Top Things to do in Xiulin
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What to do and see in Xiulin, Hualien: The Best Nature & Parks
Discover the best top things to do in Xiulin, Taiwan including Hehuanshan East Peak Trail, Mugua River Valley, Taroko National Park, Sha Po Dang River, Taroko Gorge, Mukumugi Valley, Zhuilu Old Trail, Cave of Water Curtain, Baiyang Trail, Baiyang Waterfall.
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1. Hehuanshan East Peak Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Mt. Hehuan East Peak is the second highest among the Hehuanshan cluster, at 3,421m. The upper reaches stand towering, majestic, and independent, and the field of view on the peak is wide open. It can be reached in about an hour from the trailhead. The scenery along the trail is distinct in each of the four seasons. This is the area of greatest Yushan Rhododendron concentration, and during the May/June bloom the mountainside comes alive with pastel purples and reds.
2. Mugua River Valley
3. Taroko National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,385 reviews
Reviewed By gcincinnati - Tokyo, Japan
Definitely go. 100%. This park was the highlight of our 5-day trip and we are so glad we made the decision to spend 2 nights in nearby Xinchang in order to do it right. There are a few local buses that you can buy passes for to easily get around the park, with information desks or signs clearly explaining each place. It’s well managed and planned. Definitely go to Swallow Grotto before 9am if you can and walk the Baiyang trail to the spectacular falls. We’ll be back, absolutely!
4. Sha Po Dang River
5. Taroko Gorge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,630 reviews
Reviewed By Worldofg
Having a full day to kill due to a long connection in Taipei my wife and I decided to rush down to Taroko Gorge rather than staying in the city. What a great decision!! We caught train 202 from the main station at 6am, arriving at Hualien at 08:15 ($400 TWD return- $22 AUD). Based on other trip advisor posts we booked a taxi driver ( Jason Huang) for a day for a very reasonable $3500 for the car rather than per person (Taiwan; about $160.00 Australian). I hate being carted around on coaches and in large groups, you tend to see very little and it can be quite rushed, so a private hire was a perfect option considering tours were charging around $3500 pp. Our driver, Jason met us at the station as arranged, waving my name on his board, (note head towards West exit of the station and not the east). Jason is a happy chap with excellent English, as it turned out Jason was the perfect guide with very informative commentary on rock formation, the national park and wildlife so I started to feel quite smug about my choice. Our first stop was the Qingshui cliffs, absolutely beautiful known for its plunging cliffs and rugged seascapes, certainly a worthwhile stop. Look carefully in the trees on the walk up to the viewing platform and you will probably see the Formosan rock monkey, which are endemic to Taiwan. There were a number of them feeding in the trees, it was surprising that other visitors walked right passed without noticing them. Our day continued with drive up the mountain range with its spectacular marble walls arising from the Gorge’s base. Our tour stretched from the entrance Taroko National Park up to the incredible Baiyang waterfall trail, taking in the Changchun Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Shakadang Trail and Taroko Archway along the way . Jason was very good at hoping in front of the bus groups so we saw most of the main sites in peace and open to changing the itinerary to meet our requirements, rather than just following the tourist trail, as such we saw what we wanted to see and stayed at a particular spot for as long as we wished. The Shakadang Trail is a road one way shared with pedestrians and traffic but very well managed. The walk is around 2 km from one end to the other but is flat and easy with plenty of places to stop for a breather. Jason dropped us off at one end of the trail and met us at the opposite end. This is a must, there are so many impressive panoramas following the winding Gorge on foot that it’s impossible to stop taking photos- the marble cliff walls are a breathtaking sight and that’s an understatement. Probably second only the Grand Canyon, without question this was the highlight of our holiday. At the entrance to the trail stop and pick up a helmet, which are provided free by the Nation Park Authority, just in case of falling rocks or stones Our next stop was the Baiyang waterfall trail. The trial is a 4.2k round trip, and characterised by a number of tunnels, so take a small touch (Jason provided ours). The hike is very easy and for the mostly flat, the path is well maintained with informative signage on the way. The marble here has incredible the layers and patterns in the gorge walls, there is also large 5-10 metre wide marble boulders sitting in the blue river, sensational. There are great views of waterfalls, plunging cliff faces in the background, along with some colourful bird life, look out for a red tail wagtail, I’m not sure of its name but there we plenty of them and they are very pretty. At the end of the trail you can have an exceedingly cold shower if you wish to visit the Curtain Waterfall Cave (very refreshing I thought), I would highly recommend the cave, it can be a tight squeeze but worth it. My wife had a poncho and stayed dry as a bone. The walk back was as good taking in a different prospective of the scenery. The Taroko National Park is a wonder and should not be missed if you visit Taiwan. The scenery is unparalleled with captivating sights and relaxing sounds of the gorge. It is one trail that you must not missed when at the gorge . We had a fantastic day we were so happy we made the effort, Jason was brilliant and I would highly recommend him rather than a busy tour bus, which I may add looked crowded and very rushed. The ability to stop anywhere in your own time is certainly the way to go. Again, Jason was the perfect guide with very informative commentary on rock formation and wildlife. Jason's details are whatsapp 886963-800617 or [email protected]
6. Mukumugi Valley
7. Zhuilu Old Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By EricJ503 - San Francisco, United States
This is a fabulous short hike with spectacular view of the gorges It is only 3.1 kilometers one way for this out and back trail You need to apply for the permit in advance though The initial steep inclines will reward you with views you haven’t seen before, maybe you have Anyway, it is quite excellent
8. Cave of Water Curtain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 144 reviews
Reviewed By 619je - Keysborough, Australia
The Cave of Water Curtain is near Taroko Gorge. It is a bit of an adventure getting there, but it is entertaining. Take a flashlight if you can, it can get dark inside.
9. Baiyang Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 161 reviews
Reviewed By PacificRimTrekker - San Francisco, United States
This is an easy hike through the gorge. You will go through several tunnels as you travel through the mountains. You probably should bring a flashlight. In between the tunnels, you will have great views down into the gorge. There are also signs explaining local flora and fauna. At the end, there is a tunnel that has a "water curtain" which is a heavy flow of water coming into the tunnel. Apparently, the tunnel constructors ran into a aquifer when they built the tunnel, which leads to a substantial flow. Bring a rain jacket with a hood for the water curtain. The floor of the tunnel has a stream flowing through it, but it is fairly smooth and you can walk it barefoot comfortably. You could also bring a pair of waterproof boots. The water curtain tunnel is also quite dark, so here a flashlight is really helpful.
