Taroko Gorge is Taiwan’s most spectacular natural attraction. The world’s deepest and largest marble canyon cuts its way through the mountains of Taroko National Park in Hualien County on the country’s stunning east coast.
In April 2024, a massive earthquake struck the area, causing devastating landslides and damage throughout the gorge. While Taroko has gradually reopened to visitors, several of its most famous attractions and trails remain closed indefinitely.
I’ve visited Taroko Gorge many times over the last 20 years. Most recently, in 2026, my family and I rode scooters through the gorge to see exactly what it’s like to visit Taroko today.
While Taroko Gorge remains open, incredibly beautiful, and worth visiting, it’s a completely different visiting experience than before the earthquake.
In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to plan a visit to one of Taiwan’s top attractions today, including tour options, how to get there, how long you need, what’s currently open, and exactly where you can and can’t stop inside the gorge.
I shot all the photos in this article on our 2026 visit.
Taroko Gorge Quick Visiting Summary
- Taroko Gorge is open, but many of its famous pre-earthquake attractions remain closed. You can currently drive through the gorge and stop at a limited number of places, while Tianxiang at the top has several accessible sights and short hikes. I have a full list of all the open and closed attractions in the gorge here.
- The gorge is accessed from Hualien City or the closer Xincheng Railway Station, which are 2-3 hours from Taipei by train.
- Currently there is no public transportation through the gorge. There are only buses running from Hualien City and Xincheng to Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center at the gorge’s entrance.
- The easiest way to visit the gorge is to join a tour. My most recommended provider is IslandLife Taiwan, which covers everything currently accessible in the gorge plus Qixingtan Beach and Qingshui Cliffs.
- On your own, the only way to go is to hire a driver, rent a car, or rent a scooter and drive there yourself.
- You can only drive into Taroko Gorge (i.e. pass through the lower control point) during five opening times per day: (1) 06:30 – 08:00, (2) 10:00 – 10:05, (3) 12:00 – 13:00, (4) 15:00 – 15:05, (5) 17:00 – 17:30.
- Once you enter the controlled section, it will take 30-60 minutes to drive through and exit the upper control point. There are several spots along the way where you can stop to take photos, as I’ll describe in this article.
- After you exit the upper control point, you can stop as long as you wish in Tianxiang Recreation Area, where there are a few short hikes, a temple, and a few food stalls. This is the end of the line for most visitors to Taroko Gorge, unless you happen to be continuing up Highway 8 to Hehuanshan or other destinations beyond.
- There are two hotels currently open in Taroko Gorge, both at Tianxiang: Silks Place Taroko and Tienhsiang Youth Activity Center.
- When you drive back down, you must pass through the upper control point during the same five time slots I listed above.
- Overall, budget around 5-6 hours from Xincheng or 6-7 hours from Hualien City for a typical Taroko Gorge visit. Add more time if you want to include stops at Qixingtan Beach and Qingshui Cliffs outside the gorge.
I’ll cover each of the above points in more detail in the article below.
How To Visit Taroko Gorge Today
I’m going to start with the biggest picture question – how much time should you set aside in your Taiwan itinerary for visiting Taroko Gorge? The answer depends on how you plan to visit the gorge.
For most visitors, Taroko Gorge is a full-day trip from Hualien, but it’s also possible to do it as a day trip from Taipei or as an overnight visit if you stay inside the gorge.
Having cell phone reception will be especially important for navigating the gorge and making the stops I’ll be recommending.
On our recent visit, I was using an Asia eSIM from Holafly, which worked seamlessly as I traveled through Taroko Gorge. The also have a Taiwan eSIM.
Holafly is my favorite eSIM provider. They have eSIMs for 200+ destinations, are super easy to set up, and they even provide 1GB of free emergency data after your trip, called the “Always On” benefit.
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Day Trip From Hualien
Most visitors tackle Taroko Gorge as a full-day trip from Hualien (either Hualien City, which has more amenities, or the closer Xincheng). I’ll compare these two options more in the “where to stay” section below.
If you plan to join IslandLife’s tour, you will need to sleep in Hualien City the night before, as the tour departs early. The tour finishes around 4 PM, so you could then stay in Hualien City for a second night or catch an early evening train out.
On your own with a private driver or self-driving, budget around 6 hours from Xincheng or 7 hours from Hualien to visit Taroko Gorge.
If you want to include stops at Qixingtan Beach and Qingshui Cliffs, as most tours do, make that 7 hours from Xincheng or 8 hours from Hualien.
Day Trip from Taipei
It’s possible to do a Taroko Gorge day trip from Taipei, but I don’t recommend it.
Klook has this Taroko Gorge day tour from Taipei, but you’ll spend most of the day on the road (expect around four hours driving time each way). You could also do this with a car or private driver from Taipei, but that will have the same issue.
It would be more reasonable to hop on a very early train (2-3 hours), arrange a private driver from Xincheng or Hualien Station to take you to the gorge and back, and then take an early evening train back to Taipei.
With an Overnight Stay Inside the Gorge
Staying overnight gives you more time at Tianxiang and lets you experience the gorge without having to fit everything into a single day.
If you’re staying overnight in Tianxiang, you can take your time driving through the gorge and making the stops I’ll recommend below rather than trying to fit everything into a day trip.
If you stay at Silks Place Taroko, they offer a shuttle bus from Hualien City. If you stay at Tienhsiang Youth Activity Center, you’ll need to get there on your own with a driver or by self-driving.
Keep in mind that Taroko Gorge day tours from Hualien aren’t designed for overnight stays in the gorge – they return to Hualien at the end of the day.
If you stay at one of the hotels in the gorge, you don’t really need to join a Taroko Gorge tour, as you’ll be seeing most of the gorge on the drive in and out.
Where to Stay: Hualien, Xincheng, or Taroko Gorge?
You have three main options for where to stay when visiting Taroko Gorge: Hualien City, Xincheng, or inside the gorge itself.
Each has its own advantages, and the best choice will depend on how you plan to visit the gorge, how you’re getting around, and where you’re coming from or going next.
Staying in Hualien City
Hualien City is the most popular choice for visitors to Taroko Gorge. While it is the furthest away (45 minutes by car), the city has the largest range of hotels, the most train connections, the most restaurants, and the excellent Dongdamen Night Market.
Most Taroko Gorge tours, as well as Whale and Dolphin Watching Tours and East Coast Tours, start from Hualien City. You can also rent a car or scooter from Hualien City.
For budget travelers, I recommend Just Walk Backpacker Hostel (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com).
For mid-range travelers, try Kindness Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) or Happiness is My Home (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) for an apartment-style stay.
Le Méridien Hualien Resort (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) is the best higher-end hotel in Hualien City.
Staying in Xincheng
Xincheng is a small town much closer to Taroko Gorge, around 10 minutes’ drive from the entrance. Coming from Taipei on the train, Xincheng Station is one stop before Hualien.
Besides being closer to Taroko Gorge, Xincheng offers a quieter experience. There are hotels, convenience stores, and restaurants here but no night market. You can rent a scooter at Xincheng Station, but there are no car rentals.
Xincheng is also very close to the beach where we went paddle boarding below the Qingshui Cliffs.
My family had an excellent stay at Liiko Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) after our recent Taroko Gorge visit.
From its convenient location near the station and incredible breakfast to cute animals in the garden and East Coast views from the rooms, this is my single but strong recommendation for Xincheng.
Staying Inside Taroko Gorge
Currently there are only two hotels open inside Taroko Gorge and they are both located in Tianxiang at the upper end of the gorge.
Staying in the gorge gives you more time to take it all in and to explore the attractions at Tianxiang.
Silks Place Taroko (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) is one of Taiwan’s most iconic hotels.
On our recent visit, my family had an incredible stay here – see my full Silks Place Taroko review.
While it isn’t cheap, the hotel offers such a wide range of facilities and activities, from multiple pools and a rooftop cinema to DIY activities and yoga classes, that I recommend staying here two nights if your budget allows.
The hotel offers a shuttle from Hualien Station. After you book, get in touch with the hotel to for suggestions on which train to catch (the shuttles will also need to navigate Taroko’s road opening times) and to arrange your pick-up time.
Tienhsiang Youth Activity Center (see on Booking / Agoda / Trip.com) is the more budget-friendly option.
While it might sound like a hostel, this is an older hotel with private rooms. You’ll need to arrange your own transportation to get here.
Getting to Hualien and Taroko Gorge
Getting to Taroko Gorge involves two separate steps: first getting to Hualien County (either Xincheng or Hualien City), then getting into the gorge itself.
Your options for the second step depend largely on whether you join a tour, hire a driver, or have your own vehicle.
Taipei to Xincheng or Hualien City
By car, it usually takes around 3-4 hours to drive from Taipei to Xincheng or Hualien, depending on the day, traffic conditions, and how many stops you make.
Trains from Taipei to Xincheng (Taroko Gorge) Station or Hualien Station take around 2 hours 15 minutes to 3.5 hours. The faster options are express trains, which require a seat reservation, while “Fast Local” trains can’t be reserved and have open seating.
See my Taiwan train booking guide for more information about booking your seats.
Getting to Taroko Gorge By Tour
Besides this Taroko Gorge Day Tour from Taipei, most Taroko Gorge tours (like this one or this one) depart from Hualien City.
These tours typically start around 7:30 to 8:00 in the morning and return around 4-5 PM.
Note that even the first train of the day doesn’t get to Hualien in time to join most Taroko Gorge day tours. It’s better to arrive the day before your tour.
Taroko Gorge tours are scheduled around the five daily road opening times, so you don’t need to plan these yourself.
Getting to Taroko Gorge with a Private Driver
A more flexible option is to arrange a private tour driver Hualien like this. Local drivers are familiar with Taroko Gorge, the road opening times, and all the places you can stop for photos in the gorge.
This means you don’t need to do much research and planning unless you really want to.
If you want to arrange a driver from Taipei, Jiufen, Yilan, Taitung, or elsewhere, contact any of my recommended drivers for a quote.
Renting a Car and Driving to Taroko Gorge
Visiting Taroko Gorge by car offers more flexibility, but it also requires a lot more research and planning. Start by reading my guide to renting a car and driving in Taiwan and check rental prices on Klook, which I always use to rent a car in Taiwan.
While you can certainly rent a car from Taoyuan Airport or Taipei at the start of your trip, many travelers prefer to avoid driving in Taipei City.
Therefore, many travelers take the train to Hualien City (which is faster than driving), and rent their car there. You’ll need an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) and a credit card under the same name to rent the car.
From Hualien City, it takes 30-45 minutes to reach the entrance of Taroko Gorge. From Xincheng, it only takes 10 minutes by car, but keep in mind there are no car rental spots in Xincheng.
Once you reach Taroko Gorge, you’ll need to time your visit around the five daily road openings. I’ll explain exactly how these work, where the control points are, and where you can stop in the gorge below.
Renting a Scooter and Riding to Taroko Gorge
Renting a scooter is another option for visiting Taroko Gorge.
However, there are additional license requirements for renting a scooter and it’s arguably less safe. I especially don’t recommend this option for first-time scooter riders.
There’s one scooter rental shop here at Xincheng Station, which we have used multiple times, and several at Hualien Station, including this one you can pre-book on Klook.
Unlike cars, which can be dropped off at different cities, you’ll need to return the scooter to the same shop.
While this option comes with more licensing and safety considerations, it’s my personal favorite way to visit Taroko Gorge because it makes it easier to stop at more spots along the road.
Driving from Taroko to Hehuanshan, Cingjing, and Beyond
After Tianxiang, Highway 8 (the main road through Taroko Gorge) continues all the way to Hehuanshan, Cingjing Farm, or as far as Taichung on the west coast of Taiwan, with possible connection to Sun Moon Lake.
While it may not seem far on the map, this is an extremely slow, winding, high mountain route over the highest navigable pass in Taiwan. It’s even doable by scooter, but it can get quite cold up there, even in warmer months.
There are more road reconstruction spots on this route which can cause further delays (see the latest road updates here, under Highway 8, Guanyuan to Tianxiang section), so the drive can take longer than indicated by GoogleMaps.
Also, you need to depart from Tianxiang no later than 16:30 and pass Guanyuan no later than 18:30 (and to be honest, I recommend going much earlier, as you wouldn’t want to drive in the Hehuanshan area after dark).
If you want to stay in the Hehuanshan area for hiking, there’s only one hotel there, Songsyue Lodge.
However, going directly from near sea level in Taroko to sleeping above 3,000 meters at Hehuanshan means a huge elevation gain in a single day, so I don’t recommend doing this. Members of my Facebook group have reported getting very sick after trying it.
A better plan is to continue over Wuling Pass and down the other side to Cingjing Farm, spend the night there at a lower elevation, then return to Hehuanshan for hiking or an overnight stay the next day.
If you plan to drive as far as Sun Moon Lake or Taichung in the same day, give yourself ample time and prepare for a very winding drive that makes many people (especially kids) feel carsick.
Things to Do in Taroko: Driving Through the Gorge
Now I’m going to explain exactly how to drive through Taroko Gorge. If you plan to take a tour, you won’t need to plan all of this, but you may still enjoy learning about the places you’re likely to visit.
First I’m going to cover the overall logistics for planning your drive, then I’ll introduce the individual stops we made before the lower control point, in the controlled section, and above the upper control point.
The above map shows all the spots I’ll be mentioning inside and outside the gorge.
Planning Your Drive
Your Taroko Gorge visiting plans are going to revolve around the five daily road opening times.
The controlled section runs from just past Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center to just before Lushui. Driving straight through only takes about 30 minutes, but with the stops I’ll recommend below, budget 60-90 minutes.
After passing the upper control point, you’ll continue to Tianxiang, spend 60-90 minutes there (or up to three hours at a more relaxed pace), then return through the controlled section during one of the five daily opening times.
Here’s a table to help you visualize how much time you need for each part of your visit.
| Step | Time Needed | Notes |
| Driving from Xincheng / Hualien City to Gorge Entrance | 10 minutes / 45 minutes | |
| Visiting Taroko Archway | 5 minutes | Optional photo stop |
| Visiting Taroko NP Visitor’s Center | 30 minutes | Optional, open 8:30 AM to 5 PM |
| Driving through controlled section of gorge | 60-90 minutes | Can only enter during five daily time slots |
| Visiting Tianxiang | 60-90 minutes | Or 2-3 hours if you want to do all the hikes there |
| Driving back down through controlled section | 30 minutes (assuming no stops) | Can only enter during five daily time slots |
| Driving back to Xincheng / Hualien City | 10 minutes / 45 minutes | |
| Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Beach | Add 1 hour | Optional stops |
The Taroko Gorge Road Opening Times
The five daily road opening times of the controlled section of Taroko Gorge are: (1) 06:30 – 08:00, (2) 10:00 – 10:05, (3) 12:00 – 13:00, (4) 15:00 – 15:05, (5) 17:00 – 17:30.
You must pass through the lower control point (here) during any of these times. Coming down, you also must pass through the upper control point (here) during any of the same five times.
For the longer opening times, you just have to enter anytime during that slot. For the short (five-minute) ones, you have to be waiting in the line of cars and ready to pass through when they open it.
Once you pass through, there’s no time limit for reaching the other end. It’s only about a 30-minute drive, but most people spend 60-90 minutes with stops.
Example Itineraries
With the above steps and opening times in mind, here are some real example itineraries of how you could tackle this.
For an early morning visit, you could enter the gorge shortly after 6:30 AM, take 60-90 minutes to drive through the controlled area, spend 60-90 minutes at Tianxiang, then leave Tianxiang by 9:45 to reach the upper control point for the 10:00-10:05 AM opening. You’ll be back at the bottom of the gorge around 10:30 AM.
For an afternoon visit, enter shortly after 12:00, take 60-90 minutes to drive through, and spend around an hour at Tianxiang. Aim to leave Tianxiang by around 2:45 so you’re waiting at the upper control point for the 3:00-3:05 PM opening.
If you want to spend longer at Tianxiang to hike Tabido Trail and explore at a more relaxed pace, plan to exit during one of the later openings.
If you’re staying overnight in Tianxiang, I also recommend entering the gorge shortly after 12:00 PM.
Doing so, we reached Tianxiang around 1:30 PM, giving us enough time to hike up to Xiangde Temple before our hotel check-in time.
Before the Lower Control Point
There are a few stops you can make before reaching the lower control point. Budget enough time to do these before you intend to enter the controlled section at one of the five daily opening times.
Taroko Archway
The first scenic stop you may want to make is at the Taroko Archway (太魯閣牌樓, here). You can stop here anytime and there’s room on the side for a few cars or scooters to park.
The archway is one of the classic landmarks of Taroko Gorge (there’s even a replica of it here at Taoyuan Airport).
In fact, you will drive under the archway when exiting the gorge, not going in. But it’s easy enough to stop here and get a photo of it from the middle of the road – just watch for cars.
There’s also a stone marker here which says “太魯閣國家公園，東西橫貫公路入口”, which translates as “Taroko National Park, Entrance to the East-West Cross-Island Highway” (more commonly known in English as the “Central Cross-Island Highway” or Highway 8).
Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center
At this point, you’ll turn right and cross a bridge over the Liwu River to reach the Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center (here, open 8:30 AM to 5 PM).
The center has a large parking lot and the grassy Taroko Terrace, which has some statues and a short boardwalk path with limited views of the Liwu River and entrance of Taroko Gorge.
Inside the center, there are informative displays about the gorge and post-earthquake restoration work, short film showings, an information desk, and a cafeteria with set meals and local Indigenous snacks like sausages flavored with maqaw, an Indigenous spice.
At the back of the parking lot is the start of Dekalun Trail (得卡倫步道, here, currently open, 60-90 min return). The trail meanders steeply uphill to a view at the top.
But since you can only view the wider gorge entrance area from here, rather than the classic narrow gorge views found deeper inside, it has never been considered one of Taroko’s must-do hikes.
I only recommend it for those who want to comprehensively visit every possible spot in the gorge – otherwise, save your time and energy to enjoy the spots further inside the gorge.
The Controlled Section of Taroko Gorge
The below spops are all in the controlled section of Taroko Gorge, which you can only enter (from either end) during the five daily opening times.
You aren’t really supposed to stop along this drive, and there are some ongoing construction spots where you really can’t – the workers will definitely let you know if you try.
However, in practice, there are several spots along the way where we were able to pull completely off the road for a quick photo. I’ll describe each one below and explain whether it’s doable with a car or scooter.
Note that conditions are subject to change, and you should always follow instructions from the signs and workers on site.
Passing Through the Lower Controlled Point
Just past the Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center is the lower control point, right about here. You can only pass this point at one of the five daily opening times.
I recommend entering during one of the longer slots (6:30 to 8:00 AM for a morning visit or 12:00-13:00 for an afternoon visit), but not right at the moment it first opens.
If you’re somewhere in the line of waiting cars when it first opens, you’ll be driving through the gorge in a convoy with cars in front of and behind you.
Instead, visit the Taroko National Park Visitor’s Center first or even just wait in the parking lot there for a while if needed.
Once the initial line of cars passes through, proceed, so you’ll be driving through at your own desired pace, making it easier to stop as you wish.
Shakadang Bridge
As soon as you pass through the lower control point, you’ll drive through a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, you’ll cross Shakadang Bridge.
The bridge is wide enough for a car or scooter to safely stop on the side and take a look.
The railing of the bridge is lined with cute lion statues, while the damaged entrance gate to Shakadang Trail (closed indefinitely) is visible here on the right side.
Looking over the right side, you can see the line of Shakadang Trail heading down the right side of the valley.
Shakadang Trail used to be one of the most popular trails in Taroko Gorge, but it was devastated by landslides during the earthquake, which killed several hikers and left parts of the trail inaccessible.
Changchun (Eternal Spring) Shrine View
Soon after crossing Shakadang Bridge, you’ll drive through a very long tunnel.
After you emerge from the tunnel and the road curves to the right, look for a safe place to pull over at the side of the road around here. This will be easier to do on a scooter than in a car.
Cross the road safely, look backwards, and you should be able to see Changchun (Eternal Spring) Shrine (長春祠, here) on the valley wall across the river, with a waterfall spilling out from it.
This shrine was first built in 1958 to honor the workers who died building the road through Taroko Gorge. After being destroyed several times by landslides, the current building dates to 1997.
Before the earthquake, you could access a viewpoint much closer to the shrine, and at various times in the past it was even possible to enter it, as I did on my first visit many years ago.
For the time being, this distant view is the best you’ll get.
If you happen to miss it, the view will be more obvious and visible when you’re driving out from the gorge and passing this same spot.
Buluowan Terrace & Suspension Bridge
As you continue driving from here, watch ahead and upwards for Buluowan Suspension Bridge (布洛灣吊橋, formerly 山月吊橋/Shanyue Suspension Bridge, here, closed).
At 152 meters above the Liwu River, it is the highest of the many suspension bridges in Taroko National Park.
Next, you’ll pass a turnoff on the left for Buluowan Recreation Area (here, closed), a former Indigenous village.
In the past, you’d drive up here to access Taroko Village Hotel (closed), the hotel’s Indigenous restaurant, and Buluowan Suspension Bridge. The hotel was badly damaged in the earthquake and I’m not aware of any plans to reopen it.
Swallow’s Grotto
The next place you can actually stop is here at the entrance to Swallow’s Grotto (closed, but you can still enjoy some great views here).
It’s easy to stop on a scooter, and there is also usually space for a few cars to park on the left side of the road.
The old Swallow Grotto road branches off to the right here. In the past, you could walk down this road, including several small tunnels, to admire the extremely narrow and vertical section of the gorge here, including a cliff wall where swallows like to build nests.
Currently, the whole road is blocked, but you can still get a decent view looking down it.
There’s also a suspension bridge here which once provided access to Zhuilu Old Road (here, closed), another of Taroko’s most famous hikes.
Before the earthquake, a permit was required to hike it. This hike was so badly damaged by the earthquake that I’m not sure it will ever reopen.
If you have a wide angle camera lens, from this viewpoint, you can even get a shot of this suspension bridge plus the much taller Buluowan Suspension Bridge downstream in the same shot.
Liufang Observation Deck
Continuing along after Swallow’s Grotto, you’ll now drive through a particularly scenic but damaged section of the highway.
I only managed to sneak the above photo in this section, but otherwise it was not easy, safe, or permitted to stop for most of it.
We found it very easy to stop at Liufang Observation Deck (流芳橋觀景台, here, open despite what GoogleMaps says). There is space here for a couple of cars or scooters to park safely off the road.
The observation deck overlooks a modern bridge you just drove across plus the ruined Liufang Bridge (流芳橋).
The bridge was built in 1960, retired from vehicle traffic and converted to a pedestrian bridge in 2002, then badly damaged by rockfall during the 2024 Hualien Earthquake, which caused part of the bridge to collapse.
This is one of the most visible reminders of the earthquake currently in Taroko Gorge.
Tunnel of Nine Turns
The Tunnel of Nine Turns (here, closed) is a former major attraction in Taroko Gorge. The 700-meter pedestrian road goes through several tunnels and offers impressive narrow gorge views.
Even before the earthquake, the attraction was closed from 2013 to 2019 due to prior landslides.
While it remains closed today, my understanding is that it was not badly damaged in this earthquake and may be one of the next spots to reopen. From what we could see, it looks pretty much ready to go.
We were able to stop here, with room for several cars and scooters to park, and get a good look at it from the entrance.
The entrance can be easy to miss, though. At the point you reach my above pin, which is near the end of a long tunnel, you’ll need to take a sudden left turn to the small parking lot.
Cimu Bridge
My next recommended stop is easier and more obvious, at Cimu Bridge (慈母橋, here). There’s no parking lot but the road is wide enough for scooters or cars to park on the side.
Cimu Bridge is a photogenic red arch bridge with large stone lion statues on either side just before it.
The bridge also offers a magnificent view looking back down the Liwu River. This is a particularly narrow section of the gorge with the vehicle road carved into the cliff beside it.
In recent years, a large steel rockfall canopy has been installed over the road to deflect falling rocks and debris away from traffic.
Yuewang Pavilion
A final little stop you may want to make before reaching the upper control point, Yuewang Pavilion (岳王亭, here) is a small pavilion on the left side of the road with space for two cars at most to park.
When we last visited, the entrance to the pavilion was roped off. Although we saw other visitors climbing over the rope, I recommend respecting the closure and skipping it.
Even when open, the pavilion is nothing special. It faces a small and equally unimpressive suspension bridge which has seen better days. Skip unless you have extra time.
Upper Control Point and Lushui Area
Right after Yuewang Pavilion, you’ll enter a tunnel. The end of the tunnel is the upper control point – you may not even notice it when driving through.
But when coming back down the gorge, cars will have to line up here and wait for one of the five daily opening times.
Lushui Area has a few former attractions, but even when open, I never considered any of them a must-do in Taroko Gorge.
On the left side of the road is Lushui Campground (closed). On the right side, there’s a small parking lot and the start of two trails: the short Lushui Trail (here) and the longer Lushui-Wenshan Trail.
On our recent trip, we stopped to investigate the trails. Only the first few hundred meters of either trail is open, and neither one offers anything currently worth stopping for.
I recommend skipping Lushui Area and heading directly to Tianxiang.
Tianxiang Recreation Area
Tianxiang Recreation Area (天祥遊憩區, here) is a small village and leisure area at the upper end of what is typically considered Taroko Gorge.
This is the end of the line for most tours and visitors, and it has the largest collection of things that are actually currently open in Taroko Gorge.
For most visitors, I recommend spending 60-90 minutes here. This is enough time to walk across Pudu Bridge, up to Xiangde Temple, and maybe grab a quite bite to eat.
The large public parking lot is here in front of Silks Place Taroko Hotel, which occupies a terrace overlooking the Liwu River.
There are also a few hole-in-the-wall eateries next to the parking lot (here and here). They sell local Indigenous snacks like sticky rice steamed in a bamboo tube (竹筒飯), wild boar meat (山豬肉), and maqaw sausages (馬告香腸).
There are usually loads of Taiwanese macaques here.
They are used to humans, but be careful as they have become quite bold and even aggressive. One of them stole a water bottle directly from our scooter and another even chased my sister-in-law.
Pudu Bridge
Pudu Bridge (普渡橋, here) is a highly scenic pedestrian bridge crossing the river next to the main road just before you reach Tianxiang. This is one of the classic scenes of Taroko Gorge.
Resist the temptation to stop here as soon as you see it, as you aren’t supposed to park next to it. Instead, park your scooter or car in Tianxiang first then walk a few minutes back to it.
The bridge has some Buddhist imagery, including lotus flowers at the start. At the end of the bridge, you can get a decent view of Silks Place Taroko to your right.
If you happen to be spending the night at Silks Place Taroko like we did, consider crossing the bridge again the next morning, when the lighting is often much better.
Xiangde Temple
At the end of Pudu Bridge, a series of very steep steps lead up to Xiangde Temple (祥德寺, here), a Buddhist temple complex overlooking Taroko Gorge.
The complex includes multiple features spread over the hill, including a white Guanyin Statue (白衣觀音), Main Hall (大雄寶殿), 7-story Tianfeng Pagoda (天峰塔), and Ksitigarbha statue (地藏王菩薩).
When we visited, we enjoyed a Buddhist vegetarian lunch prepared by a nun here roughly halfway up the steps to the temple.
Our lunch of noodle soup, dumplings, braised tofu, and rice steamed in bamboo leaf was pricey by Taiwanese standards, but it was made with intention and the funds help support the temple.
She asked us to sit at one of the tables closest to the kitchen to avoid catching the attention of hungry macaques around the tables further out on the patio.
Tabido Trail
If you spend more time in Tianxiang (budget 2-3 hours total), you could also hike Tabido Trail (塔比多步道, here) to a small stone church in the forest just west of the main parking lot.
It’s a short and easy stroll (30 minutes return) from the parking lot, or a longer walk (one hour return) if you do the full thing starting from near Tienhsiang Youth Activity Center.
If you are staying at Tienhsiang Youth Activity Center, it’s just another minute up the road and has its own parking lot.
Beyond Tianxiang
Most visitors don’t go past Tianxiang. Shortly after the village, Baiyang Waterfall Trail and Water Curtain Cave remain closed.
Another five minutes’ drive past that, the upper entrance of Lushui-Wenshan Trail (still closed), as well as the long-closed trail to Wenshan Hot Spring, a once-popular wild hot spring destroyed by a landslide many years ago.
Highway 8 continues winding into the mountains for a couple of hours before you turn onto Highway 14甲 for Wuling Pass, the highest navigable mountain pass in Taiwan, in the Hehuanshan area of Taroko National Park.
From there, it descends past Cingjing Farm towards Taichung on the west coast of Taiwan.
Driving Back Down Through Taroko Gorge
Because we made every stop we’d wanted to on the drive up through Taroko Gorge, we drove the whole way down the bottom of the gorge without stopping, which only took about 30 minutes.
The only important thing to note is that you can only pass the upper control point around Lushui during the same five daily opening times: (1) 06:30 – 08:00, (2) 10:00 – 10:05, (3) 12:00 – 13:00, (4) 15:00 – 15:05, (5) 17:00 – 17:30.
Then from the bottom entrance of Taroko Gorge, it’s another 10 minutes’ drive to Xincheng or 45 minutes to Hualien City.
Other Places to Visit around Taroko Gorge
There are several more things to do around Taroko Gorge, which you may even combine into the same day.
The first two below are often included on Taroko Gorge day tours, while the second two are ones we did on our last trip after exiting the gorge – we actually spent one night in Xincheng to make time for them.
Qingshui Cliffs
The Qingshui Cliffs are a series of dramatic coastal bluffs along the east coast north of the entrance to Taroko Gorge, along Highway 9 to Yilan.
Most Taroko Gorge tours include a quick stop after visiting Taroko Gorge to admire the cliffs from one of several viewpoints (usually here or here).
These are about 15 minutes’ drive north of the entrance of Taroko Gorge.
Qixingtan Beach
Qixingtan Beach (here) is a gorgeous pebble beach just north of Hualien city, on the way to Taroko Gorge. I’ve even called this one of the most beautiful beaches in Taiwan.
Most Taroko Gorge day tours also make a stop here on the way back to Hualien, after visiting the gorge.
While you can’t swim here, you can enjoy a stunning view looking up the east coast towards the Qingshui Cliffs. If you have more time, you can also rent bikes here and cycle along the coast.
Swimming in Sanzhan River
After seeing all those tempting blue streams in Taroko Gorge, which you can’t swim in, my family and I always like find somewhere else to go for a swim after we visit the gorge.
Our favorite swimming spot in Hualien is in the Sanzhan River around here in Sanzhan, a small Indigenous village only about 10 minutes’ drive from the entrance to Taroko Gorge.
We’ve swam here multiple times and even spent the night in the village for going river tracing up the river.
Paddle Boarding Below the Qingshui Cliffs
After our recent visit to Taroko Gorge, we spent a night in Xincheng specifically for going paddle boarding below the Qingshui Cliffs nearby.
We booked the experience here on Klook and set out from Chongde Beach, just north of Xincheng.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience with unbelievable east coast views. Read about other adventure activities in Taiwan here.
Is Taroko Gorge Still Worth Visiting?
Yes, Taroko Gorge is still absolutely worth visiting. The scenery remains spectacular, and I was honestly impressed by how much we were still able to see and do on our recent visit.
However, you shouldn’t expect Taroko Gorge to look or feel exactly like it did before the 2024 earthquake. The earthquake left permanent scars on the landscape, and seeing that damage – collapsed cliffs, ruined bridges, and ongoing reconstruction – is now part of the experience of visiting Taroko.
I also wouldn’t recommend “waiting for Taroko Gorge to fully reopen.” It isn’t that simple. Some famous trails and attractions will still take years to reopen, while others may never reopen at all.
Hualien is also urging visitors to return and help the region’s tourism economy recover.
Taroko Gorge has changed, but it hasn’t stopped being one of Taiwan’s most incredible places. If you’re visiting Taiwan now, I wouldn’t leave it out of your itinerary just because you’re waiting for the old Taroko to come back.
Wow! Nick, this is the most comprehensive guide to Taroko Gorge post earthquake. Thanks for sharing the latest info.
Lucia