General Question 4: Can I take a bus or drive my car to visit the Taroko Gorge section after the 403 (April 3rd) earthquake? Is the bus service currently operating normally? More promotion
Answer 4:
TaiwanTrip Bus (Tourist Shuttle Bus) #310, operated by Ubus, currently offers services from Hualien Bus Station (located in front of Hualien Railway Station) via Qixingtan Beach to the Taroko National Park Headquarters Visitor Center and then returns on the same route to Hualien Station. The Taroko 302 e-Bus, operated by Taroko bus company, currently operates from Xincheng Train Station to the Taroko Visitor Center (National Park Headquarters) and then returns on the same route to Xincheng Train Station. All bus services between the Taroko Visitor Center and Tianxiang (the Taroko Gorge section) have been suspended due to severe damage to the road, scenic spots, and trails on Provincial Highway 8.
Although Provincial Highway No. 8 has been reopened to traffic since August 2024, it remains under time-restricted access due to ongoing road construction. Daily traffic is released five times: 07:00–08:00, 10:00-10:05, 12:00–13:00, 15:00-15:05 and 16:30–17:30. From 17:30 to 18:00, vehicles are allowed to exit but not enter, and the highway is closed at night. Road surfaces and guardrails have not yet been fully repaired, and the risk of falling rocks remains high, especially after heavy rain or earthquakes. Entry is not advised unless absolutely necessary.
The original Tourist Bus 302 only ran to the Taroko Visitor Center. After the 403 Earthquake, to revitalize the surrounding business district, the Hualien County Government and the Taroko Bus Company discussed adding the “302A Xincheng Old Street 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 streets of Xincheng, where residents have convenient public transportation. And also suggests that you can participate in Hualien's Qingshui Cliff SUP (Stand Up Paddle)- related activities, which are great choices, or Xincheng, Chongde and other characteristics of the lodging and so on.
Note: The electronic tickets mentioned above (including EasyCard, iPass, iCash, and other electronic payment methods) can be purchased at any Taipei MRT station, Taiwan Railways station, or 7-Eleven convenience store. Please remember to top up your card with sufficient funds to cover the bus fare.
The 4 routes are as follow:
Hualien:
(1) 310 bus,
(2) 304 Hualien East Coast Route, a day trip (Cruise-type-a set tour, Hua Lien Bus Co. Booking Tel: +886-38-461899)
(3) 303B/C/D a day trip or a half day trip (Cruise-type-a set tour, Tailuge Bus Co. Booking Tel: +886-38-630080) or
(4) 309 a day trip, (Cruise-type-a set tour, Xindong Bus Co. Booking Tel: +886-89-333443)
Note: Cruise-type (a set tour) buses need to be booked in advance on the website or booked by phone, if not booked can not be taken, one-day tour or half-day tour of the cruise-type tours, as a package tour, you still need to pay for the package tour fees. (e.g. bus fare, admission fees, and insurance, etc., the actual charges depend on the above mentioned bus companies.) You are requested pay for the Cruise-type tour fare with electronic tickets (EasyCard, i-Pass and i-Cash) for the trip fee.
Note:
Cruise-type tour buses (package tours) must be reserved in advance, either online or by phone. Passengers without a prior reservation will not be able to board. One-day or half-day cruise-type tours are operated as package tours, and passengers are required to pay the package tour fare, which may include bus transportation, admission fees, insurance, and other related charges. Actual fees are subject to the terms and pricing set by the respective bus operators.
Passengers are required to pay the cruise-type tour fare using electronic tickets (EasyCard, iPASS, iCash, or other electronic payment methods), as accepted by the operating bus companies.
Tourists are advised to use e-tickets (EasyCard, iPASS, iCash, or other electronic payments) when taking Taiwan Tour Bus cruise-type tours.
We recommend joining a Taiwan Tour Bus one-day tour departing from Hualien Bus Station, located in front of Hualien Railway Station, between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM on the day of your visit. Currently, two routes are available: the East Rift Valley Line and the Taroko Line.
For more information, please visit the TaiwanTrip Tourist Shuttle Bus website or the Taiwan Tour Bus official website, where you can check available routes and make reservations in advance.
To make a reservation, please enter the website and select a route by clicking “E” (East Taiwan), then choose Hualien to book a Cruise-Type tour. Online ticket purchasing is available until 12:00 noon on the day before departure.