***Note: All bus services (including buses 310, 302, 1133, and 1141) between the Taroko Visitor Center and Tianxiang (the Taroko Gorge section) have been suspended due to severe damage caused by the April 3 (0403) earthquake and typhoons in 2024 to the road, scenic spots, and trails along Provincial Highway 8, specifically the Taroko Gorge section between Taroko and Tianxiang.
The TaiwanTrip Bus (Tourist Shuttle Bus) #310, operated by Ubus, currently provides service from Hualien Bus Station (located in front of Hualien Railway Station), via Qixingtan Beach, to the Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitor Center, before returning along the same route to Hualien Station.
The Taroko 302 e-Bus, operated by Taroko Bus Company, currently runs from Xincheng Train Station to the Taroko Visitor Center (National Park Headquarters) and then returns on the same route to Xincheng Train Station.
Renting a car or taking a taxi into the Taroko gorge section is not safe due to the high risk of falling rocks. Unless absolutely necessary, please do not enter the gorge section (Taroko184.5 km – Tianxiang 167.4 km) on the Provincial Highway 8. The east side of the park (Taroko Gorge section) is not open yet including the scenic spots and trails.
The original Tourist Bus 302 only ran to the Taroko Visitor Center. After the 403 Earthquake in 2024, to revitalize the surrounding business district, the Hualien County Government and the Taroko Bus Company discussed adding the “302A Xincheng Old Town Loop Line” route starting August 15, 2024. This new route will include a Northern Loop Line (08:10-15:50) and a Southern Loop Line (08:50-16:00). Both the starting point and ending point are at Xincheng Railway Station. The Northern Loop Line travels towards the Old Street of Xincheng, while the Southern Loop Line heads towards Sanzhan village. This addition provide new choices for tourism, also allows tourists to visit the old town of Xincheng, where residents have convenient public transportation.
*1. Taiwan Trip website (Tourist Shuttle Bus): [Link] East Taiwan- Hualien, Taroko Route #310 bus
*2. Ubus #1133 [Link], Service telephone no.:+0800-676676.
*3. Taroko Bus #302 [Link], Service telephone no.: 0800-827-656
Bus schedules are available from # iBus Info System, and please check Route Search/ Search by Bus Operator/ Please click Ubus 310, 1133, or Taroko Bus 302.
Please consult News > FAQ on our website. FAQ: “The east side of Taroko Gorge is closed after the April 3rd, 2024 earthquake. How can I plan my itinerary?”
Touring Taroko Gorge (Trails and scenic spots are NOT open. Please adjust your plans.)
Due to the severe damage caused by the April 3 (0403) Earthquake and typhoons in 2024, trails and scenic spots in the Taroko Gorge area remain closed. The reopening dates for these areas are uncertain. Please adjust your plans and consider visiting other scenic attractions in Taiwan that were not affected by the earthquake, such as Yehliu Geopark, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Yangmingshan National Park, or Kenting National Park.
Taroko Bus 302 departs from Xincheng (Taroko) Train Station and stops at the Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitor Center, which is approximately 7–8 minutes (5 km) from the station, then returns to Xincheng (Taroko) Railway Station.
Taiwan Trip Bus Time and Route
TaiwanTrip bus Taroko Route (Tourist Shuttle Bus) (via Qixintan beach) head to Taroko National Park Headquarters visitor center. Starting from Hualien Bus Terminal to Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitio Center is about 1 hr and 30 minutes.
- Notice: Please check bus schedules before taking buses. Please confirm the bus schedules directly with bus companies in case of any recent changes.
- The following trails are closed due to severe damage caused by the 2024 April 3 Earthquake and typhoons.
A: Trails closed along the Taroko Gorge section of Provincial Highway 8 (Central Cross-Island Highway), from Taroko to Tianxiang, on the east side of the park.
Grade 0:
Taroko Terrace Trail (located at Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitor Center)
Grade 1:
Shakadang Trail
Buluowan Lower Terrace Trail: (1) Meander Core Trail and (2) Idas Trail (including Buluowan Suspension Bridge)
Yanzikou Trail (Swallow Grotto Trail)
Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail (Jiuqudong Trail)
Lushui Trail
Baiyang Trail
Grade 2:
Dekalun Trail
Xiaozhuilu Trail
Eternal Spring Shrine Trail (Changchun Shrine Trail)
Huoran Pavilion Trail
Grade 3:
Zhuilu Old Road
Lushui-Wenshan Trail
Dali-Datong Trail
Grade 4:
Mt. Qingshui Trail
B: Trails closed along Provincial Highway 9 (Su-hua Highway)
Grade 1:
Chongde Trail
Huide Trail
How can I reach Mt. Hehuan from Hualien?From East Taiwan Hualien to Mt. Hehuan (Hehuanshan) :
There exists no direct public transport from Hualien to Mt. Hehuan.
However, Bus #1141 departs from Hualien TRA Train Station to Lishan, passing by Dayuling about 3 hours bus time. Dayuling is the nearest bus station to Xianfengkou at Mt. Hehuan area (5.1 km/ 1 hour and a half hour walking time). Hitchhiking is not uncommon in Taiwan's rural areas. (Note: 1141 bus services has been suspended after the April 3 (0403) earthquake and typhoons in 2024.)
Hualien #1141 bus served one bus daily between Hualien station and Lishan.
For the details of 1141 bus timetable, please check our FAQ [Link] on the website. “Transportation: How can I reach Mt. Hehuan from Hualien?”
Dayuling to Taroko or Hualien (from Dayuling to east Taiwan)
Note: All bus services (including buses 310, 302, 1133, and 1141) between the Taroko Visitor Center and Tianxiang (the Taroko Gorge section) have been suspended due to severe damage caused by the April 3 (0403) earthquake and typhoons in 2024 to the roads, scenic spots, and trails along Provincial Highway 8, specifically the Taroko Gorge section between Taroko and Tianxiang.
Hualien Bus 1141 [Link] at Dayuling heading towards Taroko, one bus daily only (East Bond). If tourists miss the bus, walk eastwards to Guanyuan (about 4.5km/an hour on foot). You can stay in Kuanyun Youth Hostel (04-25991173) at Guanyuan.
How can I reach Mt. Hehuan by private car from Hualien?
- For those opting to use private transport, visitors can take Provincial Highway 9 from Hualien to the Taroko National Park Visitor Center, then taking Provincial Highway 8 (the Central Cross-Island Highway) from the Park Headquarters Visitor Center to Dayuling (about 79 km/ 2hr by car), and then taking Provincial Highway 14A (14Jia) from Dayuling to Xiaofengkou- the Mt. Hehuan Service Station for the Mt. Hehuan areas.
- Please be aware that there is snow control in the higher elevation sections of Provincial Highway 14A (14Jia) in the winter season, and occasional road works within Taroko National Park, which are listed on the Park Website “New/ Roads and Trails”. [Link] Please click Road Condition/ Central Cross-Island Highway / Expand all.
How can I reach Mt. Hehuan (Hehuanshan) from Taichung by public transportation?
- Option 1: From West Taiwan- Taichung (Eastbound):
A series of 3 buses connects Taichung to the trailhead of Mt. Hehuan Main Peak, Mt. Hehuan East Peak, Mt. Shimen, Mt. Hehuan North Peak and Mt. Hehuan West Peak. Leg 1: Taichung bus station – Puli (Nantou Buses #6670 via Taichung HSR Station (Taichung – Puli), 70 mins); Leg 2: Puli – Qingjing Farm (Nantou Bus #6658, 70 mins); Leg 3: Qingjing Farm – via Songxue Lodge – Xiaofengkou (Nantou Bus #6658A, 1 hr). Nantou Bus Company recommends visitors to take Bus #6670 leaving Taichung Gancheng Bus Station at 08:20 and 11:15 (Taichung HSR Station at 08:40 and 11:35 respectively) to be able to reach Songxue Lodge at 11:50 and 15:30 respectively and to the final stop at Xiaofengkou at 12:00 and 15:40 respectively. Bus schedules are available from # iBus Info System, and please check Route Search/ Search by Bus Operator. Please check Nantou Bus #6670, #6658, and 6658A. Or # Nantou Bus Company website (Chinese version only). Please confirm the above schedules directly with Nantou Bus Company in case of any recent changes.
- Option 2: From North Taiwan- Taipei bus station:
Take a bus from Taipei to Puli, then change a bus from Puli to Mt. Hehuan areas. See the above Leg 2 and Leg 3 Nantou bus company info.
From Nantou County Qingjin Farm to Mt. Hehuan areas:
- From Qingjin Farm (Nantou County) to Xiaofengkou (Mt. Hehuan Service Station and Mt. Hehuan areas)
A bus served daily by Nantou Bus Company from Qingjin Farm guest house to Xiaofengkou. (Tel: +886-49-2984031)
Bus #6658A - Qingjing Farm 08:20, 11:10, 14:30 -- —50 minutes — Songxue Lodge 09:10, 12:00, 15:30 —10 minutes ---- Xiaofengkou 09:20, 12:10, 15:40
- From Xiaofengkou (Altitude 3000 m) to Qingjin Farm (Altitude 1700-2000 m)
Bus #6658A- 9:40, 12:30, 15:50 Xiaofengkou – 10 minutes – Songxue Lodge 9:50, 12:40, 16:00 – 50 minutes --- Qingjin Farm10:40, 13:30, 16:50
Tourists would like to visit the Mt. Hehuan North Peak trail or the Mt. Hehuan West Peak trail. The above mentioned buses are recommended. Mt. Hehuan North Peak is en route to Mt. Hehuan West Peak. However, please note that the hike from Xiaofengkou to Mt. Hehuan West Peak and back takes roughly two days. Please exercise caution.
There is no lodging available at Xiaofengkou. Please book Songxue Lodge (Altitude 3158 m) in advance. Room Booking: [Link]
Suggestion Box: [Link]
The fastest and economical ways to reach Sun Moon Lake is from Taipei.
* There is no direct transport from Taroko National Park to Sun Moon Lake.
- Option 1 (the most economical): Departing at Taipei:
Taking a Kouguang Bus #1833 (Taipei Bus Station Phone Number: +886-2-25583060) (4 hr/ NT$467 ) from Taipei bus station to Sun Moon Lake.
- Option 2 (The fastest): Departing from Taipei to Taichung:
High Speed Train (47 minutes – 1hr/NT$700) + change a bus at Taichung to Sun Moon Lake: a TaiwanTrip Bus #6670 from Taichung bus station to Sun Moon Lake (paid by Taipei Metro easy card or i-Pass or i-Cash, or paid by cash/ 1hr 45 minutes bus time)
- Option 3: Departing from Taipei train station:
Taking a train to Taichung and change a bus
Option 1: Local train: about 3 hr or Chu-Kuang Semi-Express
Option 2: Ziqiang (Tze- Chiang Express) train about 2 hr
Option 3 Puyuma or Tailuge(Taroko) (Express) train: about 1 hr and 38 minutes
Then change a TaiwanTrip Bus at Taichung bus station to Sun Moon Lake (paid by Taipei Metro easy card or I-pass or I-cash, or paid by cash)/ 1hr 45 minutes bus time).
- Or from Taichung Bus Station to Sun Moon Lake:
#6670 Bus run by Nantou Bus Company [Link]:
or TaiwanTrip Bus [Link] #6670 bus (West Taiwan/ Nantou County)
- Or from Puli (Nantou County) to Sun Moon Lake:
#6668 Bus (Nantou Bus Company [Link]#6668 bus
Or bus schedules are available from # iBus Info System, and please check Route Search/ Search by Bus Operator/ Please click Nantou Bus, 6670 or 6668.
Notice:
Please also note that bus schedules and routes are subject to change, and that tourists should check with the respective bus companies prior to your departure.