Su-Hua Highway
Su-Hua Highway
4.5
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jameshuang
Taipei, Taiwan2,002 contributions
Oct 2014 • Family
Suhua Highway (蘇花公路) is the most popular, scenic, and challenging road in Taiwan, located on the east coast of Taiwan. This road starts from Suao (蘇澳) of Yilan County to Hualien City (花蓮市) of Hualien County. There are four ways that you can go from the west coast to the east coast in the north of Taiwan – air, ship, train and road. None of the other ways can compare with the breathtaking journey of the road trip. The history of the Suhua Highway can be traced back to 1874 during the Qing Dynasty where it was used for horse carriages. From 1916 to 1932, when Japanese occupied Taiwan, they renovated and broadened it several times and finally allowed cars to pass through. After WWII, government changed the name to Suhua Highway, and the name is still used today. In the beginning, some of the sections allowed only one way traffic by using the traffic control. It finally became a two-way road in 1990.
The 118 kilometer-long (73.3 mi) Suhua Highway is a part of the Provincial Highway No. 9. The road was almost impossible to build due to very steep cliffs on some sections of the highway. The famous Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖, Chingshui Cliff) is located at the southern part of the Suhua Highway. This section between Heping (和平) and Chongde tunnel (崇德隧道) covers 21 km (13 mi) of 800 m (2,625 ft) above sea level coastal cliffs. The cliffs run alongside a fault line and are comprised of marble, gneiss, and green schist. The highest peak of Qingshui Mountain is 2,408 m (7,900 ft) from the Pacific Ocean. This is the most winding and stunning section of the Suhua Highway.
We started our adventure early in the morning from Taipei. My younger brother’s family and we drove 2 cars via National Highway 5 to Suao in less than 1 hour. The weather changed from sunny in Taipei to rainy in Suao. When we entered the Suhua Highway, rain started pouring down, and we could not stop at some of the stops we have planned. We were lucky the sun was coming out when we approaching Qingshui Cliff. We stopped at the 168.7 km marker where the sign of Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) stands. We took some photos of the coast and the nearby natural rock arch tunnel. There was a rest area at the 171.7 km marker where we stopped for a bathroom break. Before the last tunnel, Chongde tunnel at the 176.4 km marker, there was another rest area where we saw the Qingshui Cliff and the road we passed appeared to be just a small line in the vertical precipice. At this rest area, we found the Chongde trail that can bring us to the beach. Unfortunately, the trail was damaged and closed due to the last typhoon. After the Chongde tunnel, we were only 8 km (5 mi) to the Taroko National Park. On the way back from Hualien, we visited one additional must-see stop at Huite Recreational Area (匯德休憩據點) at the 174.4 km marker. It is the old road to the old Qingshui Tunnel (清水隧道); it was abandoned due to a serious collapse. From here you also have a very good view of the beautiful coastline of the Suhua Highway. If you are taking a bus and sit on the top section of the ocean side, you will experience a very unique journey with the precarious drive between the cliffs on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other side. That is why whenever there is a typhoon, heavy rain, or an earthquake the road will be closed due to rockslides.
This well-known scenic highway is not used only for sightseeing purpose. There are many trucks which carry marble, limestone, gravel, and other industrial raw materials from east coast. It is quite a challenge to drive on this highway with those trucks and the winding road. There is an ongoing project to build a freeway based on the expansion of the existing highway. It is scheduled to complete in 2017, but delays are expected due to the unexpected weather, earthquakes, and geology conditions. The plan is to straighten wherever possible using old tunnels and to avoid the frequent rockslide and washout areas. After it is finished, the old road will be used for trucks and sightseeing while the new one will be used for pass through traffic.
The 118 kilometer-long (73.3 mi) Suhua Highway is a part of the Provincial Highway No. 9. The road was almost impossible to build due to very steep cliffs on some sections of the highway. The famous Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖, Chingshui Cliff) is located at the southern part of the Suhua Highway. This section between Heping (和平) and Chongde tunnel (崇德隧道) covers 21 km (13 mi) of 800 m (2,625 ft) above sea level coastal cliffs. The cliffs run alongside a fault line and are comprised of marble, gneiss, and green schist. The highest peak of Qingshui Mountain is 2,408 m (7,900 ft) from the Pacific Ocean. This is the most winding and stunning section of the Suhua Highway.
We started our adventure early in the morning from Taipei. My younger brother’s family and we drove 2 cars via National Highway 5 to Suao in less than 1 hour. The weather changed from sunny in Taipei to rainy in Suao. When we entered the Suhua Highway, rain started pouring down, and we could not stop at some of the stops we have planned. We were lucky the sun was coming out when we approaching Qingshui Cliff. We stopped at the 168.7 km marker where the sign of Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園) stands. We took some photos of the coast and the nearby natural rock arch tunnel. There was a rest area at the 171.7 km marker where we stopped for a bathroom break. Before the last tunnel, Chongde tunnel at the 176.4 km marker, there was another rest area where we saw the Qingshui Cliff and the road we passed appeared to be just a small line in the vertical precipice. At this rest area, we found the Chongde trail that can bring us to the beach. Unfortunately, the trail was damaged and closed due to the last typhoon. After the Chongde tunnel, we were only 8 km (5 mi) to the Taroko National Park. On the way back from Hualien, we visited one additional must-see stop at Huite Recreational Area (匯德休憩據點) at the 174.4 km marker. It is the old road to the old Qingshui Tunnel (清水隧道); it was abandoned due to a serious collapse. From here you also have a very good view of the beautiful coastline of the Suhua Highway. If you are taking a bus and sit on the top section of the ocean side, you will experience a very unique journey with the precarious drive between the cliffs on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other side. That is why whenever there is a typhoon, heavy rain, or an earthquake the road will be closed due to rockslides.
This well-known scenic highway is not used only for sightseeing purpose. There are many trucks which carry marble, limestone, gravel, and other industrial raw materials from east coast. It is quite a challenge to drive on this highway with those trucks and the winding road. There is an ongoing project to build a freeway based on the expansion of the existing highway. It is scheduled to complete in 2017, but delays are expected due to the unexpected weather, earthquakes, and geology conditions. The plan is to straighten wherever possible using old tunnels and to avoid the frequent rockslide and washout areas. After it is finished, the old road will be used for trucks and sightseeing while the new one will be used for pass through traffic.
Written November 21, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vertrude
Atlanta, GA296 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
If you are driving in this direction you should definitely take this route instead of the route 8 to 14 (a long long long drive). There are multiple great views, although I think the drive from North to South is better. On the drive, you must stop at the Chengde "trail." A short 800 m or so walk down to the black sand beach. As a suggestion, however, there are more beautiful sections of highway 9 in the south, between Kenting and Taitung. These views are unobstructed by foliage and the road is a straight away. Nearing Taitung, take the 11 to skirt the coast.
Written January 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda S
Calgary, Canada33 contributions
Jul 2012 • Couples
The Su-Hua Highway was one of the highlights of my recent trip to Hualien and Taroko Gorge. We drove our rented car along a stretch of Su-Hua (Highway 9) which is easy to access from Taroko Gorge or the north of Hualien. I highly recommend going during the week when the traffic is lighter.
There are plenty of places to pull to the side and take photos or explore established trails that lead to further look-outs or down to rocky beaches. Also, notably, many of these rest-stops have public bathrooms. There are also places to stop for a snack or for some souvenirs along the way, and plenty of excellent opportunities for landscape photography. I highly recommend this drive if you're looking for a relaxing and scenic way to spend an afternoon.
There are plenty of places to pull to the side and take photos or explore established trails that lead to further look-outs or down to rocky beaches. Also, notably, many of these rest-stops have public bathrooms. There are also places to stop for a snack or for some souvenirs along the way, and plenty of excellent opportunities for landscape photography. I highly recommend this drive if you're looking for a relaxing and scenic way to spend an afternoon.
Written July 30, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jordydegraaf
Terneuzen, The Netherlands36 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
Weather conditions can have a big impact on this road and also the other road users can make it particularly dangerous from time to time. Especially when you’re on a motorcycle you should be aware of trucks. To see the Qingshui cliff you’ll use Su-Hua highway. There are several parkings so you can enjoy the wonderful view. Despite the possible thrilling moments on the way, it’s definitely worth to see it’s stunning scenery.
Written October 20, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Imakelv
Singapore, Singapore334 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Apparently, its named one of the most dangerous roads in the world, well worth the infamous reputation. Especially since we hired a car and drove there during the rainy season. Numerous landslides have been spotted but the cleanup crews were always present, ready to eliminate the threat and make the roads easier to drive. The threat of falling rocks were always there but we never encounted any, though we did saw some smashed rocks on the roads. The drive was exciting, the view was breathtaking and we enjoyed this very much. Highly recommended though if you are travelling with tour buses, its best to avoid rainy seasons as the drivers tend to speed quite a bit even during rainy days. Stay safe!
Written January 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lian_123Singapore
Singapore50 contributions
Nov 2012 • Family
It took about 2 hours drive from Yilan to Hualien via Su Hua Highway. The road was very winding and it's quite dangerous if you are not familiar with the roads in Taiwan. But, overall, it's a good experience to drive along this highway
Written December 10, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Billy B
Brentwood, CA38 contributions
Jul 2018 • Solo
Parking is horrible along this route. The views are nice but access to the beaches is very limited. Recommend traveling this on work days to avoid the crowds if you can.
Written July 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yfylou
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia6,293 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
Enjoy an amazing rides along the Su-Hua Highway and at the same time you can admire the natural mountain landscape. On the other side is the scenic view of the Pacific ocean.
Written August 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YNH
London, UK104 contributions
Jan 2017
absolutely amazing drive, where green mountains drop sharply into the blue ocean, all the way along the highway, although need high concentration just like the west east cross highway.
Written June 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James T
9 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
We had a sunny day that may made the difference for this beautiful drive. You do need be careful on switch backs & important to keep up with the traffic, then it's not that bad at all. I drove rougher, more dangerous roads in Northern Canada. Unfortunately, there are not many "legal" scenic stops which be nicer to stop and see,
Written January 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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