Tsaoling

Tsaoling is located in Gukeng Township in west-central Taiwan's Yunlin County. Surrounded by overlapping mountains, the area is a basin that features zigzagging rivers and streams and fascinating natural beauty.

In 1941 a huge earthquake halved one of the mountains at the northwestern side of the Tsaoling area and created various special landscapes. For example, the Hanging Cliff is about 150 meters high and 70 meters wide, leaning on a 40-degree angle. Local and international visitors have to use ropes and helmets to climb up or descend the cliff.

The earthquake also created other cliffs and gorges. For instance, the Chunchiu Cliff is like the blade of a chopper knife. From the top, the cliff is virtually vertical for nearly 1 kilometer before reaching a horizontal landing. Meanwhile, the Duenwen Gorge is a passage way that is 30 meters wide and 40 meters deep. It is surrounded by hanging cliffs approximately 200 meters below the Chunchiu Valley. At the end of the gorge's northern cliff are three majestic waterfalls.

Two other famous scenic spots in Tsaoling are the Penglai Waterfall and the Lienchu Ponds. The Penglai Waterfall is the main water source of the area. It features several interesting sights of water erosion, including the Frog Rock and the Beehive Rock. Local and international visitors can take cable cars to the top and bottom of the waterfall. The Lienchu Ponds are originally a large plate of rock that occupied an area of about two hectares. As a result of years of water erosion, they are now a series of little ponds that look like pearls being threaded together.

Tsaoling is famous for its dried bamboo shoots and sweet potato, as well as a wide range of bamboo and pine wood products. Ku Cha Oil, a Chinese medicine that is used for curing stomachache and for females to recover after giving birth, is also the specialty of the area. Although Tsaoling is surrounded by mountains, all kinds of fresh water eels, mud-eels and field snails can be found in the paddy fields. The area's fresh water fishes and shrimps in the rivers and streams provide delicious dishes for local and international mountaineers and tourists.