Story: The Jewel of Formosa: Taiwan's Taroko National Park

Hundreds of workers were killed while constructing the Central Cross Island Highway that winds its way into Taiwan’s Taroko National Park. All it takes are a few brief moments spent traveling upon the treacherous road and you’ll understand why.

One wrong step or one careless moment can quickly bring about your early demise by means of a precipitous fall into the canyon below. The road that is carved into the sides of Taroko’s mountains and cliffs is in fact so ‘dubious’ that it is routinely closed due to landslides that either obstruct it or simply cause sections of it to disappear into the river bed far below. Hairpin turns inside lightless tunnels blasted out of cliff sides add to the travel adventure and are the norm rather than the exception.

The most common approach to Taroko Gorge is from the east coast of Taiwan. Hugging one side of the road is a cliff wall that reaches hundreds of feet up into the sky. Within inches of the other side is one killer drop into the riverbed below. It isn’t recommended you drive into Taroko Gorge yourself as the road is dangerous and unpredictable and best left to professionals. Consider also that immediately upon entering Taroko (it doesn’t matter how many times) your sense of sight will be so overwhelmed that you will have precious little attention to give to driving. When the mountains are visible the lush green canopy of trees covering them meets the azure blue sky in a mesmerizing display of color. But just as often the cliff walls of the gorge are so steep and so near that all that can be seen are swirling layers of rock and marble that surround you.

Nestled on a rare piece of flatland in the middle of Taroko National Park is Tianxiang. Once a thriving aboriginal village it now serves as a sort of rest stop for the difficult drive into the gorge. Although it still retains a small aboriginal population that makes a living off of passing tourists, it also has overnight accommodations ranging from hostels to hotels. For those with a little cash to burn a stay at the Grand Formosa is an indulgence. Reclining on the edge of its rooftop pool while surrounded by Taroko’s natural beauty helps de-stress even the tensest of travelers.

Natural hot springs are also nearby the village and will be appreciated by those who like their hot springs truly hot. If you are really feeling adventurous hiking trails are also plentiful and allow you access into even more remote areas of Taroko Gorge.