Taroko Gorge: Touring Taiwan's spectacular marble mountains 走訪台灣令人嘆為觀止的大理石山脈-太魯閣大峽谷
Taiwan (CNN)-With
soaring cliffs, plunging canyons and a base of colossal marble slabs spliced by
a torrential river, Taroko Gorge is one of Taiwan's most popular tourist attractions.
Taiwan (CNN)-太魯閣大峽谷是台灣著名的觀光景點之一，有著高聳的懸崖峭壁、陡峭的峽谷以及連接到湍急河流的巨大大理石板。
The
19-kilometer area, part of Taroko Gorge National Park, features canyon cliffs
that can soar up to 100 meters high.
在太魯閣國家公園的19公里處，以高達100公尺高的峽谷懸崖著名。
Taroko Gorge National Park
Since
being declared a national park in 1986, the 920-square-kilometer area has been
a protected reserve in the northern section of the surging Central Mountain
Range and the eastern coast of the island.
It's
connected to Taipei by the Central Cross-Island Highway, named one of the most
dangerous (yet scenic) roads in the world.
太魯閣國家公園
在聳立的中央山脈北部和東部海岸，這個面積920平方公里的地區，自1986年政府公告成立國家公園起，即成了保護區。
藉由中橫公路串連台北，這條世界最危險的公路之一，卻也是風景最美的。
It's
a ropy series of switchbacks and hairpin bends, tunnels, overhangs and jagged
drops that come in thrilling succession.
The
park's main attractions can be reached via precarious bridges, tunnels and
narrow twisting trails.
路上有一連串難行的Z型路段、髮夾彎、隧道、突出的岩石和落石，一個接一個驚險而來。
這個公園裡主要的景點都需要經過搖晃的橋、隧道和狹窄的彎道。
Towering peaks, eternal springs
Taroko
Gorge National Park has 27 of the 100 Peaks of Taiwan, a widely recognized list
of top mountains.
With
an elevation of 3,742 meters, Mount Nanhu is the fifth tallest peak in Taiwan
and is blanketed by rolling fields of dwarf bamboo.
長春祠高峰
太魯閣國家公園裡有27座山峰名列在「台灣百岳」公認評選的高峰清單中。
海拔3,742公尺的南湖大山是台灣第五高山峰，且被滿是矮竹的綿延田地覆蓋。
But
it's not all about nature.
Eternal
Spring Shrine, perched on a hill, is a majestic monastery built to commemorate
the 226 workers who were killed building the Central Cross-Island Highway.
但是不只有大自然景觀。
長春祠座落在山丘上，是一座莊嚴的寺院，建來紀念226位因開闢中橫公路而殉職的工人們。
A
bell tower and a sacred cave devoted to Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy,
can be found at the back of the temple.
Some
80% of Taiwan's animal species can also be found in the park, including the
endemic Formosan black bear and Formosan rock macaque.
在寺廟的後面，你可以發現一座鐘樓以及一座祀奉觀音菩薩的神聖的觀音洞。在這個公園裡，你也可以發現80%的台灣物種，包含特有的台灣黑熊及台灣獼猴。
Old
aboriginal settlements of the Taroko tribe still dot the area.
The
indigenous tribe -- one of 16 recognized aboriginal groups in Taiwan -- was
once famed for its facial tattoos and headhunting rituals.
太魯閣族古老的原住民村落仍分布在這裡，這個原生族群是台灣認定的16個原住民族群中的其中一個，曾經以他們的紋面和獵頭祭聞名。
A haven of hiking trails
Routes
are well maintained and frequently traveled by hikers, cyclists and
day-trippers.
Shakadang
trail is the gentlest trekking route, a pleasant 4.4-kilometer riverside hike.
Its
entrance is marked by Shakadang Bridge, embellished by 100 marble lions.
路線都維持得很好且經常有登山者、騎自行車者和一日遊遊客到此旅行。
砂卡礑步道是較平緩的遠行路線，一段沿著溪流、長約4.4公里的愉快健行。
它的入口處以100隻大理石石獅子所裝飾的砂卡礑橋為特徵。
Meanwhile
Taroko offers some grueling cycling challenges, with 3-day trails passing
through thick vegetation and tackling dizzying summits.
Free
helmets are provided by the managing park.
同時太魯閣更推出了一些激烈的單車挑戰賽，耗時三天的路徑越過雜草叢生和征服令人暈眩的山峰。
公園管理處會提供免費的安全帽。
