1. From Taipei: Taroko Gorge Day Tour by Train
Meet your host and board the express train bound for Hualien on your own. Sit back and enjoy a 3-hour journey to paradise. Upon arrival in Hualien, your tour guide will greet you at the train station and take to you to the world-famous Taroko National Park. From the archway entry to Tianxiang, this 12.5-mile (20 km) section of Central Cross-Island Highway through the steep marble cliffs and tunnels of the gorge will take your breath away. Walk along the Shakadang Trail, where the crystal clear blue water of Liwu River runs beside you. Walk through the Swallow Grotto tunnel, where you will enjoy a stunning view of the cliffs. Take a short break at Tianxiang, a large river terrace recreational area and enjoy lunch in a restaurant in the park. After lunch, stop by Cihmu Bridge (Motherly Devotion Bridge), a suspension bridge made of marble and named by Late President Chiang Jing-guo after a heart-warming story about a loving mother. Next, head to the Tunnel of Nine Turns, considered to be the most scenic section of Taroko Gorge. Visit the Eternal Spring Shrine, which commemorates the 225 military veterans who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. Go to a local marble factory, where you can buy some souvenirs and take a walk to the romantic Qixingtan, a pebble beach where the mountains meet the sea. Your 14-hour adventure then ends with drop-off at Taipei Main Station.