Lüshui He Liu Trail: Exploring the Beauty of Ecology and Humanity Introduction
The recreational service points and various trails within Taroko National Park are currently closed, and the opening times will be announced later. For more details, please see the Liwu River Confluence Trail in Taroko National Park, which is gentle and easy to walk, retaining its original appearance, and features rich landscapes and ecological beauty, making it suitable for visitors of all ages. "Confluence" was once a timber collection area where the national government cut down trees and transported timber via cable car to this location before sending it along the Central Cross-Island Highway. After logging stopped, this area was planned as the Confluence Camping Area. The Liwu River Confluence Trail is located in the Tianxiang recreation area of Taroko National Park and consists of two trails: the Lushui Trail and the Confluence Trail. The entrance to the Lushui Trail is next to the Lushui Geological Museum, a two-story exhibition hall that introduces themes such as Earth's evolution and the changes in terrestrial landscapes. Visitors can first explore the exhibition hall for a deeper understanding of the geological formation of Taroko before entering the trail. The nature walk was originally part of the Hehuan Ridge Trail and was first developed by Japanese police to govern the Taroko tribe. After the conclusion of the Taroko Battle in 1914, the road was rebuilt, widened, and extended. In 1986, Taroko National Park was established, and the ancient path from Lushui to Confluence was renovated into the current trail, much of which retains remnants of the ancient road from the Japanese colonial period. The trail features forests, cliffs, canyons, and historical relics with rich flora and fauna. The camphor trees planted in the 1950s emit a refreshing fragrance along the trail, and visitors can also observe lithophytes and Taroko oaks. If visiting in the autumn and winter, the blue maple and red maple don bright yellow or red dresses, enriching the mountain scenery; mid-elevation birds such as the grey-throated mountain-sparrow and the crowned thrush migrate here, forming a lively symphony with the greenish white-eye, five-colored bird, and the black-headed oriole, allowing visitors to enjoy melodious sounds. Walking through here, one passes a tributary of the Liwu River, with clear and clean water, where one can sometimes hear the calls of the Swinhoe's frog and see dragonflies hovering above the water surface, with many aquatic insects hiding in the stream. Continuing onward, there is a short section of cave path; after traversing this approximately 30-meter-long cave, one emerges to a grand view, where the mountain paths become narrow, hugging the cliff walls, with sheer cliffs on the right. Standing at the cliff's edge offers a breathtaking view of the Liwu River terraces and the Liwu Valley, as well as the winding Central Cross-Island Highway amidst the mountains. Travelers can enjoy the spectacular scenery while feeling the thrill. In the latter part of the trail, there is a large stone monument carved to commemorate the Japanese police who died here, engraved with their names and dates of passing. Many similar monuments are found along the Hehuan Ridge Trail, but due to the passage of time, most have deteriorated. This monument is one of the better-preserved ones. The entire Liwu River Confluence Trail is approximately 2 kilometers one way, starting from the entrance of the Lushui Trail and exiting via the Confluence Trail, which can be completed in about an hour. The trail conditions are good, and the scenery and ecology are rich, making it an easy and suitable scenic trail for people of all ages.
Lüshui He Liu Trail: Exploring the Beauty of Ecology and Humanity 1
Lüshui Confluence Trail: Exploring the Beauty of Ecology and Culture 2
