TW · Hualien County · 24.17°N 121.33°E

taroko gorge

Marble canyon walls, a turquoise river and cliffside trails. Taiwan's big nature hit.

Best time
October to November and March to May are the most comfortable. Avoid typhoon season, roughly July to September, when heavy rain brings rockfalls and road closures.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Taipei (about 5 hours), then take the train down the east coast to Hualien (about 2–2.5 hours). From Hualien or Xincheng station, buses, taxis and day tours reach the gorge entrance in about 30–40 minutes.
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TW · Hualien Countytaroko gorge24.17°N 121.33°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Marble canyon walls, a turquoise river and cliffside trails. Taiwan's big nature hit.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTaroko GorgeTW, Hualien County
KLtaroko gorge
≈ 3,148 km from KL, as the crow flies

A deep gorge cut through marble by the Liwu River, in the national park of the same name on Taiwan's east coast. Roads and trails cling to the cliffs above the blue-green river, and it's the main reason most people make the trip to Hualien. The April 2024 earthquake hit the park hard, and parts of it have been closed for long stretches since.

Makan

  1. Dongdamen Night MarketHualien city's big night market, with a whole section of indigenous food stalls.Map ↗
  2. Bamboo tube riceSticky rice cooked inside bamboo, sold around the Truku villages and Hualien's markets.Map ↗
  3. BianshiHualien's take on wonton soup, with thin skins and pork filling.Map ↗
  4. Hualien mochiSoft rice cakes, the town's classic souvenir.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Shakadang TrailA flat riverside walk beside a clear blue stream, one of the easiest trails in the park.Map ↗
  2. Swallow GrottoA stretch of road where the cliffs close in, pocked with holes where swallows nest.Map ↗
  3. Tunnel of Nine TurnsA cliff-cut path that winds through the narrowest part of the gorge.Map ↗
  4. Eternal Spring ShrineA shrine above a waterfall, honouring the workers who died building the highway through the gorge.Map ↗
  5. Qingshui CliffSheer cliffs dropping straight into the Pacific, on the coast road north of the gorge.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Check the Taroko National Park website for which trails and road sections are open before you go. Closures since the 2024 earthquake change often.
  • Some stretches hand out helmets because of falling rocks. Wear one.
  • Rent a car or join a tour if you can. Buses into the gorge are infrequent.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.