The "Rope Suspension Bridge" on the Little Zhuilu Trail in Taroko  — A super narrow bridge that feels like tightrope walking in the air

▲ The Little Zhuilu "rope trail" that feels like tightrope walking.

▲ Scenery along the Little Zhuilu Trail. (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-chun)

Reported and photographed by Tsai Wen-chun / Hualien

One of the hottest spots in Taroko recently is the "Little Zhuilu Trail," which opened in early November last year. In just a 20-minute hike, you can enjoy the layered mountain ranges of Taroko and the Liwu River shimmering with a Tiffany blue glow. A must-see is the rope suspension bridge that spans the canyon — only one person can cross at a time. With every step, you can feel the swaying sensation akin to tightrope walking, paired with the view of the deep valley beneath your feet, offering an intense thrill.

▲ The tunnel entrance seen while walking the high-altitude trail of Little Zhuilu.

The Little Zhuilu Trail is 600 meters long, connecting the Taroko Visitor Center with the Shakadang Trail. If you walk briskly, it only takes about 20 minutes from the entrance to reach the Shakadang Trail. Visitors need to first walk through the Shakadang Tunnel, turn left after the first ventilation opening, to arrive at the entrance of the Little Zhuilu Trail.

▲ The wooden boardwalk of the Little Zhuilu Trail, with wire mesh to prevent falling rocks.

▲ From the wooden boardwalk, you can see the Liwu River dividing the mountains into two sides — the cliff landscape is why this area is called "Little Zhuilu."

▲ The 20-minute trail also features quite dramatic elevation changes.

The Little Zhuilu Trail is adjacent to the Liwu River Canyon. It's called "Little Zhuilu" because when looking downstream toward the Liwu River from the trail, the cliffs resemble those of the Zhuilu Cliffs. From here, you can overlook the wide riverbed of the lower Liwu River, stretching all the way to the horizon where the river meets the sea. The area is covered with dense forest vegetation, and the views change with the ups and downs of the wooden boardwalk — the majestic mountain and river scenery is truly impressive.

▲ The walking bridges on the Little Zhuilu Trail include both rope suspension bridges and regular wooden boardwalk bridges.

▲ The rope suspension bridge attracts many visitors who are willing to wait in line to experience it.

An unmissable experience on the trail is the "rope suspension bridge." Visitors first have to climb up to a higher set of stairs before stepping onto the bridge. The bridge is secured by layers of crisscrossed ropes, with ropes woven across the bridge surface to create a path that allows only one person to walk at a time. As soon as you step onto the bridge, you can feel the swaying sensation transmitted from your feet to your entire body, just like walking a tightrope in the air. This makes you instinctively hold onto the sides of the bridge and move forward slowly.

▲ Only one person can cross the bridge at a time.