't have to worry about waiting for people and took things at our own pace. Overall, there are numerous little areas you can explore. Drive or bus along the main road, you'll find bridges, worthwhile corners to snap pictures of the landscape and there are some pretty cool trails to hike. One of the many cool features of the park is there is an area where you can check out the hotsprings that is literally next to the river. Another cool area you can check out are the aboriginals related areas like the restaurant (which serves excellent aboriginal food and souvenirs) and there are some neat historical relics of this unique culture scattered about. Sturdy shoes are recommended if you plan to hike. As you start at the base of the park, make sure to wear layers since it does get chillier as you go higher in elevation. I visited here in late December and there were hardly any bugs. When evening strikes here, there isn't too much to see. I absolutely love this place and would definitely want to do more hikes in the spring/summer time when the flowers start blooming.

Amazing place! Best to get around on scooter, but if you don't want to the beat trails (in my opinion) are as followed: shakadang and bayaing trails - and if you have time, walk over to their natural hot springs Shakadang trails have food stalls which sell wild boar sausage & roasted mochi - both are so delicious! Bayaing trail has multiple tunnels, and the last one has running water from a nearby waterfall Best to get an early start

One trip through this park and you will understand from whence the word "gorge"-ous was derived. This was one of the most breathtaking scenic drives I have ever undertaken. The tour of which I was a part was worthwhile but I think I would like to arrange a hike on my next visit. If you have never been to the east side of Taipei, it is well worth it and this is the place to start.

One of the most popular national parks in Taiwan but the breathtaking views and free admission to boot makes it a must-visit and worth the hype! We rented a car in Hualien because we wanted to check out other spots in the town. Parking in Taroko wasn't easy to find though. In hindsight, hiring a taxi for the day would have saved us more time. There are plenty of taxis for hire right outside the Hualien train station. Places worth stopping for: - Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou Trail): great view of the gorge while trying to catch sight of the swallows that live in the gorge. more parking spaces after the tunnel. If you want to rent a hard hat (complimentary), it's about a mile from the tunnel at a white tent. Hard hats recommended but really not necessary. - Baiyan Waterfall Trail: took about 2 hours round-trip but well-worth it to see the waterfall. It looked like it came out from a Chinese painting! The water curtain (inside a cave) was closed when I visited which was a shame because in the pictures it looked downright magical. This trail winds through many short cave tunnels that require a flashlight or a cellphone flashlight and the floor can be a bit wet. Watch your step! This was the most memorable spot at Taroko Gorge for me. - Changchun Shrine (Eternal Spring Shrine): Beautiful temple/shrine that honors the soldiers and people who died making the roads and trails in the park. - Shakadang Trail: 1 hour round-trip hike where you can see the gorge and the bright blue algae water in certain spots. Trail was carved out of the cliff so rock ceiling is a bit low at certain places. 3D Cabin, which is just 3 thatched roof shacks selling aboriginal Taiwanese snacks and souvenirs, is the end of the trail due to the trail damage. Try the delicious rice wine! -Qingshui Cliff: even on a cloudy day near nightfall, you can still clearly see the gorgeous gradient of blue in the water. For the beautiful view, you should actually stop at the rest stop that has the view of Qingshui Cliff (slightly north of Taroko Park East Entrance) and not go directly to the cliff. You can also see the collision of 2 different currents. Pretty cool! The only place that has food is Tianxiang village and the parking lot is not nearly big enough (surprised surprise). The food was also pricey. I see a lot of people buying ramen at the 7-11 there. Don't feed the wildlife though! I saw a wild monkey going for somebody's lunch! There could have been more parking spaces or designated sightseeing spots but that's my only complaint. It's also a lot prettier when there's actually water flowing through the gorge. Not sure if I visited in the wrong season or there was just a drought going on, but in early February there was barely any water at all. Avoid visiting when it's raining heavily or when there's a typhoon (happens a lot in Hualien apparently) as driving in the park can get dangerous. For a free national park, everything was well-maintained and clean. The park is easily doable in a day when you're not wasting time looking for parking. So glad to have finally seen this national treasure!

I have family in Taiwan and they organized a taxi driver to take us to Toroko for the day + a half day trip in Hualien. I read up on Toroko and how to get around so this review serves as an idea of how much things cost because it's variable and what you get. If you can speak Chinese, I believe you will get a better deal. We were a party of 8 so it was just the exact number of people to fit in the van taxi. The driver picked us up from the Hualien train station at 2pm, took us around Hualien (Japanese meditation tourist attraction place, beach, and other random places) which I didn't think was anything special or worth it to be honest, then dropped us off at our hotel. Next day, he picked us up and we headed for Toroko Gorge. At Toroko, he basically dropped us off at certain spots so we can explore. We didn't really walk/hike into any cool, secret spots like I had imagined the trip would go. This must be the quick version tour. We stopped at Qingshui Cliff (gorgeous!), walked the Shakadang trail, walked through Swallow Grotto, stopped at a tourist center, ate in Tianxiang village, and stopped at Eternal Spring Shrine. It was sprinkling and sometimes raining when we went which was advantageous as there were not that many people. And, it was a Monday. Sites were gorgeous and I hope to go back again to do some real hiking. The quick and dirty version was pretty good if you're going with a family of all ages so you can get a taste of this gorgeous place. Cost: $6,600TW (Includes pick up/drop off at train station, pick up/drop off at hotel, half day hualien, and full day toroko) I inquired with an English speaking taxi driver that was highly recommended on Trip Advisor and I feel like he was trying to rip me off. He quoted me for $4000 and with the size of my party, I'd need two cars so that's $8,000. I asked if Qingshui cliff was included. He said it's an added $500 for each car and if I wanted a car seat, it's another $500. On the reviews, people were saying he charged $3,500. I asked him about it and he made up some lame excuse. So for this, which would just be a pick up/drop off from hotel + Toroko, it would be $9,500. See what I mean about having someone who speaks Chinese?? Other reviews recommend going to the train station at Hualien and there will be a bunch of taxi drivers ready for hire for the day. I hope this review helps! Good luck and happy travels!

This was part of our bus tour across the country. The park is enormous, so we only walked through part of it (outfitted with our spiffy safety helmets). The scenery is amazing and fortunately the weather was very pretty the day we went. Unfortunately we also went during a season of drought so the water level was extremely low. I imagine it's only more fantastic with the rushing water normally. Getting to the temple was quite a walk/climb. The steps are all of varying heights so you need to watch your step. I didn't get a chance to make it up to the smaller temple part way up top but a couple friends made a run for it and barely made it back to the bus. They got their workout of the day/week for sure. The massive amount of tourists can be extremely annoying. Mostly because they are ignorant visitors from a certain neighboring country that just don't know any better. Watch out for them running right into you, trying to get in the bathroom stall that you are already occupying, walking through or into your pictures, etc etc etc. Seriously, WTH.

If we were talking about a list of natural treasures in Taiwan, this place would definitely be in the top 10. Taroko National Park is one of the most beautiful places I've had the opportunity to visit. Everything about this park is so mind-blowing beautiful. In walking along the river gorges, you are completely blown away by the power of nature. You are looking at valleys and gorges that have been cut out by rushing river water over thousands of years. Being able to walk through such natural beauty gives you a moment of being isolated from the worries and stresses of this world. As you are walking through the park, you feel as though you are one with nature.For me, it was truly a breathtaking moment that reminded me to slow down in life occasionally and to take a deep breath. Whatever worries I had just felt like they washed away with the flow of the river. If you get the opportunity to visit, please do :)

Taroko National Park blew me away with the towering cliffs and the magnificent views. Anywhere you look will take your breath away. I would definitely recommend Taroko National Park to anyone visiting Hualien!

Beautiful park with breathtaking views. I would recommend at least 2 full days to explore the area. The drive up the mountain isn't bad and it's the easiest way to get around, but be cautious of buses on the road. My favorite trail is the baiyang trail!

I hate to be the Debbie Downer here but anyone who says Taroko is an amazing experience is either grossly exaggerating or has never been to another national park. I was pretty disappointed, even with close to optimal conditions- good weather and minimal crowds on a Monday in mid-November. I will say that Taroko has a hell of a job to try and live up to some of the other nature parks I have visited so maybe I am just a tough comparative critic. Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in Califonia plus the Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia far surpass any kind of beauty found here but I will give 3 stars for half-effort on behalf of the government to make this one of Taiwan's main attractions. Pros: 1) No entry fee which is a nice change from the American national park system. 2) The Visitor Center has good, cheap food (and ice cream bars!). 3) All signs are also labeled in English. Makes me feel half-literate in Taiwan. 4) The hop-on, hop-off shuttle system (a private tour company where you must purchase tickets at the orange building located near the Hualien train station and NOT on the bus) is a convenient way to get around and only costs $7- $8 USD for the entire day. Cons: 1) Chinese and Japanese tourist groups pushing and shoving for the best views with no sense of common decency for other tourists. *Sigh* 2) Don't get me started on the selfie sticks. 3) Trails that were damaged by the typhoon (um, in May) have still been left unfixed and closed which really limits how thoroughly you can see this park 4) Everything is kind of monotonous after a few hours. More or less, you are walking on a guarded ledge looking down at a blue river flowing between a ginormous mountain for the entire visit. So if you're interested in seeing Taroko on a budget, definitely buy the 1-day shuttle pass for 250NWT from the bus station (located on the first side street to the right of the train station if you are looking at it head-on), take the 7 or 8am shuttle, be done by 3pm. Someone told me that you need more than one day at Taroko. You don't. Trust me.

If you're looking to get out of the city and into the country for clean air and a relaxed atmosphere, make sure you stop by here! This place has fantastic scenery that will make for a great Instagram shot. The mountains are breath taking and a walk along (well kind of above) the rocky river is spectacular. It's a big contrast to the bustling city of Taipei or Taichung - the nearby country towns are super relaxed (but slightly less developed technology wise) so get ready to put away those devices and enjoy the view. TIP: there's not much to eat up here except for one restaurant and maybe a cafe so be prepared either way!

i don't know how anyone could give taroko national park less than a 5 star. i was seriously blown away by the beauty of taroko. every turn was a surprise, every view was breathtaking. i was even more impressed to learn about the history of the national park and those who risked their lives in opening up the pathway / roadway for us to access this natural wonder. and most importantly, it's FREE. are you kidding me? for the amount of maintenance they do on the roads and opening up new tunnels, i'm surprised they don't charge visitors an arm and a leg! there are lots of trails situated in the park. we only had enough time to do short trails like swallow's grotto and the baiyang waterfall trail. but there are some more advanced trails where hiking permits are required. it was a ton of fun going through different tunnels because to each their own, they're all extremely unique. i highly recommend signing up for a tour or getting a local guide so you can learn more about the history and have a deeper appreciation for the national park and its association with the aborigine heritage.

Taroko National Park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. So glad we decided to venture outside of Taipei, and took the 2 hour train to Hualien in order to get here. We booked a two night stay in Hualien, and booked a tour through the hotel to come here. We spent an entire day here, and even got to eat traditional aboriginal Taiwanese food nearby. We came with our kids (3 and 5 at the time), so didn't get to go on any long hikes, but did get a chance to wander around and take in the beauty. Taroko National Park is definitely a place worth checking out if you ever find yourself in Taiwan!

Great for a day trip or more, this national park is getting busier each time I go visit. For those who have never been, I would suggest a 2-3 day trip to Hualien and spend 1.5-2 days hiking around Taroko. The scenery is lovely and there are several trails of varying difficulty for all ages and fitness levels. Keep in mind you can bike, scooter, bus or drive to the park but traffic can get a bit jammed due to rockfall and a small road so I would recommend the local bus for first timers. Read all signs carefully, bring water, camera, light jacket and comfortable shoes and some small change as a few of the hikes have stalls on the sides. For those who are more cautious, you can borrow free blue helmets too. Getting there via bus: 1 day pass: NT$250 (unlimited journeys on the same day) 2 day pass: NT$400 (unlimited journeys for two consecutive days) The pass must be bought before travel as it cannot be purchased on the bus. Tickets can be purchased at: - Hualien Bus Terminal: 100 Guolian 1st Road (turn left and walk straight after exiting Hualien railway station. You will see a prominent orange building) - Hualien Visitor Info Center: 106, Guolian 1st Road (turn right and walk straight after exiting Hualien railway station) Opening hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. The bus is reliable but again, due to construction and rockfall it can go off schedule so always aim for the earlier bus. Get there early and leave early so avoid long delays. Remember to check the trail conditions either online (http://www.taroko.gov.tw/English/) or with the bus driver. Trails I checked out this time: Shandakang - really smooth easy trail, the only steps involved are getting to and from the trail via the overhead bridge. The trail ends halfway where there are stalls you can buy food and trinkets from. Yanzikou - easy walk along the main road to view swallow nests and rocks. It can get really squishy here with lots of people so get there early.

Breathtaking view, one of the highlights of my Taiwan trip, highly recommend it. You can purchase a day ticket with unlimited rides for 250 NT$ which will take you from Hualin station to Tiansiang (天祥). Although the bus rides are unlimited, but they are usually once a hour, and between 12 and 2, there are no buses at certain stops, the last bus back to Hualin station is at 6PM from Tiansiang (天祥), so make sure you grab a schedule and be at the station on time. I did the Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑), which as of the day of my visit (04-17), only opens to halfway point, which is about 90 mins round trip at normal pace. It is not hard of a hike. I walked from Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑) to Eternal Spring Shrine, which I think it is about 1.4KM, the main path is the tunnel which is a good on a hot day. Just FYI - the bus going to Tiansiang (天祥) will not stop at Eternal Spring Shrine, it will only stop on the way back to Hualin Station. At Eternal Spring Shrine, hike up (this is a pretty steep climb) to the Bell tower and hike down to Yukung Temple, because tourist usually doesn't take this path, so it makes a relaxing hike. From the Temple, I walked back to the Shakadang Trail (砂卡礑) and took the bus to Swallows Grotto (燕子口), I would suggest walk to the next stop, the view is breathtaking. I actually end up walking all the way to Lushui (合流.綠水), through Tunnel of Nine Turns (九曲洞), which takes a about 2 ~3 hours. Be careful, there are part of the road with minimum walk path, although the traffic is minimum and slowly.

Visited Taroko Gorge with Island Life Taiwan Adventures and was blown away! What an amazing day. Our guide Alan was awesome and told us all about the wild history of the area while showing us the most beautiful spots in the park. The beautiful river at Shakadang. The amazing cliffs at Swallow grotto. The bell tower trail and more. Highly recommend Taroko Gorge and highly recommend Island Life Taiwan.

Overall Taroko Gorge Value 5/5 free entrance Atmosphere 5/5 beautiful Service 5/5 bathrooms everywhere Quality 5/5 20/20 a must visit in Taiwan! Cingsuei cliff One of the 8 wonders of Taiwan where the cliff is met with two shades of the ocean due to the different temperature of the currents coming from China and Philiphines. It's a beautiful sight, the light blue almost appears cloudy as it paint mixed. Shakadang trail First 1.5 km to the 3D village is well paved and easy walk, once you get past, it becomes boulders for awhile then difficult trail. We only made it to a out 2 km in then back out as we weren't sure how long it would take. Loved this trail and its diversity. Eternal springs shrine One of the most popular spots at the gorge to take photo off nestled on the gorge. Unfortunately due to rockslide next to it the trail was only partially open. Trail to bell tower When looking at the eternal shrine, there is another temple at top then even higher is the bell tower. Due to the main trail closing going towards the shrine, we started from a temple near the bell tower starting with a suspension bridge. It is straight uphill for about 800m with many stairs but once you reach the bell tower and make yourself to the roof, you can ring the bell! Fun quick hike. Swallow grotto trail You should pick up the free helmet as there are falling rocks in the trail walking in and out of little caves along the gorge. It is a beautiful sight with paved easy road. You walk along the edge of the gorge until you get to a rest area selling bamboo rice, aboriginal dish from the area with a view of the chief rock. This rock was formed naturally with the wind, water shaping itself to look like Indian chief's profile. Aboriginal village A little village, also a hotel on top of the mountain with a restaurant to try aboriginal delicacies as well as a museum. Interesting stop with beautiful views of the mountains but not that exciting.

There are lots of way myd to explore the park: bus, taxi, bike...we opted with renting a scooter just outside the park. $10 for 24hr rental. Started at the nice visitor center and learned that much of the park is closed because of storm damage. We were only able to drive to the Buluowan Visitor Center. Pretty much all of the trails near there and past that was all closed. Eternal springs shrine is worth a stop but the trails there are closed too. We then headed back down to the main VC and hiked 1.5 km up the shakalang trail. This one is very nice. Beautiful scenery along the small gorge. But after 1.5 km it too was closed. Hopefully they will get the park open again soon. It's a beautiful place.

Taroko National Park was just as fabulous as when I visited as a child. This time I visited with my family of 4 and we were there for 2 days in June. The forecast was 70-100% rain for Hualien on both days but we only had a light drizzle or misting in Taroko Gorge and those only lasted a few minutes. Our goal was to hike all the available scenic hikes but would have been ok with siting on the shuttle bus as it looped around. We bought rice balls, water and snacks from the 7-11 by our hotel in Hualien so we didn't need to purchase food from the vendors. Transportation--we took a hop-on hop-off shuttle bus from Hualien Station. www.taiwantrip.com choose East and 1133A Taroko Route. The website offers e-bus times for Hualien-Tienxiang and the return trip as well (some stops are only available in one direction so look over the routes carefully)--very convenient since there's construction after the Swallow Grotto and there could be a 30 minute delay each way to get thru that one way section of road. Payment options--each time you get on, 1-day pass 250NT or 2-day pass 400NT. Hikes--We went on several scenic hikes, some of which were definitely more strenuous than others due to many stairs, uneven surface etc but the views were great. DAY 1 Hikes: Shakadang Trail--5-6 flights of stairs (descending at the beginning and ascending at the end). You can skip the descent and hike here from the Visitor Center. The trail was relatively flat with shade, view of the river and sounds of nature. We turned around before reaching the vendors and the cabin so we could catch the next shuttle. Hike this easy and popular trail early before the tour busses arrive and the path gets congested and overly noisy. Bulowan--2 short hikes here--1) Meander Core Park (mostly flat with some stairs) just past the parking lot and 2) the trek up to the upper observation deck and the Taroko Village Hotel (steep with seemingly endless stairs) [do not take the stairs in the rain--the steps are not uniform in height and are made of rock which may get very slippery--you can walk on the road for the cars instead]. Swallow Grotto Trail--flat and congested if the tour busses are there at the same time. We got there around noon and saw Swallows but not too many at that time of day. There may be more in the early morning. I remember seeing flocks of over 100 flying around when I was a child but it's been over 30 years, so who knows if there are still that many? The trail is relatively flat and there's a section that requires hardhats (we didn't have and turned around after 10 minutes walking). Tienxiang--we walked up the numerous stairs to pay our respects to the many Bodhisattvas and their shrines. This was our last hike for the day and we were exhausted. The statues looked wonderful and the view was great. (There are many food vendors and a 7-11 by the parking lot). End if Day 1 Hikes--my phone recorded 32 flights of stairs climbed. Day 2 Hikes: Lushui Trail--we only went as far as the Memorial Stone and it only took 20 minutes each way. It had drizzled a bit and the rocky surface was a bit slippery but not too bad. There's 30m of dark tunnel that could use a flashlight. There were streams, trees, bird calls, etc. There were also multiple stacks of rocks that I was calling "fake ducks"(the trail marking kind). Not sure what they're for. This trail reminded me of our family trips to the Grand Canyon and Waimea Canyon. It was very quiet and serene until a tour group arrived and the guide started using his microphone. Eternal Spring Shrine Trail--the trail to the temple was closed so we only went to the Shrine. Easy walk. 5 minutes each way. End of Day 2 hikes. We rushed back to the Hualien Station to pick up our luggage from the luggage room and take an earlier train back to Taipei.

Growing up in Taiwan, I surprisingly never left the Keelung/Taipei area. So when my cousins asked if we wanted to do a family tour of Taiwan, we naturally all jumped at the chance. One of the stops in our drive around Taiwan (we rented a private tour bus for the 23 of us) was Taroko National Park. This area is filled with gorgeous mountains and scenery...................however, all of the tunnels and roads were (miniscule). Tiny to the point where often, our bus had to stop, let other cars go (that were coming in from the other direction) before we could continue...and even then, it felt like the wheels were riding the rims of the cliffs. That said, this place is AMAZING. If you have a chance go come out here, it's an amazing opportunity to see Taiwan away from the hussel and bussel of the city, and see the natural beauty of the island.

If you want amazing views of Taiwan. You must go here. See photos I'll update. Still here!

Tip for new travelers on a budget: take the train to Hualien. IGNORE the people outside who will try to take your money and either make you rent a taxi all day (3000 Taiwan dollars) or take a tourist shuttle (anywhere between 500 to 1000 Taiwan dollars). Go across the grassy park area and look for the local bus station line and ask for a "Taroko Gorge bus line ticket"...250 Taiwan dollars. You should get a bus schedule and a ticket. Retain the ticket stub. (surprisingly easy to miss; however, you can ask an attendant at the train station to clarify.) The Taroko National Park is an amazing experience. This review can't possibly do it justice...so I'll just include the aforementioned tip.

We visited Taroko Gorge with the intention of hiking the Zhuilu Old Trail however upon trying to reserve permits, we found out that the trail is currently closed (as of Oct 17, 2015) due to typhoon damage. While unfortunate, we were determined to make the best of it. Leaving from Hualien train station, we bought an unlimited one day tourist shuttle ticket for 250NT through Tour Taiwan. People can also purchase an unlimited two day ticket for 400NT. The buses depart roughly every hour and take about 40 minutes to get to Taroko National Park. However once in the park, the bus times are less than reliable as there is heavy car traffic along the narrow road. The road often narrows to the point where cars have to take turns passing and there is plenty of construction improving the perilous roads. Be patient! We visited the following viewing points and trails: Shakadang Trail: The bus only visits the trailhead while going up the gorge. The view of the Shakadang river is remarkable and the light blue waters are much more beautiful than the grey water of the Liwu river. The trail is narrow and often crowded with other tourists which got quite annoying. The trail is limited beyond the 5D cabin as there's typhoon damage as well. However just past the 5D cabin we had access to the riverbanks and got to dip our hands and toes into the refreshing blue water. Lushui Trail: The trail will first cross a rickety suspension bridge and a unlit cave before getting to the good stuff. Be prepared for stop and go traffic as tourists pose for photos on the bridge. Once the tourists start moving, the trail climbs up and wraps tightly around a cliffside, with only a metal rail keeping you from certain peril. Looking down straight over the road and then the Liwu river made this trail all worth it. The trail runs one way and heavy traffic makes it difficult to turn back to the trail head. Instead, the trail ends slightly downstream at the Heliu campgrounds. We returned to the Lushui bus stop by walking along the road for about 5 minutes. Tiansiang Village: This is the terminus for the bus. Here we were able to buy some drinks. Others can also buy food. Just across the parking lot is the fancy pants hotel, sorry only hotel guests can enter. Slightly down from the village we can climb up to a small temple and see sweeping views of the village area. Changchun Shrine Trail: The bus only stops here while going out from Taroko. We're dropped off at a fork in the road and we had to walk past parked tour buses before we get a good look at the Changchun Shrine. This is the shrine that appears on all Taroko Gorge pamphlets! Crossing the red bridge, we realized the trail to the shrine itself was closed. However once through the tunnel after the bridge, there's a road that goes upwards towards the Taroko Tower that can be seen from the bus parking lot. Unfortunately we were out of time and couldn't hike up the road. The shuttle pickup point is further down the road where the Changchun Shrine road meets up with the main road. While the gorge itself is breathtaking, we were a bit disappointed by the limited number of trails that were open. It's understandable that typhoons may close off trails and we hope that the park staff are able to restore them as soon as possible. It's apparent that typhoons are no joke, we could see destroyed roads and bridges near the banks of Liwu River. Another disappointment is the large number of crowds in the park. It's difficult to fully absorb the beauty in nature when you're shoulder to shoulder with people taking selfies. I would totally visit Taroko again, but only hike trails that require permitting and/or go backcountry camping.

Spent a day at Taroko National Park a few days ago. It was a nice park. It looks similar to Skyline Drive and Sheanandoah National Park in Virginia USA. It is a nice day tour out of Taipei