Located on Taiwan’s east coast, near the city of Hualien, lies the spectacular Taroko Gorge National Park. With its impressive marble cliffs, dramatic landscapes, ancient temples, and intensely blue water, this is definitely one of the highlights of my time in Taiwan.
While you could certainly spend several days here, most people visit the park as a day trip from Hualien or Taipei. In this article, you’ll find all my tips for visiting Taroko Gorge from Hualien. And you’ll understand why this is one of Taiwan’s most visited attractions.
Looking for more Taiwan tips? Check out my Taiwan travel guide
Can you visit Taroko Gorge in one day?
I have only one day to visit Taroko Gorge, and that’s fine. With a bit of preparation, you can see many of the park’s highlights in a couple of hours. If you like to go on long hikes (which this park is excellent for), it’s worth staying longer.
But preparation is key here. Since Taroko Gorge is just outside the city of Hualien, it’s better to visit Taroko Gorge from Hualien than from Taipei. Many tours offer a day trip to Taroko Gorge from Taipei, but you’ll spend a lot of time traveling to the park instead of spending it in the park.
Best way to visit Taroko Gorge from Hualien
From Hualien, it’s just over 20 kilometers to the entrance of Taroko National Park. There are several ways to get there.
If you want to visit Taroko Gorge at your own pace, renting a scooter is a popular option. However, riding a scooter in the mountains requires some experience (which I don’t have) and can be less comfortable in bad weather.
If you already have a rental car, you can of course drive to the park yourself. Keep in mind that parking can be challenging on busy days. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Hualien to the park entrance.
If you don’t want to drive yourself but still want to visit the park on your own, you can also take the bus. The buses run regularly and stop at all major sights. The downside is that you need to check the bus schedule, which makes your time less flexible.
Finally, and this is what I did, you can go to Taroko Gorge with an organized tour.
Organized day trip to Taroko Gorge from Hualien
Since I only have one day to visit Taroko Gorge and want to see as much of the park as possible, I choose to visit the national park with a tour. It’s less flexible than traveling on your own, but I don’t have to worry about where to go or how to get there. They take care of everything, including lunch. Plus, an experienced local guide knows what the best things to do are and can tell a lot of interesting stories about them.
Although many tours are offered from Taipei, there aren’t that many from Hualien. After reading many positive reviews, I choose The Better Taroko Gorge Tour from Island Life Taiwan.
Unlike other tours you leave early in the morning (7:30 am) so you can see more of the park and you’re with a maximum of 8 people. They also pick you up and drop you off at your hotel in Hualien. I highly recommend this tour from Island Life Taiwan!
If you want to look at other tour options, Viator offers organized day tours to Taroko Gorge from both Taipei and Hualien.
Best things to do in Taroko Gorge
But what makes Taroko Gorge worth a visit? These are some of the most beautiful things to see that you don’t want to miss.
Shakadang trail
Our first stop is the Shakadang Trail, one of the most accessible hiking routes in Taroko National Park. The trail winds along the crystal-clear Shakadang River, famous for its clear blue water and stunning marble rock formations. It’s 4,1 km one way.
Eternal spring shrine
The Eternal spring shrine, or Changchun shrine, is one of the most photogenic spots in Taroko National Park. This beautiful temple, built in memory of the workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway, stands on a cliff with a spectacular waterfall flowing under the temple. The temple is easily accessible via a walking path that is cut out of the rock wall.
Don’t forget to look up to see the Bell Tower standing on a mountain between the trees. If you want to visit this Bell Tower, you’ll have to follow the steep Changchun shrine trail which can be accessed either from the Eternal spring shrine or the Changuang Temple.
Swallow grotto
One of the most beautiful places you can visit in Taroko Gorge is Swallow grotto. As you walk along the narrow trails through the gorge, you are surrounded by impressive marble walls carved by the power of the Liwu River over centuries. It also has a suspension bridge that you can cross. Unfortunately this trail was closed when I visited as the road to get there was severely damaged due to the latest typhoon. But I could see it from a distance when I was standing on the Buluowan suspension bridge.
Buluowan suspension bridge
The Buluowan suspension bridge offers a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains and the Liwu River flowing below from a height of 152 meters. I’m not a fan of heights, but fortunately, the bridge feels very sturdy as you cross it. The bridge is 196 meters long and 2.5 meters wide.
Tunnel of nine turns (Jiuqudong)
The Tunnel of Nine Turns is a scenic trail of 700 meter long that runs along the Liwu River. You walk through several narrow tunnels carved out of the rock (with nine sharp turns), with stunning views of the deep gorges. Very impressive! At the end of the trail you need to walk back via the same route, which takes about 25 minutes in total.
What to bring to Taroko National Park?
What you need to bring obviously depends on what you plan to do in the park. But I would recommend bringing at least the following items:
- Umbrella or rain jacket: it rains almost every day in the park (even when it stays dry in Hualien)
- Food and drinks: there aren’t many places to buy food. We had a delicious ‘aboriginal lunch’ at Taroko Village. But make sure you have some snacks and drinks with you.
- Comfortable (hiking) shoes: even if you’re not planning to go on long hikes.
- Jacket or sweater: the weather is hard to predict, so dress in layers.
- Sunscreen and bug repellent.
How much does it cost to visit Taroko National Park?
A visit to Taroko Gorge is very affordable. You don’t pay an entrance fee to enter the park. If you also want to hike the Zhuilu Old Road Trail, you need to apply for a visitor permit in advance which costs 200 TWD. More information can be found on the park’s website. You can also go on an organized one day hike with a small group where they take care of the permit for you.
Train from Taipei to Hualien
If you want to visit Taroko Gorge from Hualien, travel to Hualien the day before. Since I’m traveling by public transport, I take the train from Taipei to Hualien, which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. As I shared in my article with travel tips for Taiwan, there is no high-speed train from Taipei to Hualien. But this direct train is very comfortable and costs only 440 TWD.
At the Hualien train station, you can then take a taxi, Uber, or bus to your hotel.
Things to do in Hualien
Hualien heavily relies on tourists that are visiting Taroko Gorge. It’s not the most beautiful city that I visit during my 2,5 weeks in Taiwan, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do.
If you traveled to Hualien the day before your visit to Taroko Gorge, definitely go to the Dongdamen Night Market in the evening, which opens every day from 6 pm. With 400 food stalls, it’s the largest market on Taiwan’s east coast.
On the second evening, after being dropped off at my hotel by the guide from Island Life Taiwan, I’m having dinner at restaurant Fuzi. A small, charming restaurant with delicious Japanese food.
And if you’re looking for a nice café in Hualien to have coffee, then go to Soave Plan where they also have delicious homemade cakes.
Where to stay in Hualien
Because it’s so close to the park, most people who visit Taroko Gorge stay in Hualien. I’m staying two nights at the Just Sleep Hualien ZhongZheng hotel. It’s conveniently located in the city centre of Hualien, so I can easily walk to the night market, cafes, shops and restaurants. The room is not very special, but it is spacious and offers everything you need. Breakfast is included in the morning.
Hotels in Taroko National Park
Are you spending more than one day at Taroko Gorge and don’t want to go back to Hualien? Then you could also choose to stay at a hotel within Taroko National Park. You can make an early start the next day, but be aware that there’s nothing to do in the evening.
I haven’t stayed here myself but the 5-star Silks Place Taroko Gorge hotel looks like a great choice, with beautiful rooms, 2 restaurants, and both an indoor and outdoor pool. It’s also close to the Baiyang trail.
Another good option would be Lakeshore Hotel Hualien Taroko. This modern 5-star hotel is located just outside the entrance of the park. So you’re technically not within Taroko National Park, but it will only take 10 minutes to get to the park in the morning. Plus it’s a 3 minute walk to the beach!
Earthquakes in Taiwan: Is Taroko Gorge safe to visit?
Taroko Gorge is generally safe to visit. The park takes significant safety measures, the trails are well-maintained, and there are clear guidelines for visitors.
However, earthquakes are part of this region and unfortunately occur regularly. Usually, they are small tremors, but sometimes they cause significant damage. In Hualien I was also woken up by an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. Although my room was shaking considerably, the buildings are constructed to withstand these quakes, and fortunately, the damage is usually minimal.
However, the national park has its hands full with repairing damage to roads caused by earthquakes and tropical storms. It can happen that they only allow people into the park at designated times (so they can continue the work afterward). And sometimes the park has to close entirely if the risk of falling rocks or landslides is too high.
Therefore, prepare your visit well and always check the Taroko National Park website in advance, where information is given about the condition of the roads and hiking trails.
