Nine holes, Awe-Inspiring Marvel of Nature and Craft

Nine Turns Tunnel, Xiulin, Hualien County, 972, Taiwan

Make the cave cliff look more primitive

Introduction

Located in Taroko Gorge, the Nine Turns Tunnel has a total length of 1,220 meters, making it the longest tunnel on the Central Cross-Island Highway. The Nine Turns Trail in the area is 2 kilometers long and is one of the most scenic routes in Taroko Gorge. The trail hugs the deep mountainside, offering views of the turbulent Liwu River and steep cliffs on either side. Originally an old road on the Central Cross-Island Highway, the area was developed with a plan to separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic so that visitors could more easily appreciate the valley's natural beauty. The tunnel was opened in 1996, allowing cars to travel through it and the old road was turned into a pedestrian trail, providing a peaceful environment for visitors to enjoy the scenery without any vehicles passing by. The simple tunnels and carved marks left on the mountain walls from the original road construction still remain. Additionally, early Japanese settlers who came to extract gold from Liwu River also created a "gold-harvesting road," the outline of which is still visible today. The Nine Turns Trail is a popular tourist destination due to its easy-to-walk, wide and smooth surface, and is also an outdoor geology classroom.