By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
Taiwan's eastern region boasts abundant natural wonders, including the magnificent Huatung Valley and the vast Pacific coastline. Few places in the world can offer such a diverse combination of two dramatically different stunning landscapes, but Taiwan's Hualien-Taitung is one of them. Taroko National Park is a well-known attraction, but one of its lesser-known trails, the Qilu Cliff Trail, is a must-visit for hikers.
Qilu Grand Cliff stands at an altitude of about 1,100 meters (Image source / Taroko National Park)
The Qilu Cliff is entirely composed of marble rock formations. Due to continuous uplift of the terrain and strong erosive cutting by the Liwu River, which cut through the southeastern ridge of the Triangle Cone Mountain while the marble resisted collapse, the steep cliff was formed (Image source / Taroko National Park)
The Qilu Ancient Trail is located above the Qilu Cliff, stretching 16 kilometers in length between altitudes of 750 to 780 meters. With continuous cliffs along the route, some sections of the trail are as narrow as just 80 centimeters at their widest point, making it highly challenging. This area is also the only historical preservation zone within Taroko National Park.
The narrowest part of the Qilu Ancient Trail is only 80 centimeters wide (Image source / Taroko National Park)
Most parts of the Qilu Ancient Trail have been equipped with guardrails or chains (Image source / Taroko National Park)
In addition to distance markers, the Qilu Ancient Trail also features informational signs (Image source / Taroko National Park)
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