Qingrengu Waterfall (情人谷瀑布 [Qíngréngǔ Pùbù]; Lover's Gorge Waterfall)

Maolin National Scenic Area / Kaohsiung / Tainan, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

About Qingrengu Waterfall (情人谷瀑布 [Qíngréngǔ Pùbù]; Lover’s Gorge Waterfall)


Hiking Distance: 700m round trip
Suggested Time: 30-45 minutes

Date first visited: 2016-10-30
Date last visited: 2016-10-30

Waterfall Latitude: 22.87547
Waterfall Longitude: 120.66626

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Qingrengu Waterfall (情人谷瀑布 [Qíngréngǔ Pùbù]) was a pair of modestly-sized waterfalls that introduced us to the kind of scenery that was on offer at the Maolin National Scenic Area (茂林國家風景區 [Màolín Guójiā Fēng Jǐng Qū]).

During my first time here, Mom had already been to this area a few times, but this was the first time she got to visit this particular waterfall.

Qingren_Waterfall_045_10292016 - The Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
The Upper Qingrengu Waterfall

So I was under the impression that this might have been one of the more obscure or lesser-known waterfalls that we had visited in Taiwan.

The first of the Qingrengu Waterfalls was almost literally right at the end of the narrow road that we drove on to get here.

It was probably on the order of 10-15m tall.

The second waterfall involved a little bit more of an uphill hike.

Qingren_Waterfall_022_10292016 - The Lower Qingrengu Waterfall
The Lower Qingrengu Waterfall

However, it was worth the effort as this was the larger of the falls as it plunged some 20-25m into what appeared to be a deep plunge pool.

Experiencing the first of the Qingrengu Waterfalls

Our excursion taking in both of the Qingrengu Waterfalls was pretty straightforward.

Once we found parking (see directions below), we the walked along the single-lane road to its end.

This included traversing what appeared to be a landslide (which prevented us from driving all the way to the road’s end).

Qingren_Waterfall_004_10292016 - Mom approaching the landslide that prevented further vehicular access to the old car park at the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall
Mom approaching the landslide that prevented further vehicular access to the old car park at the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall

Just on the other side of the landslide was what appeared to be the old car park, where we were able to see the first of the Qingrengu Waterfalls.

In addition to the profile views from the car park, we were also able to go down some steps and scramble onto the stream bed.

This allowed us to get as close to the falls as desired for that intimate experience while feeling the cool mist offset the tropical heat and humidity.

Hiking to the second of the Qingrengu Waterfalls

Back along the cliff adjacent to the car park, there was signage indicating that up the steps would lead up to the second Qingrengu Waterfall.

Qingren_Waterfall_031_10292016 - Mom ascending this signposted series of steps to the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
Mom ascending this signposted series of steps to the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall

So naturally, we took that trail, which initially climbed a few flights of steps before following along the stream as the climb flattened out.

After crossing a few bridges and passing beneath a shelter, within a few minutes more, we got to the dead-end of the trail.

There was a viewing platform yielding the view of the second Qingrengu Waterfall that you see at the top of this page.

The sound of rhythmic cicadas while experiencing this waterfall really made this visit particularly memorable.

Qingren_Waterfall_050_10292016 - Context of Mom at the lookout for the second Qingrengu Waterfall
Context of Mom at the lookout for the second Qingrengu Waterfall

Overall, it only took Mom and I about 35 minutes away from the car to take in both waterfalls.

It was a quick visit though Mom and I were quite surprised to see a large group of tourists show up to the falls when we were driving off.

We initially thought this was one of the more obscure waterfalls in the area, but apparently, it was a bit more known that what we had given it credit for.

Authorities

The Qingrengu Waterfall resides in the Maolin National Scenic Area near the city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It is administered by the Taiwan National Government. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting the Maolin NSA website.

Qingren_Waterfall_005_10292016 - Mom traversing the landslide that prevented us from driving all the way to the end of the single-lane road where there was a car park in front of the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_012_10292016 - Profile look at the first Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_016_10292016 - Mom walking down the steps onto the stream bed where we could scramble right up to the first Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_032_10292016 - After having our fill of the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall, we then went up this climb, which was another sweat-inducing exercise in the muggy weather to the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_034_10292016 - Mom climbing up to a bridge over the waterfall's stream in pursuit of the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_036_10292016 - Mom crossing over a bridge traversing the waterfall's stream as we got closer to the second Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_037_10292016 - Mom passing beneath a shelter on the way to the end of the trail where there was the view of the second Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_041_10292016 - Finally making it to the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_043_10292016 - Context of Mom checking out the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall from the end of the trail
Qingren_Waterfall_054_10292016 - Mom going back down the steps on the way to the car after having her fill of the Upper Qingrengu Waterfall
Qingren_Waterfall_058_10292016 - Going back across the landslide as we started to see more people approaching the Qingrengu Waterfalls after Mom and I were here alone


The Qingrengu Waterfall was part of the Maolin National Scenic Area (茂林國家風景區 [Màolín Guójiā Fēng Jǐng Qū]), which was directly east of both the cities of Tainan (台南 or 臺南 [Táinán]) and Kaohsiung (高雄 [Gāoxióng]).

So I’ll describe what I think would be the quickest route to get to the Maolin Visitor Center first from Kaohsiung, and then I will describe how we would do a similar drive from Tainan.

Once we get past the Maolin Visitor Center, the driving routes would be common to both starting places.

Driving from Kaohsiung to the Qingrengu Waterfall

So from Kaohsiung, we took the Tai-10 Expressway east from the Lotus Pond towards its end, which would deposit us onto the Qibing Road 1 (旗屏一路 [Qíbǐng Yílù]).

After going about 1.5km, we would then turn right onto the Route 28 and follow this road for just under 20km before turning right to go south on the Route 27/185.

We then followed this route for a little over 1.2km towards the Maolin Visitor Center.

Next, we left the Route 27 and turned left to go east onto the road leading to the Maolin National Scenic Area (there would be signs at this point indicating the way to the reserve).

We’d continue east along this road for just under 2km (passing over the Laonong River (荖濃溪 [Lǎo Nóng Xī]; “Old Farm River”) before turning right onto a road signposted for the Lover’s Gorge.

This right turn was just before the road was about to enter the Maolin Village.

Qingren_Waterfall_001_10292016 - This was where we informally parked the car to visit the Qingrengu Waterfalls
This was where we informally parked the car to visit the Qingrengu Waterfalls

Descending away from the Maolin Village, this rural road then led us another kilometer towards the banks of the Laonong River.

The road passed beneath a bridge and then made a real sharp U-turn to get onto the bridge.

The single-lane bridge then traversed the Laonong River before continuing on a rural road that eventually led another 800m or so towards the Qingrengu Waterfall.

However the road didn’t make it to the end because there was a landslide blocking further progress.

So we had to backtrack and find makeshift parking without blocking traffic.

Qingren_Waterfall_008_10292016 - This was the old car park by the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall where a landslide prevented our rental car from making it here
This was the old car park by the Lower Qingrengu Waterfall where a landslide prevented our rental car from making it here

There was actually a more spacious informal parking area a little further up the road (this was where it appeared a tour van was parked).

And if driving this single-lane road past the bridge didn’t seem palatable, then it was also possible to park in front of the bridge, and then walk the remaining distance to the Qingrengu Waterfall.

Overall, this 65km drive took us between 60-90 minutes to do.

Driving from Tainan to the Qingrengu Waterfall

Coming from Tainan, we would go east towards the National Route 1 Expressway heading south before taking the Tai-86 Expressway.

Then, we’d head east on the 86 towards the National Route 3 Expressway heading to the southeast for about 26km to the National Route 10 heading north.

We then would take this expressway to its end, eventually getting onto Qibing Road 1, and then following the Route 28 to the Route 27 towards the Maolin Visitor Center (same as the directions from Kaohsiung).

Then, once we’d turn left to leave the 27 and into the Maolin National Scenic Reserve, we’d continue following the same directions as above to get to the Qingrengu Waterfall.

This drive would take around 90 minutes depending on traffic.

As for some geographical context, the Maolin Visitor Center was about 62km northeast of Kaohsiung (a little over an hour drive) and 81km east of Tainan (under 90 minutes drive). From a more macro scale, Tainan was 318km southwest of Taipei (under 3.5 hours by both car or train).

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Sweep checking out the second and more impressive of the Lover's Gorge Waterfalls


Checking out the first of two waterfalls at the Lover's Gorge Waterfall

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Tagged with: kaohsiung, gaoxiong, tainan, city, county, maolin, lovers gorge, qingrengu, waterfall, swimming, southern taiwan, taiwan



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About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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