- the TAROKO gorge - (3) -
featuring
The Lushui Trail
The Lushui trail is another
one of those age old tracks that the original people in this region used
to get around long before the Zhongbu highway was built. Contrary
to the Shakadang trail, this trail actually follows the Taroko Gorge, but
high above the present highway and the Liwu river. Originally it
was not quite as wide as it is now, because the japanese invasion force
used it and needed more space for heavier weapons, when they fought the
natives.
We started the trip in village
Tianxiang, and followed the Zhongbu Cross Island Highway the first couple
of kilometers, before we reached the trail going up the gorge wall.
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On the way to the Lushui trail
along the Liwu river and the Zhongbu highway.
On the Nine Lotus Mountain
in the background you can see the Xiangde temple at Tianxiang where we
started out.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A look into the Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A small waterfall.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Another good look into the
Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Finally! On the Lushui
trail. Kit Yu leads as usual, because I am busy with my camera.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A small stream crossing the
Lushui trail.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A small suspension bridge across
the stream.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Kit Yu, - on the trail.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Question: "A tunnel!
- Do I really have to enter this????" Answer: "Yes, - you have to
enter this!"
This tunnel is quite long,
- and pitch dark -, you have to feel your way ahead.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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In the tunnel, - lightened
by my camera flash. Can finally see the light at the end.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Great scenery at the other
end of the tunnel.
To the left you can see the
trail ahead, - way above the Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A view into the Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Kit Yu, - taking the lead on
the trail.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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The trail.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Liwu river
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Magnificent marble rocks along
the river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Kit Yu, - on the trail.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A waterfall.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A waterfall, - more close.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Waterfall to the left, - and
below to the right, - a suspension bridge over the Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Close-up of the waterfall.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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The Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A view down to the Liwu river.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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End of trail, - and back on
the Zhongbu Cross Island Highway.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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View up the gorge where the
Lushui Trail with people can be seen.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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An extra bonus: A suspension bridge!
When returning from Lushui to
our "cabin in the sky", we experienced a traffic jam. That happens
easily if there is a landslide or an accident that blocks the road and
stops all traffic for a while. But our driver pulled over, and let
us get out at the Yuewang pavilion, and there behind the pavilion was the
suspension bridge we saw from the Lushui trail.
A sign prohibited access but
our driver said: "The bridge belongs to us. It's our bridge, - you
can cross it if you like." Obviously he belonged to the original
people that had lived in these mountains for ages, and therefore he could
claim ownership.
The following pictures shows the view from this suspension bridge, - and also a vertical look straight into the gorge with the Liwu river below.
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View from the Lushui Trail
to a suspension bridge crossing the Taroko Gorge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Kit Yu on the suspension bridge
crossing the Taroko Gorge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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View to the Liwu River from
the suspension bridge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Another view to the Liwu River
from the suspension bridge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Details of the fantastic patterns
in marble rock.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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View to the Liwu River from
the suspension bridge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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A view straight into the Taroko
Gorge and Liwu river from the middle of the suspension bridge.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Kit Yu coming back from her
suspension bridge trip.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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Next morning, - at our cabin
at Buluowan -, Kit Yu surveying the weather, for the new day's adventures.
(Photography © by Karsten Petersen)
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