Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
County Roads 193 and 197
Serious Challenges
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Taroko Gorge to Hehuanshan: a 0m to 3275m climb in 86km
Getting Around
TO/FROM THE AIRPORT
Hualien Bus Company runs buses to the airport (NT$38, 50 minutes, hourly).
CAR & SCOOTER
Vehicles are available for rent around the train station. Rental scooters cost NT$400 to
NT$500 per day and cars NT$2000 per day and up (both exclude petrol). You need an
International Driver's Permit and ID to rent a car. To rent a scooter, you need a
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.ponyrent.com.tw
;
81;
7.30am-9pm)
, to the left of the Ching Yeh
Hotel.
TAXI
Drivers congregate around the train and bus stations. To travel to and around Taroko
costs up to NT$3000 per day.
TAROKO NATIONAL PARK
03
Just 15km north of Hualien sits Taroko National Park (Tàilǔgé Gúojiā Gōngyuán;
www.taroko.gov.tw
), Taiwan's top tourist destination. With its marble-walled canyons,
lush vegetation and mountainous landscape, Taroko really puts the
formosa
(beautiful) in
Ilha Formosa.
The park covers 1200 sq km and rises from sea level in the east to over 3700m further
west. In fact, Taroko is 90% mountainous with 27 peaks over 3000m. Almost all the bio-
geographical zones in Taiwan are represented here, providing a sanctuary for half the is-
land's plant and animal species.
The blue-green Liwu River (called Yayung Paru - Great River - by the Taroko tribe)
cuts through the centre, forging deep slitted valleys and ravines before emptying into the
