When most people think of Taiwan, they picture the bustling city of Taipei with its many monuments, museums, and endless food options. But Taiwan is much more than that: just outside its busy city streets lies a natural world with unique features that set Taiwan apart from the rest of the world as a natural paradise.
Taroko National Park
Taroko Gorge is perhaps the most notable natural wonder of Taiwan. The sprawling gorge cuts through the Central Mountains of the big island with vibrant blue waters of Liwu River contrasting against the marble and stone that lay beneath.
Not only is Taroko National Park a geological wonder, but it is an important landmark for Taiwan. The Taroko people still occupy the mountains, some makeshift homes can even be seen from the trails. These indigenous peoples also use the trails as a throughway for trade.
Farther down Changchun Shrine trail, you will come across the Eternal Spring Shrine which the trail is named for. This shrine is built to honor those who lost their lives or were injured building the highway which connects the East and West sides of the big island. The Shrine is deliberately placed against the mountainside, becoming one with the landscape, with a bridge crossing the waterfall of spring water that flows into the gorge.