National Parks of Taiwan

The 2007 Taroko International Marathon will take place on Saturday November 3, 2007. It is expected that a total of 9,745 participants in different events will run through Taroko Gorge. In addition to the marathon, the agenda also includes a variety of related activities designed to provide participants and spectators a unique experience.

This year’s Taroko International Marathon is organized by Chinese Taipei Road Running Association and co-sponsored by the Taroko National Park Headquarters and the Hualien County Government. The categories for this year’s event remain the same as in previous years and include the Full Marathon (42.195 Km), the Half Marathon (21 Km) and the Fun Run Group (5 Km). The course for the Full Marathon and the Half Marathon begins at the East-West Cross-Island Highway Arched Gate  entrance to Taroko and runs southward via the Asia Cement Flaming Treesbefore returning on the same side of the Taroko Bridge. The return course for the Marathon runs along the Central Cross-Island Highway en route to Tiansiang and ends at the Taroko National Park Visitor Center. The Half Marathon returns from the Sipan Dam on the Central Cross-Island Island Highway to the finish line at Taroko (National Park Visitor Center)Terrace. The Fun Run Group runs from Taroko Terrace to Changchun Shrine and then back to Taroko Terrace. Traffic will be restricted on the Central Cross-Island Island Highway, and a shuttle service will be available for participants on the day of the event.

As part of the marathon event, the Taroko National Park Headquarters is holding a special Taroko Cultural Creations Market at the Taroko Terrace finish line. Local craft shops and bed & breakfast owners in the Taroko area will showcase the work of Taroko tribes, including weaving, rattan basket works, wood sculptures and traditional musical instruments. Displays of traditional cuisine, agricultural products, local ecotourism and aboriginal theme bed & breakfasts will also be part of the market. In addition, the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation, an advocate for marine ecology, and the Society of Wilderness, an advocacy group for environmental protection, will give presentations during the event. It is hoped that these presentations will provide participants and the spectators a unique experience.



Source:Torako National Park,2007-10-26
Re-edited by Taiwan News