Taroko Gorge National Park

Taroko National Park is located in the east of Taiwan. It lies across 3 administrative areas, Hualien County, Taichung County and Nantou County. It´s near from Yilan County. It´s just 2 hours, by car, from here.

If you have the opportunity, you really should go there! Because it´s just incredible! The name, Taroko, means "magnificent and beautiful" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe who resides in the area.
"Taroko Gorge is carved by the Liwu River through marble mountains, forming spectacular canyons whose precipitous cliffs are draped with waterfalls and overhung with lush jungle vegetation. With a new view around every corner, the gorge is a source of constant amazement to visitors."

"Taroko Gorge and its surrounding area are well known for their abundant supply of marble, leading to its nickname, "The Marble Gorge". The rock now seen in Taroko began over 200 million years ago as sediment on the bottom of the ocean. As the sediment collected, it was subject to increasingly large amounts of pressure which eventually hardened it into limestone."

The fauna there it´s just incredible. There are a lot of variety of birds, butterflies, reptiles and fishes. Sorry about the following picture..When I took the picture the caterpillar has hidden! But you can see its blue tail. Hahaha!

We just went to Shakadang Trail. "Shakadang Trail was built along the Shakadang river cliffs during Japanese colonial period in order to divert water to the Liwu hydropower plant. Thousands of year, the river cut through the gorge leaving mysterious patterns on marble that reflects on still, copper blue waters in a greenish background, such scenery earned the trail the name: Mysterious Valley Trail."

You can visit other places in Taroko Gorge, but Shakadang Trail is just wonderful! The Gorge is one of the natural wonders of Asia and should not be missed.  It will be an amazing experience for you! :)

You can check the website, in english: http://www.taroko.gov.tw/English/

By Camila