Taroko Gorge
太魯閣峽谷
A 19-kilometre gorge carved through marble by the Liwu River, with Swallow Grotto, Nine Bends Tunnels and Changchun Shrine ranking among Taiwan's most spectacular natural sights.
Taroko Gorge lies in the eastern section of Taroko National Park. Over millions of years the Liwu River cut through marble and gneiss mountains to form it. The 19-kilometre stretch of the Central Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 8) from Taroko Gate to Tianxiang follows the gorge, where cliffs rise nearly a kilometre at their highest and narrow to just a few dozen metres in places. It is one of the rare marble gorges in the world.
The classic sights, from east to west, are: Changchun Shrine, which honours the 225 veterans who died building the highway and where a waterfall flows from beneath the shrine; Buluowan, a Truku village with the Shanyue Suspension Bridge; Swallow Grotto, where a path hugs the cliff face and potholes and swallow nests dot the opposite wall, making it the narrowest and most beautiful section of the gorge; Nine Bends Tunnels, a series of trail tunnels cut through the rock; and Cimu Bridge and Tianxiang, a rest area at the end of the gorge with Xiangde Temple and Tianfeng Pagoda.
How to visit: take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Route 310 from Hualien Station, or hire a car. The bus stops at each sight, and the full trip takes half a day to a full day. Hikers can apply for a permit to walk the Zhuilu Old Trail, a cliffside path from the Japanese occupation period that requires an online entry application in advance. Entry is free, and the visitor centre has Chinese-language guides and maps.
Getting there: from Hualien Station, take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Taroko Line for about one hour to the Taroko Visitor Centre. A private car costs about NT$3,500 per day.
Good to know: after the earthquake in April 2024, many trails and road sections in the gorge were damaged and closed. Nine Bends Tunnels, Shakadang and other sights are reopening in stages, so check the Taroko National Park website before you go. Wear a helmet in rockfall areas such as Swallow Grotto (free to borrow at the visitor centre). Do not enter the gorge in rain or within 48 hours of an earthquake.
Opening hours
All day (trails open per notices; visitor center 08:30–16:45)
Nearby sights
- Lushui–Heliu Trail
- Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail
- Tianxiang & Xiangde Temple
- Baiyang Trail & Water Curtain Cave
- Zhuilu Old Road
- Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou) Trail
- Buluowan Recreation Area
- Eternal Spring Shrine