Taroko National Park in Hualien County is Taiwan’s most famous natural landmark: a marble canyon cut by the Liwu River, with sheer cliffs, tunnels and turquoise water. The park was established on 28 November 1986 and covers about 92,000 hectares across Hualien, Nantou and Taichung.
Important: the magnitude 7.4 Hualien earthquake of 3 April 2024 caused major rockfalls. As of September 2026 the park has only partly reopened. Open: the Taroko Visitor Center, Dekalun Trail, Tianxiang Recreation Area and its short paths (Tabido Trail, Xiangde Temple), short sections of the Lushui and Lushui–Wenshan trails, and the Qingshui Cliffs viewpoint at Chongde. Still closed: Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou), Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine trail, Baiyang Trail, Zhuilu Old Road and the Buluowan trails. Check taroko.gov.tw before you go, as the situation changes.
Plan your visit to Taroko National Park
- Entry: free
- Highway 8 open in fixed time windows
- Time needed: 1 day
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History of Taroko National Park
- Truku homeland: the Truku people have lived in these valleys for centuries, and the name “Taroko” comes from their language.
- Japanese era: the area was declared Tsugitaka-Taroko National Park in 1937.
- Cross-Island Highway: the Central Cross-Island Highway (Highway 8) was cut through the gorge in the 1950s; the Eternal Spring Shrine honours the workers who died building it.
- National park: Taroko National Park was established on 28 November 1986.
- 2024 earthquake: the 3 April 2024 earthquake triggered landslides that killed hikers and closed most trails. Reopening has been gradual, and several famous trails remain closed.
Attractions at Taroko National Park
- Taroko Visitor Center (open): exhibitions on the geology and Truku culture, and the start of the Dekalun Trail.
- Dekalun Trail (open): a stepped forest trail from the visitor centre, about 1.5 hours return.
- Tianxiang Recreation Area (open): the upper end of the gorge, with Xiangde Temple, the Tabido Trail and the Silks Place Taroko hotel.
- Lushui trails (partly open): only short sections of the Lushui and Lushui–Wenshan trails are open.
- Qingshui Cliffs (open): the Chongde viewpoint reopened in July 2025; see our Qingshui Cliffs guide.
- Closed for now: Shakadang Trail, Swallow Grotto, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine trail, Baiyang Trail, Zhuilu Old Road and Buluowan. Some can be seen from the road.
Things to Do at Taroko National Park
- Drive the gorge: Highway 8 between the visitor centre and Tianxiang opens only in fixed time windows each day; plan around them.
- Short hikes: Dekalun, Tabido and the open sections of the Lushui trails.
- Learn about Truku culture: start with the visitor centre exhibits.
- Combine with the coast: add the Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan Beach for a full day.
- Stay safe: obey closures, wear a helmet where provided and leave if there is heavy rain or an earthquake alert.
Taroko National Park – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Entry to the park is free. The visitor centre and open trails are generally accessible in daytime, but Highway 8 through the gorge runs on traffic control, with vehicles released only during a few fixed time windows a day (roughly early morning, midday and late afternoon), and the road is closed at night. Times change, so check taroko.gov.tw on the day.
Tours
- Private car charter (choose open stops): on Klook
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How Long to Spend at Taroko National Park
With so much still closed, one day is enough: a morning at the visitor centre and Dekalun Trail, a timed drive up to Tianxiang, then the Qingshui Cliffs and Qixingtan on the way back to Hualien.
How to Get There
- By train: Taiwan Railway express trains run from Taipei to Xincheng (Taroko) or Hualien Station in about 2 to 2.5 hours.
- By bus: Hualien buses 302 and 310 serve the Taroko Visitor Center; through buses to Tianxiang are suspended for now.
- By car or charter: a private car with driver is the easiest way to fit the Highway 8 time windows.
Arriving at Taoyuan Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer to your Taipei hotel, then take the train to Hualien.
Eateries Nearby Taroko National Park
Food inside the park is limited. Tianxiang has the Silks Place Taroko hotel and a few small shops, and there are simple eateries around Xincheng and Taroko Station. For more choice, eat in Hualien City, for example at Dongdamen Night Market.
Other Attractions Nearby Taroko National Park
- Qingshui Cliffs: dramatic sea cliffs north of the gorge.
- Qixingtan Beach: a pebble bay near Hualien, good at sunrise.
- Dongdamen Night Market: Hualien’s main night market.
- River tracing: guided river trips in Hualien’s valleys outside the closed areas.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Hualien: stay in Hualien City or Xincheng to be close to the gorge.
- Get a Taiwan eSIM on Klook before you land (unlimited data, Chunghwa Telecom network).
Taroko National Park is still one of Taiwan’s great landscapes, but since the 2024 earthquake only part of it is open. Plan around the Highway 8 time windows, stick to the open trails and check the park website before you set off.
Pair the gorge with the Qingshui Cliffs and an evening at Dongdamen Night Market for a full day in Hualien.
