Text: Rick Charette; Photos: Chen Cheng-kuo
![Guestroom with gorge view](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/43-1.png)
Guestroom with gorge view
A sumptuous place to spend a Taroko Gorge night is at the refined Silks Place Taroko hotel, where dark-stain wood is the dominant interior theme, smartly complementing the marble-white facade. It’s located at the edge of Tianxiang on a picturesque perch – atop the low-plateau point where the Liwu and Dasha rivers meet before the combined waters rush through the inner gorge for more forceful rock-sculpting. The riverbed here is strewn with massive boulders of widely differing striated artwork – including one of pure marble – and macaques make their way down the steep wooded slopes for a drink in the morning. Though deep in a gorge that is a Mother Nature aesthetic tour de force, a stay at this hotel is time spent in the lap of manmade luxury.
![Spacious bathroom](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/45-1.png)
Spacious bathroom
The range of amenities and special activities is too sweeping to cover fully, but a number stand out. There is a full spa, along with two superb pools, one indoor and one outdoor. The latter is on the roof, beside it a Jacuzzi, with both offering a wonderful 360-degree panorama. Indoor and outdoor activities oriented toward both kids and adults are offered. Of special note are the guided tours, Truku-theme weaving sessions, nighttime indigenous dance shows in the lovely inner courtyard and mini-concerts by the rooftop poolside fireplace, and Moonlight Cinema showings by the rooftop pool, with patio loungers as seating.
![Indoor swimming pool](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/39-1.png)
Indoor swimming pool
![Outdoor swimming pool](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/40-1.png)
Outdoor swimming pool
![Indigenous-music performance on the rooftop](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/41.png)
Indigenous-music performance on the rooftop
![Rooftop Moonlight Cinema](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/42-1.png)
Rooftop Moonlight Cinema
The restaurant dinner and breakfast buffets have a delicious range of international and Chinese choices, and Retreat Floor (VIP) guests can choose to take breakfast in the sun-drenched rooftop Retreat Lounge, with Eastern/Western set meals.
![Dining room of hotel restaurant](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/46-1.png)
Dining room of hotel restaurant
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/50-2.png)
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/49-2.png)
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/47-1.png)
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/48-1.png)
![Retreat Lounge](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/53-2.png)
Retreat Lounge
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/51-2.png)
![](https://taiwaneverything.cc/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/52-2.png)
(Rooms, all very large, start at NT$8,000)
Add: No. 18, Tianxiang Rd., Xiulin Township, Hualien County
(花蓮縣秀林鄉天祥路18號)
Tel: (03) 869-1155
Website: taroko.silksplace.com.tw