AmyHuang
Taiwan - the gorgeous Taroko Gorge
Taroko Gorge, one of the most visited place in Taiwan, lived up to its reputation to be stunningly beautiful when we visited. The Gorge was formed with one stream of water which over time, cut through the tough marble mountain forming what is today, the most famous scenery in Taiwan.
As most attractions were along the high way linking east Taiwan to west Taiwan through the gorge, we hired a taxi to take us through. The ever so helpful taxi driver dutifully pointed out sights and stopping for us to explore. Being sub-tropical in climate, the Taroko gorge vegetation is almost always at a lush jade green. The trees cover the top half of the dramatic cliffs and at the bottom where the rapid river cuts through along the high way, are white and shaded marbles, polished by the gushing river, brightly seeking for our attention.
Right at the beginning of the gorge entrance is a temple, the Eternal Spring Shrine. The shrine is built across a white cloud of waterfall and caves accommodating Buddhas and goddesses. A small hike to the upper temple is steep but pleasant and we sat by the waterfall surrounded by the high cliffs that claims the valley around the gorge. The shrine was built to honour those who lost their lives while on the building project of the cross highway. Just after the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, there was a need for a highway connecting the top half of east Taiwan and west Taiwan. Many of the soldiers that served to defeat the Japanese signed up for this project. As the terrain was rough and conditions in the gorge were unstable, 202 people died working on the gorge.
Further along the gorge we saw Swallow Grotto and the Nine Turn Tunnels. Swallows calls the gorge home during summer and many patrol the area forming what they now named the Swallows Grotto. The tunnels dug for the old high way at the Nine Turn Tunnels then created a dramatic walk along the gorge, giving us the best water and mountain experience the gorge is renowned for.
We stayed in the Youth Activity Centre in Tiensiang, a town inside the gorge. The town had only a couple buildings but is surrounded by hiking trails. Unfortunately at the moment it is the Taiwanese winter and there had been landslides and unstable trail conditions therefore, many were closed. We were left to be content with the view we get from our balcony, which was enough to make us smile.
A large temple sits on the top of a hill at Tiensiang is a quiet but grand Buddhist temple, and surrounding the town are many hiking trails that will take you to caves and waterfalls. Unfortunately at the time of visit, which is the Taiwanese winter, many trails have been closed for renovations. The area is also prone to earthquakes and since the 1999 921 earthquake, many mountain areas are still unstable and are recovering from the damages. Everything you see in these photos have been rebuilt, as unfortunately many of the originals could not be recovered.
The gorge was occupied by the aboriginal tribe Taroko before the Japanese massacred them. Many aboriginal artifacts are available here and I had fun picking out a good weaving cloth for our home back in Sydney.
As most attractions were along the high way linking east Taiwan to west Taiwan through the gorge, we hired a taxi to take us through. The ever so helpful taxi driver dutifully pointed out sights and stopping for us to explore. Being sub-tropical in climate, the Taroko gorge vegetation is almost always at a lush jade green. The trees cover the top half of the dramatic cliffs and at the bottom where the rapid river cuts through along the high way, are white and shaded marbles, polished by the gushing river, brightly seeking for our attention.
The beautiful Taroko Gorge
Right at the beginning of the gorge entrance is a temple, the Eternal Spring Shrine. The shrine is built across a white cloud of waterfall and caves accommodating Buddhas and goddesses. A small hike to the upper temple is steep but pleasant and we sat by the waterfall surrounded by the high cliffs that claims the valley around the gorge. The shrine was built to honour those who lost their lives while on the building project of the cross highway. Just after the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, there was a need for a highway connecting the top half of east Taiwan and west Taiwan. Many of the soldiers that served to defeat the Japanese signed up for this project. As the terrain was rough and conditions in the gorge were unstable, 202 people died working on the gorge.
The Eternal Spring Shrine
Further along the gorge we saw Swallow Grotto and the Nine Turn Tunnels. Swallows calls the gorge home during summer and many patrol the area forming what they now named the Swallows Grotto. The tunnels dug for the old high way at the Nine Turn Tunnels then created a dramatic walk along the gorge, giving us the best water and mountain experience the gorge is renowned for.
The tunnel of nine turns, built by blasting marbles into the cave like roads we see today - many workers fell to their deaths at this project
Incredible bright white marble boulders that lines the river banks
We stayed in the Youth Activity Centre in Tiensiang, a town inside the gorge. The town had only a couple buildings but is surrounded by hiking trails. Unfortunately at the moment it is the Taiwanese winter and there had been landslides and unstable trail conditions therefore, many were closed. We were left to be content with the view we get from our balcony, which was enough to make us smile.
The quaint little Tiensiang village
A large temple sits on the top of a hill at Tiensiang is a quiet but grand Buddhist temple, and surrounding the town are many hiking trails that will take you to caves and waterfalls. Unfortunately at the time of visit, which is the Taiwanese winter, many trails have been closed for renovations. The area is also prone to earthquakes and since the 1999 921 earthquake, many mountain areas are still unstable and are recovering from the damages. Everything you see in these photos have been rebuilt, as unfortunately many of the originals could not be recovered.
A giant gold Buddha overlooks the cliffs of Taroko at the Hsiangte Temple in Tiensiang
The gorge was occupied by the aboriginal tribe Taroko before the Japanese massacred them. Many aboriginal artifacts are available here and I had fun picking out a good weaving cloth for our home back in Sydney.
Aboriginal lives represented by statues, very few Aboriginals are around Taroko now, most were killed by the Japanese
Writer's Notes
I've nominated you for the Nice Matters Award. Find info in my post: Really Long Link .
Take care!
Jeanne
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