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An impressive canyon, 19 km long, protected as part of Taroko National Park. The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area.
Taroko National Park is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River. The park spans Taichung Municipality, Nantou County, and Hualien County and is located in Xiulin Township. The Taroko Gorge forms one of only three river-carved gorges in the world cut entirely through pure marble, ranking alongside Bhedaghat Gorge in Jabalpur, India and Trigrad Gorge in Bulgaria.
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清水斷崖 / Qīngshuǐ Duànyá
An impressive 21-km-long coastal cliff that rises 800 m above sea level on average. Its tallest peak, the Qingshui Mountain, rises 2408 m above sea level directly from the sea.
A scenic lake good for a stroll or lunch, with boats for rent. There is also a mountain trail around the lake.
Hehuanshan, 合歡山
It is a fantastic journey through the wonders of Taroko Gorge and past, ending in a treeless, absolutely different ecosystem. Hiking available ranges from easy to hard, and can be hiked on one day or multiple days, depending on the route you choose. English literature is available but very basic. It is possible to just set out on a trail and see where it takes you. Being a (mostly) treeless environment, it is difficult to get lost, but beware of the dangers of high altitude hiking - most peaks are above 3000 m.