Seeing Taiwan: At Taroko Gorge, Something for Everyone

Taroko Gorge, Taiwan's most famous natural attraction, is a visual feast of awe-inspiring scenic beauty. But while many people have made the spectacular 18-kilometer drive up the gorge to the tiny village of Tiansiang, fewer have taken advantage of the park's other highlights. Taroko National Park spans 92,000 hectares, and within that vast space, the park offers something for every visitor.

For example, are you are a nature lover? If so, Taroko Gorge is a paradise. Formosan rock monkeys and flying squirrels are common, and so are spiders the size of plates. Rare birds can be seen, including native species like the Formosan blue magpie and Mikado pheasant. The park ranges from sea level to 3,740 meters, so it has a variety of plant life. As you ascend the canyon road from ocean to peak, the trees change from tropical sugar palm and red maple to high-altitude forests of cypress, spruce, and walnut, while at 3,000 meters and above is the magnificent Taiwan hemlock.