Marble walls
Towering.
CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEphoto, Uwe Aranas — CC BY-SA 3.0
Taiwan's most famous natural wonder, a deep, narrow gorge cut by the Liwu River through mountains of marble, one of the few river gorges in the world carved entirely through marble. Towering grey and white walls laced with forest rise around it, with a turquoise river running over boulders at the bottom. The mountain road threads the gorge through tunnels and red suspension bridges, and its rest areas look out over marble walls and bends. Higher up are Tianxiang, with its bridges and temples, and Dacingshui. The 3 April 2024 earthquake hit the gorge hard and closed the park, which is reopening in stages: in 2026 the visitor centre, the Taroko Terrace Trail, the Tianxiang and Dacingshui areas, the Chongde Trail and others were open, while the Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto and the Tunnel of Nine Turns remained closed and the Eternal Spring Shrine will not reopen before 2029. Entry is free; joining a tour from Hualien or hiring a car is easiest. Hualien is prone to earthquakes and rockfalls, so check road and trail status on the park website before going, and follow helmet and closure notices. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
Towering.
Over the river.
Upper gorge.
Taroko National Park, north of Hualien
Partly: the visitor centre, Tianxiang and several trails are open, while Shakadang, Swallow Grotto and the Tunnel of Nine Turns are still closed, so check the park site.