The last supply station in Taroko Gorge is the Tianxiang Recreation Area, which includes the Silks Place Taroko hotel, the China Youth Corps Tianxiang Youth Activity Center, a Catholic church, a Protestant church, dining establishments, and a 7-11 convenience store. After crossing the Pudu Bridge and walking along the Xiangde Temple Trail, you can see a 26-meter-high statue of the White-robed Guanyin, the seven-story Tianfeng Pagoda, a solemn statue of Kṣitigarbha, and the magnificent Mahavira Hall. This area caters to various needs, and we used it for lunch and a restroom break before continuing our journey towards the controlled section.

Taroko Gorge requires considerable time to explore all its attractions, and many areas need to be accessed on foot. However, some areas and trails may take some time to recover after the earthquake on April 3, 2024.





Right across from the parking lot is the exciting convenience store, which I personally think is the most convenient facility here. The downside is that the area is surrounded by many monkeys. They are not afraid of people and even seem to be waiting for you to come out of the convenience store so they can snatch your food.


There is a row of snack shops and stir-fry restaurants, but the prices are not very appealing, considering they are located in the mountains. The taste is just average!



In Tianxiang, you don't have to worry about not seeing monkeys—they are almost everywhere. The concern is that tourists, not paying attention, might find them cute at first and get too close. This can be dangerous, as the monkeys can easily snatch things from your hands. It's best to keep your distance and avoid holding any food. When you see them, it's wise to move away quickly. Once you find yourself surrounded by a group of monkeys, you won't find them cute anymore!


We saw some tourists ignoring the warnings and getting their things snatched by monkeys right on the spot!