Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Meiyuan Zhucun (Jhucun) Trail HIKING
MAP
(Méiyuán Zhúcūn Bùdaò, Bamboo Village/Plum Garden Trail) About 6km up from Tienhsiang, at
the Km164.5 mark on a switchback, this 12.4km trail runs up the rugged Dasha and Tao-
sai River valleys along a path chiselled into cliff walls. At the Chiumei (Jiumei) suspen-
sion bridge (20 minutes hike up the main trail), a 2.1km side trail leads to Lotus Pond
( Liánhuā Chí Bùdaò ).
Though a popular hiking route (plan on eight hours for a return trip on the main trail,
and three hours return if you only go to Lotus Pond), it's also the only outside access for
two tiny farming villages that are deep in the mountains. Once the site of Taroko abori-
ginal settlements, the villages were resettled after the construction of the Central Cross-
Island Hwy.
Qingshui (Chingshui) Cliffs SCENIC AREA
MAP
(Qīngshuǐ Duànyá) Towering coastal cliffs are a regular feature of Taiwan's east. The most
spectacular examples, known as the Qingshui Cliffs, extend 21km from Chondge, just
north of where the Liwu River enters the sea, to the town of Heren. One classic location
for cliff viewing is a little pullover park at Km176.4 on Highway 9.
The cliffs are composed of durable marble and schist walls, which rise 200m to 1000m
above sea level. They form the easternmost section of the Central Mountains, and re-
portedly are the oldest bit of rock in Taiwan.
River Tracing
The Sanjhan North River ( Sān Zhàn Běi Xī ) flows through southern Taroko National Park.
A short 2km trail has been built along the river, following a canal built by the US gov-
ernment in 1952 (clean, clear water still flows down the canal). But the real reason to
come is to river trace to the Golden Canyon (Huángjīn Xiágǔ) , a beautiful gorge with nu-
merous waterfalls and deep, blue-tinted swimming pools.
From spring to autumn, river-tracing outings are organised by various outfits. Most
hostels in Hualien can arrange trips for you, though you might want to ask about condi-
tions before you go: this place is getting increasingly overrun. The expat-run Hualien
Outdoors ( Click here ) also organises trips here and to other spots around the county.
Sanjhan sits just south of Taroko National Park. If you are heading to Hualien from
Taroko, turn right off Hwy 9 at the sign for Sanjhan (Sānzhàn, Sanchan). When you cross
the bridge into the village, stay right along the river.
 
 
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