Silks Place Taroko: The Only Mountainside Hotel in Taroko National Park

Tucked in Hualien County at the eastern part of Taiwan, is the only 5-star mountainside hotel within the Taroko National Park. Silks Place Taroko takes the area’s cultural and environmental characteristics as it’s inspiration and has incorporated it into it’s design to give you an impeccable experience.

Taroko is named after the Taroko Gorge and the Taroko Tribe, the indigenous people that reside in the area. If you’re looking for a place to truly getaway from the city centre and immerse yourself in history, culture and mother nature’s masterpiece, Silks Place Taroko is a hidden gem that is waiting to be explored.

Why you should stay at Silks Place Taroko?

Pumped to explore Silks Place Taroko! As the only mountainside hotel within Taroko National Park, there is so much to uncover here. Here is an overview of Silks Place Taroko by floor.

Basement 1

Sauna

Opening Hours:
09:00 – 21:30

The Sauna is available upon reservation for a maximum of 4pax for each 90mins sessions.

Indoor Swimming Pool

Opening Hours:
09:00 – 13:00, 15:00 – 21:00

The indoor pool is conveniently located beside the recreation centre for adults and children.

Recreation Centre

Opening Hours:
09:00 – 21:30

Keep your children entertained in a spacious Kid’s Play Room within the Recreation Centre where they can have fun in the Baby Playground and Climbing Playground, play interactive games such as Table Tennis or participate in DIY Workshop.
1st Floor

Wellesley Buffet Restaurant

Breakfast: 07:30 – 11:00
Lunch: 11:30 – 14:00
Afternoon Tea: 14:30 – 16:00
Dinner: 17:20 – 19:00, 18:30 – 20:10, 19:30 – 21:10

Breakfast: Adult NT$780 +10%, Child (Age 6-12) NT$380 +10%
Dinner: Adult NT$1280 +10%, Child (Age 6-12) NT$780 +10%
Corkage: NT$300 per bottle, Spirits NT$500 per bottle.

*Reservations for hotel guests only.

Wellesley Buffet Restaurant comes with an indoor and outdoor dining option that serves fresh local ingredients with international cooking techniques in a buffet setting.

The Mei Yuan Restaurant

Lunch: 12:00 – 14:00
Dinner: 17:10 – 19:00, 19:40 – 21:00

Lunch/Dinner: Adult NT$1280 +10%, Child (Age 6-12) NT$780 +10%
Corkage: NT$300 per bottle, Spirits NT$500 per bottle.

Mei Yuan, meaning plum garden, was named after the trees located in front of the hotel, which was a popular stop for Jiang Kai-shek on his routine tours of the area. Private dining rooms are available.

Note: Reservations for hotel guests only.
2nd Floor

The Shop

Opening Hours:
09:30 – 21:00

The Shop offers light produce, souvenirs and hotel exclusive products.

Wellspring Spa

Opening Hours:
13:30 – 22:00

Relax and rejuvenate in Silks Place Taroko’s Wellspring Spa with a breath-taking view of the Taroko Gorge.
Roof Floor

Retreat Lounge

Breakfast: 07:30 – 11:00
Happy Hour: 13:00 – 18:00
Afternoon Tea: 15:00 – 18:00
Dinner: 19:00 – 21:00

The Retreat Lounge provides exclusive lounge service for Retreat guests with the best view of the Taroko Gorge. The Retreat Set Menu introduces seasonal delicacies specially made with fresh ingredients which are available for booking on Saturdays and consecutive holidays.

Note: Reservations for hotel guests only.

Fireplace

Song & Dance Hours:
20:30 – 21:30

Enjoy the sound of Formosa under the moonlight with an exclusive indigenous song and dance around the Fireplace.

Outdoor Swimming Pool

Opening Hours:
07:30 – 12:00, 13:00 – 18:00, 19:00 – 22:00

Movie Screening:
21:50 – 23:30

Take a swim in Silks Place Taroko’s hightlight, the infinity pool with a mountain view, while you watch a movie under the stars.

Note: Movie will be cancelled if it rains.

Yoga & Fitness Room

Opening Hours:
07:00 – 22:00

Exercise with a view of the mountain with a full floor to ceiling glass panel with natural light and comes with a yoga room fully equipped with mats and towels.

Tennis Court

Opening Hours:
10:00 – 18:00

The Tennis Court is available upon reservation for a maximum of 4pax. Free racquets and practice balls available for rental for each 90mins sessions.

Amenities

Outdoors

Upon arrival at Silks Place Taroko, we were escorted into the Retreat Lounge located at the Roof Top. I was immediately greeted by this jaw-dropping sight of the mountain right by a fire pit, pool and jacuzzi. The Roof Top is the highlight of Silks Place Taroko as the view is absolutely stunning and a lot goes on here.

Outdoor Swimming Pool
Outdoor Jacuzzi
Outdoor Movie Screening
Firepit Song & Dance

Indoors

Even though most of the activities happens outdoors, don’t forgo what Silks Place Taroko offers indoors! When it starts to rain or if the Outdoor Pool is closed, head over to Basement 1 where the Indoor Pool and Recreation Pool is located and it is less crowded.

Indoor Swimming Pool
Table Tennis in Recreation Room
Billiard in Recreation Room

Silks Place Taroko: The Only Mountainside Hotel in Taroko National Park Indoor Swimming Pool

Accommodations

Here are the rooms and suites that are available in Silks Place Taroko.

Rooms	Lounge Access	Bathtub	Size
Garden View Room	–	✓	36 sqm
Japanese Room	–	✓	36 sqm
Gorge View Room	–	✓	36 sqm
Gorge View Room with Balcony	–	✓	36 sqm
Gorge View Suite	–	✓	96 sqm
Honeymoon Studio	Retreat Lounge	✓	36 sqm
Honeymoon Studio	Retreat Lounge	✓	42 sqm
Garden View Suite	Retreat Lounge	✓	63 sqm
River View Suite	Retreat Lounge	✓	63 sqm
Mei Yuan Suite	Retreat Lounge	✓	78 sqm
Taroko Gorge Suite	Retreat Lounge	✓	63 sqm
Taroko Gorge Suite with Terrace	Retreat Lounge	✓	114 sqm
Silks Suite	Retreat Lounge	✓	216 sqm

ROOMS & SUITES

Garden View Suite

I stayed in the Garden View Suite that also included access to the Retreat Lounge. The room is massive! It was so big, I couldn’t find my luggage that was already sent to the room upon our arrival, lol. I was so amused and touched by what they did here as a welcome surprise.

Thank you to the team at Silks Place Taroko, you picked the right photo, I could cry, I was so touched. Its not every day that I get to see myself on TV so excuse me as I take this main character moment in.

The bathroom is massive too. It felt like a spa on it’s own with bath salts, toiletries from Aesop and aromatherapy candles to go along with that. As always, I spent too much time in the bath.

It even comes with walk-in wardrobe and vanity table with a seat to blow your hair, dress up and get ready. Although it’s a big bathroom, I really like how everything is organised and easily accessible.

Silks Place Taroko left a good night tea in my suite while I was away to unwind after a busy day of exploring. Very thoughtful and just what I needed.

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Dining

The Retreat Lounge

Silks Place Taroko Retreat Lounge Review

Since I stayed in the Garden View Suite, I was granted access to the Retreat Lounge. It offers the best view of the Taroko Gorge and is located just by the Outdoor Pool. I had the exclusive opportunity to experience Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Happy Hour and Dinner here.

Tel: +886 3 869 1290
Email: taroko_fb@silksplace-taroko.com.tw

For breakfast, I had the Chinese Set Menu.

Salted Soybean Milk
Congee (Seafood included)
Chinese Side Dishes

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For Afternoon Tea and Happy Hour, enjoy western and traditional snacks and free flow of wine.

We had a Rainbow Sorbet that came in so many yummy fruity flavours. It was fun matching the taste to each colour.

Rainbow Sorbet
Flavours include Red Dragon Fruit, Orange, Mango Kiwi, Citrus Sweet Wine, Black Currant, Purple Sweet Potato.

Price: NT$580 +20% per set

For dinner, we had a customised Chef’s Table menu dinner where you will be served with Taroko’s native seasonal delicacies specially made with fresh and finest ingredients.

Sparkling Millet Wine
Hualien Roselle, Organic Lettuce, Whole Wheat Sunflower Seed White Jade Snail, Soursop Oil and Vinegar Dressing
Guanshan Rice, Salmon Roe Risotto
Grilled Lobster wuth White Sauce and Black Truffle Sauce, Seasonal Local Vegetables
Hualien Yuanxing Wagyu
Scallops, Matsutake Mushrooms, Luffa, Clear Chicken Soup with Tea Fragrance
Local spices to go along with the delicious cuisines

Activities

Beach Picnic

Silks Place Taroko provides a camping-style Beach Picnic experience in partnership with camping brand Outdoorbase and outdoor activity provider The 56 Outdoor. Set against the backdrop of the magnificent Qingshui Cliffs, you too can indulge in a selection of delicious afternoon snacks while basking in the idyllic surroundings fit for a Taiwanese drama set!

Beach Picnic Afternoon Tea Set
Scallion-Grilled Chicken with Purple Sweet Potato, Mini Burgers, Marinated Tender Mountain Vegetables with Bacon, Banana & Berry Cheese Thin-Crust Pizza, Citrus-Infused Scallop & Shrimp Salad, a refreshing Spanish White Wine and rejuvenating fruit-infused drink.

Along with the Beach Picnic, I also learned to drive an ATV! There was so much space to drive and it was surprisingly easy to manoeuvre. One more mission off my bucket list!

What better way to seal your summer memories in Taroko than with a professional photoshoot by the beach with these fun props.

Price: NT$3,000 per pax

Package includes Afternoon Tea, ATV driving, Photo Shoot and shuttle service to and from the beach only accessible through this package.

It is recommended to make a reservation with Silks Place Taroko one week in advance if wish to stay in Taroko for 3 days and 2 nights. A minimum of 12 participants is required for each session to proceed.

Outdoor Yoga

Silks Place Taroko Activities Yoga Review

Silks Place Taroko provides summer exclusive Forest Yoga within the Taroko Gorge, a great way to start your day immersed in nature. It was soothing to meditate to the sound of birds chirping and the river flowing.

Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail

Silks Place Taroko offers Half Day and Full Day Tours around Taroko National Park, one of the nine national parks in Taiwan.

The Tunnel of Nine Turns, Jiuqudong, allows you to come up close with one of the most scenic sections of Taroko Gorge where you can experience an impressive view of the Liwu River along the majestic mountains. The number nine is an auspicious number, which implies abundance.

TAROKO NATIONAL PARK MAP

Can you believe that this tunnel was part of the Central Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 8)? It was subsequently converted into the Tunnel of Nine Turns Tunnel in 1996. You can still see the remnants of the Old Highway especially in the central section of the trail where the original stone tunnel that penetrates the mountain walls are still intact. Manual labour is still required to pick out the hard marble as the mountain is still growing an inch every year.

Waterscape (Shuijing)
200m from the entrance of the trail, you will come close to the valley where you will experience the sounds of the Liwu River. Notice how the water is blue-grey? That’s due to the natural minerals from the surrounding marble rocks.

Fish Leaping over the Dragon’s Gate (Yuyao Longmen)
Opposite the Tunnel of Nine Turns, spot a small waterfall that cascades into the Liwu River. This steep stream of water continually erodes the walls of the gorge, creating a ravine. At the side of this ravine resembles a big carp leaping over the stream, giving its name Fish Leaping over the Dragon’s Gate. Another Easter Egg along this trail is a map of Taiwan.

Things to note at Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail:

The trail is 700 m one-way where visitors enter and exit from the West Entrance (30 mins round trip).
Sections of this trail may be prone to rockfall; please do not linger within these sections.
Only drop-off/pick-up is allowed at the trailhead. For those without a driver, please take public transport heading to Jiuqudong.

Buluowan Sightseeing

Silks Place Taroko Buluowan Trail Tour Review

Buluowan meaning Tracking Prey Land, was once inhabited by the indigenous Taroko people. It comprised of two large level river terraces that extend out from the mountain flanks 160 meters above the Liwu River. I learned that this is also Silks Place Taroko‘s symbol.

The original Changchun Bridge was damaged by floodwater in Typhoon Joan in August 1959. The second generation Changchun Bridge was built 5m higher. After over 50 years, it started to rust so Taroko National Park Headquarters rebuilt the third generation Changchun Bridge in its original style, completed in April 2014.

I had such a memorable time throughout my stay in Silks Place Taroko, from the impeccable service, the jaw-dropping spa-like suite, the gastronomical food, the fun activities and of course the magnificent sights of Taroko Gorge! It is a place that I will remember for a lifetime and is truly a hidden gem of Taiwan that should be on your bucket list.

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Getting to Silks Place Taroko

Flight

From Taipei: Depart from Song Shan Airport. Take UNI AIR Airlines to Hualien Airport (50 mins). Take the hotel shuttle bus from Hualien Airport to Silks Place Taroko.

From Taichung: Depart from Taichung Airport. Take Mandarin Airlines to Hualien Airport (50 mins). Arrange for your own transportation or with concierge from Hualien Airport to Silks Place Taroko.

From Kaohsiung: Depart from Kaohsiung Airport. Take Mandarin Airlines to Hualien Airport (55 mins). Take the hotel shuttle bus from Hualien Railway Station to Silks Place Taroko.

Train

From Taipei: Depart from Taipei Main Station. Take Zi Qiang/Taroko Express Train (Northbound) to Hualien Station (2 – 3 hours). Take the hotel shuttle bus from Hualien Railway Station to Silks Place Taroko.

From Taichung: Depart from Taichung Station. Take Zi Qiang/Taroko Express Train (Northbound) to Hualien Station (4 – 5 hours). Take the hotel shuttle bus from Hualien Railway Station to Silks Place Taroko.

From Kaohsiung: Depart from Kaohsiung Station. Take Zi Qiang/Taroko Express Train (Southbound) to Hualien Station (4 to 5.5 hours). Take the hotel shuttle bus from Hualien Railway Station to Silks Place Taroko.

Silks Place Taroko is situated within Taroko National Park so parking space is limited. Airport and Train transfers can be made before your trip. Make your reservations at least 3 days in advance.

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