Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As with Yushan National Park, there were plans to turn the Taroko area into a national
park in the 1930s. However, WWII scuttled that idea and it was not until the 1960s that
the KMT government began to draft a national park act. Taroko National Park is
Taiwan's fourth such park, officially established on 28 November 1986.
Dangers & Annoyances
Earthquakes, typhoons and landslides are having their effect on the strata of Taroko
Gorge, and a small number of visitors have been killed in recent years from falling rocks.
The park offers free helmets for visitors, although wearing them is optional.
Sights & Activities
The 18km marble-walled
Taroko Gorge
(Tàilǔgé)
has been a popular walking and hiking
destination since the 1930s. The park puts out an excellent guide called
Trails of Taroko
Gorge and Su-Hua Areas.
Pick up a copy at the National Park Headquarters. Useful trail
maps are included with clear information on length, times, conditions and things to ob-
serve along the way.
Taroko Gorge began as coral deposits deep under the sea. Under pressure from geolo-
gical forces, the coral was transformed into limestone and then marble, schists and
gneiss. Five million years ago, as Taiwan was lifted from the sea by the collision of the
Philippine and Eurasian plates, the gorge began to be formed. In essence, the upward
thrust of hard rock, combined with the erosion of the soft layers from water and land-
slides, left towering canyon walls that are so narrow in places that you could play catch
with someone on the other side.
The following are presented in the order you would encounter them starting out from
the base of the gorge.
DON'T MISS
TAROKO'S TOP NATURAL SIGHTS
The Gorge
The marble-walled jewel in the national park's crown.
Jhuilu Trail
Witness spellbinding and vertigo-inducing views of the gorge.
Swallow Grotto
How can rock make such magical patterns?
Shakadang River
A green-blue river tossed with even more colourful boulders.
Baiyang Trail
A Chinese landscape painting brought to life.
Qingshui Cliffs
Classic towering sea cliffs
