Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cycling
Cycling Taroko Gorge grows in popularity each year, with the majority of riders making
a day trip up to Tienhsiang (elevation 470m) and back. Bikes can be rented across from
the Hsincheng (Xincheng) train station and also in Hualien and Qixingtan. Contact Mr
Su at Taroko Lodge (
Click here
)
for bike rentals that include a drive up the gorge (with
your bike) and drop-off at any point. While this may seem like cheating, it's ideal for the
day tripper as it gives you time to see the sights, hike a few short trails (or one long one)
and finish with a sublime coast down the gorge later in the day.
A great deal more challenging is the 75km ride from the base to Dayuling and then,
for the brave, on to Lishan (another 29km) and, for the heroic, to Hehuanshan (another
11km): the latter takes you from sea level to 3275m at Wuling Pass, the highest section
of road in East Asia.
It's a gruelling ride up switchback after switchback, with the air cooling and thinning
at higher levels. The rewards, beyond the physical accomplishment, include world-class
mountain vistas as your constant companion, and an ever-changing forest cover that
eventually gives way to rolling fields of dwarf bamboo at the highest levels.
The ascent is not particularly steep to Tienhsiang but afterwards it becomes more re-
lentless. Most riders spend the first night in the hostel at Guanyun (altitude 2374m),
about 71km up from the base. A complete cross-island ride from Taroko to Taichung
covers 200km of road and typically takes three days, with the second night's stop in
Wushe.
TOURING TAROKO
You can visit Taroko National Park any time of year, but during weekends and holi-
days the place is very crowded, especially on the road. The longer trails, however,
are always quiet and tour buses cannot drive past Tienhsiang.
With increased Chinese tourism has come an increased number of tour buses
(they peak February to April). However, these tend to get a late start so visit prime,
easily accessible sights (such as Baiyang Trail and Yanzikou) as early as you can.
Also note that after 6pm the park is nearly deserted allowing for sublimely peaceful
dusk walks or rides down the gorge.
There's only one road through the park (Hwy 8), and only one real village (Ti-
enhsiang). Food and accommodation are limited here, so many people base them-
selves outside the park, in Taroko Village, Liyu Lake or Hualien.
The park is slated to start charging an entrance fee of around NT$100 in 2014.
