Taiwan's Taroko Gorge National Park in Hualien is a breathtaking marvel, reminiscent of a Taiwanese version of the Grand Canyon. It's an immense marble gorge with steep cliffs carved by the Liwu River. Inside the gorge, one can find ancient Chinese shrines and temples, as well as 27 peaks towering above 3,000 meters.

Taroko Gorge in Taiwan boasts the most stunning (and accessible) scenery on the island, so don't miss out! This travel guide will provide you with all the essential information you need to know before you go, including how to get there.

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Taroko Gorge in Taiwan: Places to Look Forward To

The best way to explore Taroko Gorge in Taiwan is by taking a bus tour from Hualien or Taipei. This way, you can enjoy all the breathtaking canyon views along the way without having to focus on driving.

While a day trip to Taroko Gorge from Taipei is technically feasible, I recommend staying in Hualien City and spending at least two days exploring the park. Hualien offers plenty of affordable hotels and great restaurants.

Taroko Gorge is filled with attractions and boasts some exceptional one-day hiking trails, such as the Zhuilu Trail, which are only possible if you have more time.

On the first day, we embarked on a hike through the magical Zhuilu Trail. On the second day, we booked a tour package through Klook to visit some of the major tourist attractions.

How to Get There

Taroko Gorge National Park is located in Hualien County, in the eastern part of Taiwan.

The first step is to arrive in Hualien. There are numerous budget flights and trains available from Taipei. Flights take about 1 hour and cost around NT1,200(US40), while trains take 2 hours and cost less than half that amount—around NT$450. We opted for the train.

From Hualien City, it's just a 1-hour drive to the park, and there are buses and tours available daily.

Best Taroko Gorge Tour Packages

If you want to save the hassle of arranging everything yourself and figuring out bus schedules, Klook offers the best Taroko Gorge tour packages departing from Hualien, priced at just US$18 per person.

This tour covers most of the popular attractions in Taroko Gorge and also visits a few beautiful sites outside the park—Qingshui Cliff and Qixingtan Beach! This tour was exactly what we needed for our second day in Taroko Gorge.

We have arranged many day tours and activities around the world with Klook, and it's fantastic! Highly recommended.

Hualien City / Taroko Gorge Taiwan Bus

If you prefer to arrange everything yourself, you can take Bus 1133A from Hualien Station to Taroko Gorge. The bus station is a bright orange building next to the entrance of Hualien Train Station.

When you board the bus (or head to the bus station), they will give you a small booklet about Taroko Gorge with the complete English 1133A schedule. Somehow, it's not available anywhere else online besides the Chinese version, but once you get the booklet, everything will become clear.

You can purchase a one-day pass for this bus at the bus station or at any 7-Eleven or FamilyMart convenience store in Taiwan, priced at NT250(US8). We bought this pass at a 7-Eleven the day before our Zhuilu hike, and it covered all our bus fares for the day. Otherwise, you can use your EasyCard or pay with cash on the bus.

Best Things to Do in Taroko Gorge

• Yongchun Shrine

This shrine, built over a waterfall, commemorates the 200 veterans who sacrificed their lives during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway in Taiwan. It takes about 20 minutes to walk through the tunnel to reach the shrine, and there's a longer mountain trail that leads you to some towers and temples at the top of the cliff.

• Sakaya Trail

Also known as the "Mystery Valley Trail," this path features some blue-green pools. The round trip takes about 2 hours, but the terrain is flat and easy.

• Swallow Grotto

This is one of the narrowest parts of the gorge, with rock walls that almost meet at the top. It's a great short trail that can be combined with the Zhuilu Trail since they both start from the same trailhead. Unfortunately, the trail was closed when we visited. The round trip takes about 15-30 minutes.

• Jiugu Tunnel

This is a short trail that takes you through a 700-meter-long tunnel at a narrow part of the gorge, allowing you to see the marble cliffs and the river winding through the gorge up close. Along the way, you'll also see several waterfalls. The round trip takes about 30 minutes.

• Zhuilu Trail

Zhuilu is the best hiking trail in Taroko Gorge. This one-day hiking trail will take you to the top of the gorge, where you can walk along steep cliffs and enjoy breathtaking views of the valley below. Definitely worth a visit!

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Hualien and Taroko Gorge in Taiwan is during the winter months, from November to April, when there is less rainfall and daytime temperatures hover around a cool 70°F (21°C).

Summer is also okay, but be prepared as temperatures can be above 80°F (27°C), making it hotter and more humid.