Taroko Gorge 太魯閣
Also
known as “The Marble Gorge”, Taroko was formed through the erosion of marble by
the path of the Liwu River over millions of years. Though once a major
commercial source of marble, extraction of this resource is now limited in
order to protect the delicate ecosystem of the canyon.
By the Train
Tze-Chiang Limited Express is the fastest class. However, there are
some different types of Tze-Chiang Limited Express. Taroko Express (太魯閣號) and Puyuma Express, which are both Tze-Chiang Limited Express,
are tilt train and takes about 2 hours to transport
between Taipei and Hualien and costs NTD 440. Because Taroko Express and
Puyuman Express will tilt in moving, you should book a seat in advance.
The mark for Puyuma Express is a red 新. The
mark for Taroko Express is 2 green peaks.
The closest train station to the park entrance is Sincheng (新城). From
there, there is the choice of a one way taxi ride from the station to Taroko
for about NT$200 or a day tour costing about NT$2,000.
The Tour Taiwan (台灣好行) Taroko Bus picks up and drops off at both
Singcheng (新城) station and Hualien station.
It costs
NT$250 for a 1-day unlimited use pass or NT$400 for a 2-day pass (which can
only be purchased in Hualien and not on the bus), single fares between stops
are cheap but you need the exact change.
Ticket
service counters
- Hualien
Bus Terminal: 100 Guolian 1st Road (turn
left and walk straight after exiting Hualien railway station. You will see a
prominent orange building)
- Hualien
Visitor Info Center: 106, Guolian 1st Road (turn right and walk straight after
exiting Hualien railway station) Opening hours: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Pasted
from <http://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/Besttour/Info/?id=19>
Note:
Before touring Taroko, it is good to check the trail conditions either online (http://www.taroko.gov.tw/English/)
or with the bus driver. Sometimes, certain trails may be closed due to reasons
such as maintenance or hazardous damage from typhoons. Having this information
will help you plan your day better.
Zi Qiang Night Market 自强夜市
From 5pm till late night; Ten minutes away from the Hualien station
(at the intersection of 自强路 Zi Qiang Road and 和平路 He Ping Road).
MUST-TRY FOOD AT THE ZIQIANG NIGHT MARKET: The must-try snack would
surely be found at the famous stall called First barbecue stall 第一家烤肉串, which serves barbecued meat
on skewers. The stall is so famous, that when you order, you get a number and
need to wait, sometimes even up to two hours. Another famous stall is Chiang
family's coffin sandwich 蔣家官財板, where usually tons of people
wait for their sandwich. Next to it is the "Too wonderful for
words" fruit juice shop or "妙不可言"果汁店. Their juice is so famous,
that people don't mind standing in line for very long as well. The last one is
the Jiang Shun Ji Beefsteak 江順記.