The 10 Best Trails In Taroko Gorge National Park For more info on Taroko Gorge & Hualien, be sure to download our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy! 1. Swallow Grotto Trail (Yanzikou Trail) This 1.37km “trail” is actually a paved piece of the old highway but is one of the most spectacular areas in Taroko Gorge. The narrow canyon bares sheer rock cliffs on both sides and features one of the narrowest, deepest and swiftest, sections of the Liwu River. The towering 700-meter-tall cliffs here are covered with deep pock marks formed by thousands of years of sand and grit abrasion as the water slowly carved the deep canyon. The name “Swallow Grotto” comes from the swallows (a small endemic bird) that used to nest in the cavities in the cliffs. As warm air would rush through the narrow canyon from the sea, it would bring along thousands of insects for the birds to feast on! Keep an eye out for “Chieftains Profile Rock”, the “View of Taiwan” and the towering “Zhuilu Cliffs”. This is a MUST SEE trail, though it closes often due to rock falls. Our Early Start Taroko Gorge Tour goes to this trail in the early morning, so you can enjoy it before the large Tour Busses arrive. 2. Shakadang Trail This 4.4km riverside trail (the first 1.5km is the most beautiful) is one of the more accessible and stunning areas of the park. Originally known as the “Mysterious Valley Trail”, it was renamed “Shakadang” in 2001. Shakadang means “tooth” in the Truku aboriginal language, and the story goes that when the Truku settled the river valley 250 years ago, they exhumed many large rocks that resembled giant teeth and thus named their village and the bright blue river “Shakadang”. Some people
The 10 Best Trails In Taroko Gorge National Park
For more info on Taroko Gorge & Hualien, be sure to download our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy!
1. Swallow Grotto Trail (Yanzikou Trail)
This 1.37km “trail” is actually a paved piece of the old highway but is one of the most spectacular areas in Taroko Gorge. The narrow canyon bares sheer rock cliffs on both sides and features one of the narrowest, deepest and swiftest, sections of the Liwu River. The towering 700-meter-tall cliffs here are covered with deep pock marks formed by thousands of years of sand and grit abrasion as the water slowly carved the deep canyon. The name “Swallow Grotto” comes from the swallows (a small endemic bird) that used to nest in the cavities in the cliffs. As warm air would rush through the narrow canyon from the sea, it would bring along thousands of insects for the birds to feast on! Keep an eye out for “Chieftains Profile Rock”, the “View of Taiwan” and the towering “Zhuilu Cliffs”. This is a MUST SEE trail, though it closes often due to rock falls. Our Early Start Taroko Gorge Tour goes to this trail in the early morning, so you can enjoy it before the large Tour Busses arrive.
The 5 Best Hualien Beach Spots! Your Hualien Beach Guide Here at Island Life Taiwan, we love showing people around the Hualien area. From the mountains to the sea, Hualien is a spectacularly beautiful region with plenty to explore. Looking for a place to gaze out at the ocean or maybe take a dip? Here are the 5 best Hualien Beaches! All of this and SO MUCH more can be found in our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy! 1. Qixingtan Beach The most stunning beach area in the immediate Hualien City area, Qixingtan Beach is a sprawling stone covered beach with sweeping views galore. A common stop at the end of Taroko Gorge tours, Qixingtan Recreation Area can have a small crowd in the late afternoon/evening. Thankfully, the beach and adjoining parks are so massive that it's easy to get away and find your own quiet place to relax. Swimming is NOT ALLOWED at Qixingtan, as the current is very strong here, but many people dip their feet in the cool, clean waters. This is also a great place to ride a bicycle as there are many bicycle rental shops and paths throughout the abutting grassy park and bluffs. In addition, there are bathroom facilities, food vendors (think street snacks) and even showers to rinse the saltwater off your feet. 2. Jici Beach There is a reason Coastal Highway 11 is so often listed as a one of the best stretches of road in all of Taiwan. About 30 minutes south of Hualien City is the best swimming beach in the Hualien Area. Jici Beach! Great for swimming in the summer time and surfing in the winter, Jici is one of only a handful of sand beaches along the central East Coast. Bathrooms, showers,
The 5 Best Hualien Beach Spots!
Your Hualien Beach Guide
Here at Island Life Taiwan, we love showing people around the Hualien area. From the mountains to the sea, Hualien is a spectacularly beautiful region with plenty to explore. Looking for a place to gaze out at the ocean or maybe take a dip? Here are the 5 best Hualien Beaches!
20 Delicious Hualien Restaurants Your Hualien Food Guide It's difficult coming to a new city and not knowing where to get a good bite to eat. Guide books can be outdated, and review sites can be rigged. So here at Island Life, we've made a list of all of our favorite restaurants from our time living here in Hualien. You can find it below! All of this and SO MUCH more can be found in our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy! Western Fare Salt Lick Restaurant – American style BBQ. Our favorites include the slow cooked Pulled Pork (sandwich or plate), the Seasonal Salad (best in town), the Cajun Chicken Sandwich and the Smoked Ribs. Three Koalas Restaurant – Very reasonably priced American & Italian fare. Paninis, Personal Pizzas, Burgers and more. Our favorite is the steak sandwich with goat cheese and balsamic onion jam. A popular place for families. Country Mothers – American/ European brunch restaurant. Our favorites include the European Omelet with Dijon Sauce and the Eggs benedict. Farmers Kitchen – Vegetarian Restaurant. Our favorites include the spinach calzone, the Caprese salad, the Mexican veggie burger and the chick pea cottage pie. Oh La La –French Crepery near the train station. 611 Zhongshan Rd. Many tasty crepes and small French dishes to choose from. We like the banana Nutella crepe and the Beef Bourguignon. Dos Tacos – Tex Mex cuisine such as tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Our favorites include the giant nachos and the sizzling fajitas. Not quite authentic Mexican food but hey, it's Asia! Boom Burger – Affordable and tasty burgers and more. Near-ish the train station. Louisa Coffee - Probably the best coffee shop in Hualien. Inexpensive coffee drinks (Fair Trade available), tasty breakfast sandwiches and comfy coffee house ambiance. So Much More To
20 Delicious Hualien Restaurants
Your Hualien Food Guide
It’s difficult coming to a new city and not knowing where to get a good bite to eat. Guide books can be outdated, and review sites can be rigged. So here at Island Life, we’ve made a list of all of our favorite restaurants from our time living here in Hualien. You can find it below! All of this and SO MUCH more can be found in our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy!
10 Tips When Visiting Taroko Gorge National Park All of this and SO MUCH more can be found in our 2018 Hualien Visitors Guide. We hope you enjoy! 1. Go Early By 10am, most of the walking paths throughout Taroko Gorge National Park begin to fill with large tour groups. Many of their guides even bring megaphones to yell information to their groups. So when trying to enjoy the serene grandiosity of Taroko and the sounds of nature, this can be quite distracting. Also, who likes having to wait in line to get to that perfect photo location and then having twenty people in your shot! For these and many other reasons we suggest getting to Taroko as early as possible. One great option is hitching a ride with Island Life Taiwan Adventures & Experiences who offer a fun filled, and affordable, Taroko Gorge Tour that leaves Hualien at 7:30am making their guests among the first few people in the park. Thus having many trails all to themselves to start the day and having a much better chance of seeing wildlife in the park. 2. Bring an Umbrella Some days the sun can be blindingly hot… other days a cloud can roll through the gorge and dump rain unexpectedly. Having a small umbrella with you can protect against both! Like our parents always said, it’s better to have and not need, than need and not have! 3. Avoid the Large Tour Bus Companies While the low prices of the large tour bus companies visiting Taroko Gorge each day can make them tempting, take a look at what you’re actually getting for the money. Most of the busses don’t have an English speaking guide to explain anything to you or give you any history or geology of the region. They typically
By 10am, most of the walking paths throughout Taroko Gorge National Park begin to fill with large tour groups. Many of their guides even bring megaphones to yell information to their groups. So when trying to enjoy the serene grandiosity of Taroko and the sounds of nature, this can be quite distracting. Also, who likes having to wait in line to get to that perfect photo location and then having twenty people in your shot! For these and many other reasons we suggest getting to Taroko as early as possible.
High in the mountains above Taroko Gorge National Park near Hualien, Taiwan lies a trail unlike any most people ever see or experience in their lives.
Zhuilu Old Trail : A Walk On The Edge Of Insanity
Welcome to the Zhuilu Old Trail
High in the mountains above Taroko Gorge National Park near Hualien, Taiwan lies a trail unlike any most people ever see or experience in their lives. Carved into the flat face of a massive cliff of solid marble, the Zhuilu Old Trail sits perilously more than 700 meters above the canyon floor below.
With limited (often no) guardrail or fencing along the trails edge, one can stare down past their toes at the great Liwu river winding like a little creek over half a mile down. As if that wasn’t enough, the 500-meter-long cliffside portion at the top is only 90cm wide!
Here at Island Life Taiwan, we love showing people around the Hualien area.
The 10 Best Things To Do In Hualien
Our Favorite Hualien Attractions!
Here at Island Life Taiwan, we love showing people around the Hualien area. One of the most scenic and naturally beautiful areas in Taiwan, Hualien County sits like a green jewel nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the grandiose Central Mountain Range. Home to some of the most stunning locations in Taiwan with a rich, unique combination of traditional cultures, Hualien has become a must see region for travelers looking to get away from the urban centers while in Taiwan. From dramatic marble gorges and towering green mountains, to idyllic sandy beaches and turquoise waterfalls and swimming holes, there are countless Hualien attractions worth exploring. It’s sure to take your breath away… likely more than once. Searching for what to do in Hualien? Here are the 10 best things to do in Hualien, Taiwan.
Lying at the foot of Liyu Mountain, the serene Liyu Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Hualien County, and a popular weekend recreation spot for those seeking a respite from the city.
Liyu Lake Visitors Guide 2018
Welcome to Liyu Lake
Lying at the foot of Liyu Mountain, the serene Liyu Lake is the largest freshwater lake in all of Hualien County, and a popular weekend recreation spot for those seeking a respite from the city. Considered one of the best things to do in Hualien, the name Liyutan, literally translates to “Carp Lake” and stories vary as to the origin of the name.
Did the lake used to be filled with carp? Does Liyu Mountain look like a carp when viewed from the western shore of the lake? Is the entire lake the shape of a carp when viewed from the sky?!
One thing is for sure, the beauty and tranquility of the lake is the reason so many travelers have stopped for a rest by its shores.
So Come Take a Look with Us as We Explore the Many Wonderful Things You Can Do at Liyu Lake!
How to Get from Taipei to Hualien There are several options when making your way from Taipei to Hualien and back again. We've put together some info to help you along! A Few Options Option 1: Take the Train This is the most popular and affordable method of getting to Hualien from Taipei. The express trains (Taroko or Puyuma) will get you to Hualien in about 2 hours, while the non-express trains can take 3-4 hours. It is important to book your train tickets ahead of time, especially on weekends and holidays, as the trains do sell out. A one way ticket will cost NT$440 per person. You can book train tickets online here. Option 2: Take a Plane This option can save you time and is easily booked online. The Uniair flights take around 50 minutes and typically cost around NT$900 per person. It should be noted that these flights depart from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), NOT Taoyuan International Airport. You can book plane tickets here. Where to Pickup Train Tickets Option 1: Any 7-11 convenience store in Taiwan This is the most popular and easiest way to pick up your tickets, as there are 7-11's practically everywhere in Taiwan! Simply go to the counter and tell them you want to pick up your train tickets. If they don't understand in English, you can say it in Chinese "Wo yao na huo che piao", then just show them your online booking code and your booking passport number and they will help you with it. Please note that there is a service fee of NT$8 per ticket when picking up tickets at a 7-11. Option 2: Any train station While this is also relatively easy, there can be lines at train stations during busy hours of the day. Also, if the booking
How to Get from Taipei to Hualien
There are several options when making your way from Taipei to Hualien and back again. We’ve put together some info to help you along!
A Few Options
Option 1: Take the Train
This is the most popular and affordable method of getting to Hualien from Taipei. The express trains (Taroko or Puyuma) will get you to Hualien in about 2 hours, while the non-express trains can take 3-4 hours. It is important to book your train tickets ahead of time, especially on weekends and holidays, as the trains do sell out. A one way ticket will cost NT$440 per person.
Destination Adventure: Explore Taiwan's Wild East Coast! One hardly thinks of adventure tourism when hearing the name Taiwan. “Don’t you mean ThaiLAND?” people often tell us. And though Taiwan’s western neighbor continues to garner most of the hubbub, the wild East Coast of Taiwan has quietly been developing some seriously epic activity options to offer adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, while offering little of the tourist crowds and accompanying annoyances. Towering 3,000+ meters mountains, check. Rivers, waterfalls and the world’s largest marble canyon, check. Epic wild and tamed coastline, check. Monkey filled jungles and wilderness hot springs, check. While one could spend weeks exploring the incredible adventures to be had in Hualien & Taitung counties, here are 7 of our favorite things to do in Taiwan to get you started. 1. Hiking There is an amazing variety of hiking and trekking locales for people of all skill levels throughout the East Coast. For the daring, take a walk along the cliffs edge on the infamous Zhuilu Old Trail, a narrow path perched high above the valley below. For nature lovers, take a long walk through the wilderness on the historic Walami Trail or the Lushui-Wenshan trail in Taroko Gorge National Park. For epic views, take a stroll above the clouds in the Hehuanshan mountains, one of Taiwan’s 100 peaks over 3,000 meters. There are dozens (maybe hundreds) of exotic trails throughout the area just waiting to be explored! Whether crossing a planked suspension bridge in the Taroko mountains, taking a dip below a waterfall in the Mugua River Gorge, or spotting monkeys in one of the numerous vine covered tropical jungles, hiking in Taiwan’s wild east coast is sure to get your heart racing. Just watch out for snakes! Local outfit Island Life Taiwan offers numerous guided hikes,
Destination Adventure: Explore Taiwan’s Wild East Coast!
One hardly thinks of adventure tourism when hearing the name Taiwan. “Don’t you mean ThaiLAND?” people often tell us. And though Taiwan’s western neighbor continues to garner most of the hubbub, the wild East Coast of Taiwan has quietly been developing some seriously epic activity options to offer adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, while offering little of the tourist crowds and accompanying annoyances. Towering 3,000+ meters mountains, check. Rivers, waterfalls and the world’s largest marble canyon, check. Epic wild and tamed coastline, check. Monkey filled jungles and wilderness hot springs, check. While one could spend weeks exploring the incredible adventures to be had in Hualien & Taitung counties, here are 7 of our favorite things to do in Taiwan to get you started.
1. Hiking
There is an amazing variety of hiking and trekking locales for people of all skill levels throughout the East Coast. For the daring, take a walk along the cliffs edge on the infamous Zhuilu Old Trail, a narrow path perched high above the valley below. For nature lovers, take a long walk through the wilderness on the historic Walami Trail or the Lushui-Wenshan trail in Taroko Gorge National Park. For epic views, take a stroll above the clouds in the Hehuanshan mountains, one of Taiwan’s 100 peaks over 3,000 meters. There are dozens (maybe hundreds) of exotic trails throughout the area just waiting to be explored! Whether crossing a planked suspension bridge in the Taroko mountains, taking a dip below a waterfall in the Mugua River Gorge, or spotting monkeys in one of the numerous vine covered tropical jungles, hiking in Taiwan’s wild east coast is sure to get your heart racing. Just watch out for snakes! Local outfit Island Life Taiwan offers numerous guided hikes, info and other adventures.
Taiwan for Nature Lovers For lovers of nature, Taiwan offers a shocking wealth of unique natural beauty and landscapes. From soaring green mountains to sprawling beaches, spectacular rivers to bizarre geologic wonders, there are countless adventures to keep you busy in the great outdoors. Here are just a few of the must-see destinations for nature lovers in Taiwan. 1. Taroko Gorge: 1-3 days The number-one item on anyone’s Taiwan nature agenda has to be Taroko Gorge National Park. Easily visited from Hualien City on Taiwan’s green East Coast, here you will have your choice of beautiful nature hikes amidst the largest marble canyon in the world. Towering cliffs, gushing waterfalls, turquoise rivers, and hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, insects, reptiles and mammals make this one of the most abundant natural areas in Asia. While there you can add a day to hike the famed Zhuilu Old Trail, a, former tribal hunting path carved into a cliff 700 meters above the gorge, and/or drive up 3,000 spectacular meters to the Hehuanshan Mountains to see rolling hills of pygmy bamboo high above the tree line. The massive Taroko Gorge National Park can’t be missed! 2. Hot Springs: 1-2 days Taiwan sits along a geothermal hotbed and is home to countless rejuvenating natural hot springs. The Hualien-Taitung area alone boasts more than 20 different wild hot springs and hot spring resorts that you can visit! For the truly adventurous, be sure to take the long journey to the wild Lisong Hot Springs from Taitung. Nestled at the base of a river valley, the green mineral covered cliffs around Lisong are unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. The trip is not for the faint of heart, but well worth the effort! For the less adventurous amongst us, be sure to stop
Taiwan for Nature Lovers
For lovers of nature, Taiwan offers a shocking wealth of unique natural beauty and landscapes. From soaring green mountains to sprawling beaches, spectacular rivers to bizarre geologic wonders, there are countless adventures to keep you busy in the great outdoors. Here are just a few of the must-see destinations for nature lovers in Taiwan.
1. Taroko Gorge: 1-3 days
The number-one item on anyone’s Taiwan nature agenda has to be Taroko Gorge National Park. Easily visited from Hualien City on Taiwan’s green East Coast, here you will have your choice of beautiful nature hikes amidst the largest marble canyon in the world. Towering cliffs, gushing waterfalls, turquoise rivers, and hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, insects, reptiles and mammals make this one of the most abundant natural areas in Asia. While there you can add a day to hike the famed Zhuilu Old Trail, a, former tribal hunting path carved into a cliff 700 meters above the gorge, and/or drive up 3,000 spectacular meters to the Hehuanshan Mountains to see rolling hills of pygmy bamboo high above the tree line. The massive Taroko Gorge National Park can’t be missed!
This is the most popular and affordable method of getting to Hualien from Taipei. The express trains (Taroko or Puyuma) will get you to Hualien in about 2 hours, while the non-express trains can take 3-4 hours. It is important to book your train tickets ahead of time, especially on weekends and holidays, as the trains do sell out. A one way ticket will cost NT$440 per person.
