This gorge is simply spectacular, even considered by some to be the eighth wonder of the world. Many tours of it begin with a flight to the town of Hualien and then transfer to a bus or taxi for a ride down the East-West Cross-Island Highway: The gorge is along a twisting 12-mi/19-km stretch of that road. (Check on the condition of the road before you go—it's sometimes closed because of rock and mud slides, as well as for repairs.) If you have plenty of time, consider walking along the gorge or go rafting on the Li-Wu River within the gorge itself.
The entire 120-mi-/193-km-long East-West Cross-Island Highway, which links Taichung to Hualien, is itself engaging, passing through 38 tunnels—including the Tunnel of Nine Turns—and crossing a marble bridge (the Bridge of Motherly Devotion). Stop to look up at Juejiu Precipice, which rises 5,466 ft/1,695 m high, taller than the Grand Canyon.
Visitors seeing the gorge as a road trip from Taipei will likely stop at Lishan (a fruit-growing area nice for summer walks), Wuling Farm (and nearby Snow Mountain) and Kukuan (a hot-springs resort with the beautiful Dragon Valley Waterfall). Tien Hsiang is at the end of the gorge and is quiet and charming: It has a large white statue of Kuan Yin, and not far outside of town are the relaxing Wen-Shan Hot Springs (they lie in an open cave of solid marble, reached by crossing a swaying suspension bridge and walking down several hundred steps). If you have the time, continue on the highway to Taichung, spend the night, view Sun Moon Lake and then take a train back to Taipei. 65 mi/105 km southeast of Taipei.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.