Xiulin Township is a mountainous township at the north end of Hualien County. Half of the territory of the township belongs to the Taroko National Park, with natural attractions such as Taroko Gorge , Qingshui Cliff , and Hailiantian.
Understand
[edit]About 97% of the territory is mountainous and riverine, and more than 80% of the land belongs to the county-owned forest land, possessing vast and abundant mountain forest resources
The ethnic structure includes the Taroko, Seediq, and Atayal tribes, with the Taroko being the most numerous. It is the township with the largest Taroko population in Taiwan.
Get in
[edit]The North-Link Railway and Suhua Highway pass through the eastern coast of the territory, and the Central Cross-Island Highway runs through it.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Xiulin Township
By car
[edit]By boat
[edit]By public transit
[edit]See
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- 1 Tianxiang. The final village inside of Taroko Gorge most tourists will encounter.
- 2 Eternal Spring Shrine (長春祠), ☏ +886 3 862 1100. A mountainside memorial shrine that was built in honour of those who lost their lives building the nearby highway. The site offers picturesque views of the surrounding area.
- 3 Xiangde Temple (祥德寺), ☏ +886 3 869 1120. A large mountainside temple complex in Taroko Gorge.
- 4 Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖 / Qīngshuǐ Duànyá). An impressive 21-km-long coastal cliff that rises 800 m above sea level on average. Its tallest peak, the Qingshui Mountain, rises 2408 m above sea level directly from the sea.
Do
[edit]- 1 Taroko Gorge. An impressive canyon, 19 km (12 mi) long, protected as part of Taroko National Park. The name, Taroko, means the "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the aboriginal tribe residing in the area.
- 2 Hehuan Mountain (Hehuanshan, 合歡山) (about a four hour drive from Hualien City.). It is a fantastic journey through the wonders of Taroko Gorge and past, ending in a treeless, absolutely different ecosystem. Hiking available ranges from easy to hard, and can be hiked on one day or multiple days, depending on the route you choose. English literature is available but very basic. It is possible to just set out on a trail and see where it takes you. Being a (mostly) treeless environment, it is difficult to get lost, but beware of the dangers of high altitude hiking - most peaks are above 3000 m.
- 3 Liyu Lake (take bus 303, 100 m right from the Tourist Information in Hualien; it does not go by the lake on certain days but directly to Shoufeng – align with the driver). A scenic lake good for a stroll or lunch, with boats for rent. There is also a mountain trail around the lake. Bus NT$54 one-way.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Kuan Yun Youth Activity Center (救國團觀雲山莊), Guanyuan (near Hehuan Mountain), ☏ +886 4 25991173, [email protected]. Great for a stopover when coming from Taroko Gorge or Hehuan Mountain. It is an old building with a large dinning hall. The dorm rooms, however, are very pleasant with TV and shower (and warm in the winter). They only host people under 40, but this policy does not seem to apply in off-season. They also serve optional dinner for NT$200 per person. NT$500/bed (including breakfast).