The elevation of Taroko National Park ranges from sea level up to 3,700 meters and consists of different climatic zones. As a result, all the kinds of vegetation found on Taiwan (excepting those peculiar to sandy soils, sea shore forests, and the offshore islands) are represented within the park: for example, alpine juniper forest, dwarf bamboo formation, fir, hemlock, spruce, Pine, hardwoods, Taroko oak and Chinese photinia. According to preliminary investigations, more than 2,093 species of native vascular plants grow within the park, 132 of these being rare or endangered species.
Among the most spectacular sights of the gorge are the mountains, some of them over 3,000 meters high. Changes in vegetation as the elevation changes can be seen traveling along the Central Cross-Island Highway. This is only the beginning of the wonders. The Yushan cane grasslands or (dwarf bamboo), dotted with conifers and high mountain juniper trees with their twisted roots and intricate gnarls, is an impressive sight. There are many flowers on high mountain peaks, such as the Nakotaizan Epilobium (Epilobium nankotaizanense), Hypericum nagaswia (Guttiferea), Rhododendron noriakianum (Ericaceae) and leontopodium microphyllum (Compositae), which entangle themselves with the high mountain juniper among the hard rock and gravel. They are surely miracles of nature!
