Here are the highlights of the 8-day, 1300 Km (808 miles) trip. Remember to switch to UTF-8 browser encoding if you can’t see the Chinese characters.
[color=black]HeLiu Camping Ground (合流露營區) near TianXiang (天祥) in Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) [/color]
The campsite is free, no reservation, first-come-first-served.
[color=black]Setting up My Tent at HeLiu Camping Ground[/color]
There are full facilites, incluidng fire pits, tables, restrooms, showers, etc.
[color=black]Close-up Scenery at HeLiu Camping Ground[/color]
The site has an up-close view of waterfalls and the river below.
[color=black]Mrs. Pinesay Taking a Rest[/color]
Mrs. Pinesay comes down to Taroko for one day. HeLiu is a great place to spend a few days “car camping” style.
[color=black]Outdoor Kitchen[/color]
Tired of instant noodles? Private fire pits make BBQ easy.
[color=black]Continuing on the Cross-Island Highway (8 & 14甲)[/color]
This was the most beautiful part of my trip. Road conditions OK.
[color=black]Convenient Pit Stop along the Way[/color]
[color=black]Dreamy Landscape[/color]
These views are typical of the Cross-Island Highway.
[color=black]Watercolor Sunsets[/color]
[color=black]Reaching the Summit at HeHuanShan (合歡山)[/color]
Crisp, clear, sunny and cold (even in July). Going over the previous day was 10 degrees at dusk.
[color=black]Man & Vespa[/color]
This is the highest point on Taiwan’s highway system (3275 meters or 10,745 feet). My 125 cc engine almost didn’t make it over the mountain. The air is thin.
[color=black]Looking Down to WuShe (霧社)[/color]
Looking over HeHuanShan down towards WuShe.
[color=black]Sunmoon Lake[/color]
It is a nice place … but overhyped as the honeymoon destination.
[color=black]Entering Yushan National Park (玉山國家公園)[/color]
The road (21 & 18) will be a disaster for the forseeable future.
[color=black]Yushan Tea Plantations[/color]
Visit and tour tea plantations. Go tea tasting.
[color=black]Extreme Example of “Rockslide”[/color]
How nice of that boulder to leave me one side of the road.
[color=black]Obstacle Course of Rocks (zoom out photo)[/color]
Most rocks are actually fist-sized. However, those are the dangerous ones if you hit them wrong with your tire.