Mugua River = Papaya River
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Jay
Nenggao Soaring Fall is a difficult river tracing route that involves ascending 500 meters over a short distance of 700 meters. It's a continuous uphill climb. The route to Nenggao Soaring Fall is beautiful with numerous stunning pools along the way. The pools are clear and home to large fish, making it unlikely for anglers or locals to come fishing
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Upon reaching the parking area, the entrance is located beside a tunnel, next to Taipower's steel fence. After crossing the stream, you will see Taipower's channel on the left bank of the tributary(facing downstreams). Follow this channel to the end (approximately 40 minutes), and you will reach a 30-meter waterfall. Below is a beautiful deep pool known as "Hualien Divine Pool," with a large, clear and gorgeous deep blue pool outside. There are stairs next to the waterfall that lead down to the pool.
The journey to Nenggao Soaring Fall involves climbing and is moderately difficult (but definitely not suitable for beginners). The path is recognizable for experienced river tracing enthusiasts. The most challenging section is located 200 meters before the endpoint. Once you pass this section, you are almost at Nenggao Soaring Fall.
This section features a challenging climbing hole with a slippery 2.5-meter large rock underneath. There is a 3-meter suspended drop to the hole's entrance, with no footholds available. You have to be able to squeeze yourself to the tiny hole above the drop. Many experienced river tracing teams have failed and turned back at this point. If your team doesn't have a skilled climber to set up ropes first, and teammates who can use rope equipment or at least have really good climbing abilities, it may be impossible to climb with a rope, not to mention without a rope. I used an additional climbing nut as a hand rope here. Without this extra hand rope, team members with limited climbing abilities still won't be able to climb up.
On the return journey, rappelling is necessary. Even with a rope, it is impossible to descend without rappelling (unless you are an expert climber, but it is still highly dangerous). Fortunately, an anchor can be easily set here.
Luckily, when we went, there was a high-hanging blue-green webbing and a rope, and many bolts were drilled into the rocks. However, climbing was still extremely difficult. The rope was hung on a rope-wearing edge, so I couldn't fully trust it. The blue-green webbing was much better, secured to a sturdy stone. If it hadn't been hit by other rocks, it should be solid, although I can't guarantee this after a typhoon.
After walking for 10 minutes, the enormous Nenggao Soaring Fall comes into view. The awe-inspiring 120-meter waterfall has a massive flow of water rushing out of the top, leaping into the pool below. Its shape resembles flight, which is why it is called "Nenggao Soaring Fall" by the Japanese during the colonial era. The pool is large and suitable for swimming, but the waterfall's wind is extremely strong, making it feel like walking into a downpour. There is also a 140-meter waterfall above this waterfall, but it requires advanced summit tracing skills and a at least two-day expedition.
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Jay
The trace to emerald valley's big pool is very popular and very easy. The pool has a slide to it. One can get to this big pool with just water shoes.
Further up is there Zimu Waterfall. Not difficult at all but river tracing boots are suggested.
