Introducing Taroko National Park & The East Coast

For many travellers, a love affair with the east coast begins with a journey to Taroko Gorge. Wandering this bedazzling marble canyon, visitors often find a private paradise in the form of a deep waterfall-fed pool or rocky lookout. Such delight does this discovery give that most people fear losing the spot to the masses and try to keep it secret.

But fear not, there are places like this all over the east coast. If ever you should take our recommendation to get off the beaten track, this is the time and place to do it.

Two main highways run through the east; try to travel them both (one down and one up). Hwy 11 is the coastline route and offers stops for swimming, biking and visiting aboriginal and fishing villages. Hwy 9 runs through a wide valley, rich in hot springs and local flavour. This is also prime farmland and the vast fields of rice, backed up by dark green hills, are wonderfully photogenic.

Eastern Taiwan has the highest concentration of indigenous peoples in Taiwan and many tribal members maintain both their language and lifestyle. Visiting an aboriginal village or attending a traditional festival is a highlight for most travellers.

For years, people have been saying that the time to visit the east coast is now before its backwater charms are lost forever, but we see no danger of that happening for a while yet. In any case, if you happen to find one piece of this paradise has gotten too crowded, there’s always the next valley over.