Taroko National Park has been organizing this international marathon since 2000, aiming to provide a unique national park experience to the general public, raising international visibility and boosting the tourism industry in Hualien. The events have received great response over the years and participants each year have steadily increased, attracting the attention of famed international runners to participate in the event. In 2011, there were 326 foreign runners from 22 countries, and participants from outlying counties and cities accounted for over 93% of the total participant. The marathon is a major tourism attraction in Hualien and contributed greatly to the tourism industry incomes of Hualien County.

The 2012 Taroko Gorge Marathon will take place on November 3rd of this year. Review of the 2011 event has decided to cancel the Healthy Running group this year, and organize instead the professional Full and Half Marathon events. To accommodate the growing participants and the safety of the runners, this year the maximum limit of the participants will be set to 10,100 only (2,600 Full Marathon runners, 7,500 Half-Marathon runners). For details of the event please visit the website of the Chinese Taipei Running Association
(http://www.sportsnet.org.tw) or Taroko National Park Headquarters.