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Hualien Taroko Gorge and more East Coast Tours
East Coast National Scenic Area
The East Coast National Scenic Area stretches in a strip along the coast
of Hualien and Taitung counties, between the Coastal Mountain Range
and the Pacific Ocean. It reaches from the mouth of the Hualien River
in the north to the Little Yeliou Scenic area in the south, a total
distance of more than 170 kilometers, and covers the largest amount
of land of any national scenic area on the island. The most unique landforms
in the area can be seen at Shihtiping, Sansiantai and Little Yeliou.
The section of the Siougulian River below Rueisuei is the most popular
site for white-water rafting in Taiwan. In addition to rafting, activities
offered withing the national scenic area include whale-watching, snorkling,
deep-sea fishing and soaking in hot-springs. The East Coast's unique
topography and ecology, and its rich indigenous cultures, weave an enchanting
web of attractions here.
East Rift Valley National Scenic Area
Traveling down provincial highway No.9, all you see on both sides are
green farm feilds stretching to the mountains. The national scenic are
stretches from Mugua River in Hualien to the north to Taitung City and
covers a total of 138,386 hectares encompasses mountains, valleys, and
hot springs, together with feilds of rice, daylilies, pomelos, tea,
and sugar apples in rich abundance. Berms crisscross the land, dividing
it into feilds; waves of rice billow as cows graze in organic pastures
and fish and shrimp cavort in the streams. The contentment-filled local
inhabitants are warmly hospitable in their rustic way, and the stream
beds are littered with precious stones. Truly, this is a paradise on
earth. The valley is home to four of Taiwan's indigenous tribes: the
Amis, Taroko, Bunun, and Puyuma. Aboriginal culture is among the most
important and most representative of the East Rift Valley's precious
resources.
Taroko National Park (Taroko Gorge)
Taroko National Park, located in East Taiwan, is a world-renowned land
of majestic beauty and marble-walled gorge scenery. Visitors sigh in
wonder at the vertical walls, sheer precipices, gorges, and contorted
tunnels along the route of the Liwu River. The marble has been cut and
sculpted by the relentless erosion of the river as the land has been
pushed upward over the millennia, leaving the nearly vertical U-shaped
gorge we see today. The Taroko Gorge generally refers to the 20 kilometer
section of the Central Cross-Island Highway that runs from Taroko to
Tiansiang. As you travel west from the arched enterance at its eastern
end, the gorge becomes narrower and narrower; the most spectacular scenery
is from Swallows' Grottos to the Bridge of Motherly Devotion (Cihmu
Bridge), where thwe highway runs mostly through tunnels or along grooves
carved into the vertical side of the gorge. The narrowest part of the
gorge are at Swallows'Grottos and the Tunnel of Nine Turns; and here,
too, are its most enchanting vistas. A number of hiking trails have
been developed along the two sides of the highway.
Cingshuei Cliff
Cingshuei Cliff, located on the section of the Suao-Hualien Highway
that stretches between Heping and Chongde stations is one of the most
spectacular sights on Taiwan's Pacific Coast. The cliff is more than
1,000 meters high and drops almost vertically into the sea. The highway
snakes along its curving face for more than 20 kilometers, with the
sheer cliff rising on one side, and a sheer drop to the ocean on the
other.
Tiansiang
This is the sight of an old Atayal village at the confluence of the
Liwu and Dasha rivers. Its name commemorates Wen Tian-siang, who lived
in the 13th century and was the last prime minister of the Song Dynasty.
Scenic spots at Tiansiang include Siangde Temple, Tianfong Pagoda, a
suspension bridge, the Wen Tian-siang Memorial Garden, the Plum Garden,
and Tiansiang Church. In winter each year the Plum Garden blooms forth,
forming a sea of white blossoms stretching from the highway to Siangde
Temple. Shanyue Village at Bulowan, another old tribal settlement in
the gorge, offers a new and unique type of accomodation for the area.
Swallows' Grottos
This part of Taroko Gorge is composed of marble cliff faces covered
with small holes, the result of long-term erosion by rivers and ground
water. House swifts and Pacific swallows often forage and nest here,
giving the place its name.
Tunnel of Nine Turns
The tortuous course cut by the river has produced a gorge of many curves,
and the path of the highway that has been carved out of the cliff face
here seems to be an endless series of turns. Hence, the name. The gorge
is so narrow that only a very narrow width is open to the heavens, in
what the Chinese call "a thread of sky." The marble cliff face opposite
the highway varies in color from deep gray to pure white in a multitude
of changing designs. A walk through the Tunnel of Nine Turns takes about
30 minutes and gives access to enchanting scenes of the gorge, the river,
stone strata, the tunnel itself, and the surrounding vegetation. This
is one of the most scenic parts of the gorge, and the best place to
observe the gorge's ecology.
Yushan National Park
The Yushan National Park is a subtropical alpine park that is situated
in the Central Mountain Range ad covers an area of more than 100,000
hectares in Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Hualien counties. It contains
30 of Taiwan's famed "100 Top Peaks," including those of Yushan (Jade
Mountain) itself, Mt. Siouguluan, Mt. Mabolasih, Dafen Peak, Mt. Sinkang,
and Mt. Guan. At 3,952 meters, Jade mountain is the tallest in Northeast
Asia, and contains complete subtropical, temperate, and frigid ecological
systems as well as a rich variety of plant life. The park is home to
34 species of mammals including the Formosan serow, Formosan Sambar,
Formosan black bear, Formosan wild boar, Reeve's muntjac, and Formosan
rock-monkey. The park contains almost all of the forest bird species
to be found in Taiwan, including a number of endemics, as well as an
abundance of butterflies, reptiles. amphibians, and rare fish.
Southern Cross-Island Highway
This highway (Provincial Highway No. 20) runs for 167 kilometers, from
Tainan to Taitung. From its 110K marker at Meishan to its 146K at Yakou,
it passes through the Yushan National Park. The road reaches an elevation
of 2,700 meters, giving access to a rich variety of medium and high
altitude forest vegetation as well as beautiful alpine vistas. The rugged
mountains and valleys along the highway offer scenes of spectacular
landscapes, including the Meishan Recreation Area, Jhongjhihguan, the
Mt. Guan Trail, Tianchih (Sky Pond), and Kuaigu (Cypress Valley). Lidao,
the biggest plateau on the highway, is a village inhabited by Bunun
aborigines. The great Mt. Guan Tunnel marks the eastern portal of the
Yushan National Park; the peaks of the east side of the tunnel are wreathed
in seas of clouds all year round, and the layered ridges and peaks provide
breathtaking vistas of majestic beauty.
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Over the last 10 years we have
grown into a foreign owned, English speaking service that helps guests
from all over the world to, not only enjoy Green island, but
travel and enjoy all of Taiwan and the outlying islands. Great sightseeing,old
culture charm, cuisine for all tastes, and friendly people-are but a
few things that make visiting this part of the world interesting and
memorable.
Taipei City Tours &Taroko Gorge 1 Day Tours. Car
Rental Cheap & Easy
Come Travel Taiwan with us.
Check out this 3 Day Tour &
The "Mandy" 4 day Tour
Green Island - A Paradise off the East Coast of Taiwan
...
Green Island offers visitors and expats in Taiwan
a great getaway option with spectacular snorkeling and diving options.
Life here is relaxed and at slow pace. The people are friendly and go
to great pains ensuring our guests visit a pollution-free,clean island.
Come scuba dive in Taiwan with us.Scuba
Courses Every Month . TRY
OUR NEW PENGHU ISLANDS PACKAGES
Remember high season starts in April .Please try
to book well in advance.
