The Baiyang Trail (白楊步道) is a popular scenic hiking trail located in the internationally renowned Taroko National Park in eastern Taiwan’s Hualien County. Its entrance is about 300 meters (984 feet) away from Tianxiang (天祥) on the Central Cross-Island Highway.
The trail is a family-friendly hiking path featuring tunnels, valleys, cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, and a suspension bridge that offers spectacular views of the double waterfalls and the valley.
For more photos of the Baiyang Trail in the Taroko National Park in Taiwan, please watch the following video.
History
The Baiyang Trail was originally a route built by the Taiwan Power Company in 1984 for the purpose of constructing a hydroelectric power station along the Liwu River in that area.
The hydroelectric project was approved by the Taiwan government in 1979. It included damming many parts of the beautiful Taroko Gorge in the national park. However, the plan encountered strong opposition from local environmental groups. Eventually, the government decided to cancel the project in 1986.
Thanks to the establishment of Taroko National Park in the same year, the construction route was converted into a hiking trail and has become a popular scenic attraction.
The Baiyang Trail is one of the “must-see” trails in Taroko National Park. It is a vibrant hiking trail that has so much to offer. Not only can visitors appreciate the spectacular scenery, but they can also explore the wildly breathtaking valleys, canyons, cliffs, rapids, and abundant ecology along the 2.1-kilometer (1.3-mile) trail.
After a renovation project was launched by the Taroko National Park Administration in 2018, Baiyang Trail is nowadays easily accessible to all including those in wheelchairs or strollers.
However, when trekking along the Bai Yang path, it becomes a thrilling experience to walk through a dark tunnel with no end in sight.
In 2019, Baiyang Trail also won the “Eco-friendly Special Award” for the Recreation Award category in the Sixth Taiwan Landscape Architecture Awards organized by the Taiwan Institute of Landscape Architects (TILA).
The tunnels
Along the Baiyang Trail, there are a total of eight tunnels of different lengths. All of these tunnels pass through the massive green mountains along the trail, and the eighth tunnel is the so-called Water Curtain Cave.
Some of the tunnels are straight, and visitors can see the light at the end. Others however are curved, and handrails are thoughtfully installed to ensure visitors’ safety. Tap-lights are also installed in some tunnels to reduce the disturbance to the bats resting in the tunnels.
It is exciting to see the picturesque mountain view when looking out of the tunnels from within. Though many visitors may like to enjoy an atmosphere of mystery and romance in the dark, it is advisable to take along a flashlight while walking in these tunnels.
After passing through the seventh tunnel, the Baiyang Suspension Bridge immediately comes into view. It offers astonishing views of the waterfall and the river valley. The suspension bridge is also a great spot to take in the stunning views of the water roaring as it plunges into a deep pool in the river with its amazing rocks.
The Baiyang Waterfall
Opposite the exit of the seventh tunnel is the Baiyang Waterfall. This majestic fall was formerly called the Daoulas Waterfall by the aborigines, which means the waterfall cascading down the cliffs.
The Baiyang Waterfall towers about 200 meters (656 feet) in height. It cascades down over the cliff in the valley in two tiers, leaving visitors in awe of the beauty and power of nature. It is the highest and the most spectacular waterfall in the Taroko National Park.
The Water Curtain Cave (Shui Lian Dong)
The cream of the crop of the Baiyang Trail is the Water Curtain Cave. Upon arriving at its entrance, what comes into sight is a pleasing scene of clean and cold water flowing out of the cave.
There is a well-paved narrow walking path along the wall on one side of the cave. However, it is more interesting to walk on the streambed in the middle to feel the cold flowing water than to walk along the elevated block path.
When exploring the cave, it is especially thrilling to experience the fresh water gushing out of the cracks of the ceiling at the end of the 100-m (328-ft) tunnel. To avoid getting soaking wet by the water from above, it is strongly suggested that visitors wear a raincoat and take off their shoes before entering the cave.
In fact, the Water Curtain Cave was formed by accident. When the construction route for the planned hydroelectric power station was built, an aquifer in the rock was ruptured. As a result, the water naturally filters through the rock to constantly gush out of the ceiling of the tunnel.
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