Happy Travel Tuesday! I thought I’d finally start to share some of my Taipei adventures, starting with this day trip to Yehliu Geopark. I hope you enjoy this (mostly photos) virtual tour! And also, next week’s link-up is themed. Find out the theme at bottom of post!
I met Khee randomly at the mall on my first day in Taipei. D and I were there getting some phone SIM cards and I got distracted by a display of something sparkly and girly. I went into the shop to take a look – they turned out to be hair accessories – and Khee started showing me how to use the clips, demonstrating them on her own hair.
We started chatting (because I felt too awkward to say that I had no intention of purchasing anything) and it turned out that she was an exchange student from Malaysia, also looking forward to exploring Taiwan. I’m usually pretty shy, but I was gonna be in Taipei for a longer amount of time and didn’t want to have no friends, so I took a chance and asked “do you want to hang out sometime?”
And that is how I came to travel with Khee to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园), a natural attraction on the northeast coast famous for its otherworldly rock formations. But more on that later…
We boarded the 1068 bus from next to National Taiwan Univeristy (NTU), which directly goes to Yehliu. We didn’t have too many real plans, so we decided to get off a couple of stops before the actual Yeiliu Geopark stop. We wanted to walk along the coast and take in the sights.
It was a slightly drizzly chilly Taipei winter day, so the beach was very deserted. But despite the grey, it was still a calming atmosphere. It’s always nice to be by water.
How cute are these little round bungalows by the sea?
As we continued walking, we came across this site that wouldn’t look out of place by the Mediterranean coast. They were charging money to go in (there was absolutely nobody else there), and we’re cheap so we just poked around the outside. I still have no idea what it is, but I think it’s maybe part of the hotel there?
Some more sights along the walk:
This pretty little rocky beach area, made even more picturesque by a lone fisherman:
One of my favorite things about Taiwan is their temples! I love the colorful rooftops and intricate dragons sculptures. You can always expect to find random temples tucked away almost anywhere you go. It was no surprise that we came upon a few too on the walk.
And then from the main road, there was a little tiny, almost hidden, pathway (you’ll have to clamber up some rocks) that led to a large expanse of perfectly smooth rock overlooking the sea below.
So naturally, it was time for a lot of photos! We spent quite a long time here trading off taking pictures for each other in dumb poses.
doesn’t it look like sand??
Okay so I actually thought this part was Yeiliu Geopark at first. But nope, walk a little bit further and we were there. We could tell by the parking lot full of tour buses.
But first, we took a stroll through the small indoor market right next door. Since this is a coastal city, you can expect a lot of seafood. And since this is Asia, you can expect it to be done in some weird ways.
dried fish sheets
heaps of dried fishes and who knows what
After a quick wander through the market and accepting some offerings of dried fish and herbal tea and other local delicacies, we headed to the park’s entrance. The tickets cost 80 NT, or less than $3 US.
So now, after all that ramble, we’re finally at the main event!
Yehliu Geopark is famous for its strange rock formations caused by sea erosion. The first area we came upon was this containing large rocks that have slowly corroded away in such a fashion to resemble mushrooms, ginger, and honeycombs!
ginger rocks!
From this section, you can walk all the way down to the end of the cape on wave-cut cliffs.
can you see how small the people are?
At this end section, you can find the most famous rock of all: the Queen’s Head, the official symbol of Yehliu. I didn’t get a photo as you actually had to line up to take a picture of/with it and I couldn’t be bothered to do so. But here’s one I stole (and you can see why it’s named so):
Yes, it looks majestic in the photo. But in actuality, this piece of rock was quite underwhelming. It’s a lot lot smaller than pictures make it look. In fact, I wouldn’t even have picked it out as something of interest if not for the line.
I honestly didn’t find this section too interesting. I think by then, I had enough of looking at rocks.
We walked around the park on our own and usually I like it that way, but I think in this case, maybe a guided tour would have been helpful. It would have given a lot more insight into what we’re looking at. I also found out that I missed a lot of the famous formations, such as a rock that looks exactly like a leopard! Grrrr…..
I think Yehliu makes a decent day trip if you are visiting Taipei and have a few days to spare (or if you just happen to really really love nature and rocks). It’s easy to visit and you get to spend a day by the coast. However, if you only have ONE day to spare for a day trip and want a more unique experience, I would recommend you make it Juifen with no hesitation. I have yet to write about it, but check out Jamie’s post in the meantime!
I would recommend that you pair your trip to Yehliu with other sights in the area. We paired it with a visit to Jinshan Old Street, where we gorged on the local delicacies. (Unfortunately, this post is already getting a bit long, so I’ll save that for next time.) Many people also hit up Keelung Night Market, or even Jiufen is doable as well on the same day (though it’d be a shame to rush it).
To get there: we took the direct long-distance bus #1068 by Gongguan MRT Station (green line). From the station, follow signs to NTU and you will reach the university’s main entrance. Cross the main street and continue up half a block or so. Google Map will be your best friend to find the station location. The bus ride is about 1.5 hour and costs about 95NT (or US $3) each direction. Can be paid in cash or on your Easy Card.
Have you been to Yehliu or anywhere like this? Are you a rocks person?
Happy Travel Tuesday! Next week’s link-up will be themed! In honor of Christy (Swags), a traveling athlete, becoming co-host, the theme is going to be a sporty adventure. This could be anything from a hike to camping to horseback riding to ziplining to even a long walk around town (if you’re unsporty like me)!
Also, we’d like to give a shout out to these posts from last week!
- Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona by Tanama Tales
- Eating Gluten-Free in Florence by Adelante
- Visiting Hamburg // Everything You Need to Know by Snow in Tromso
- Where and What to Eat in Madrid by Lauren on Location
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I LOVE your photos of the beach! It’s so good that you felt able to make that connection with a fellow traveller and do a bit of travelling with them.
Yeah I’m definitely trying to get out of my shell more and make some friends.. otherwise, the travel experiences won’t be as fun. :) The coast here was really pretty even on this cold drizzly day!
I doubt I will want to visit Yehliu when I visit Taipei in the future. Sure, the rocks look nice, but I heard this is a properly crowded place unless you go very early in the morning or very late in the evening. Your pictures seem to support this theory. And from the way you describe that Queen’s Head, reminds me of Paris’s Statue of Liberty, as in: “What? This is it??”
I didn’t think it was too crowded, but we did go on a slightly drizzly winter day and I can imagine it being really crowded during the nicer seasons. But yeah unless you’re a huge coastal or rocks person, I would pick somewhere else for a day trip if there can only be one. And yep, I would have completely missed that Queen’s Head rock if there wasn’t a huge line for pictures!
That giant crab is the best!!!!!! I love how you can see the striations in the rock and the sand… I think those things are so beautiful!!
You would really enjoy visiting here then :). Unfortunately, I’m not a huge geology person. I really liked walking from the first stop to the park though and seeing the things along the way!
I love that photo of the fisherman!! These rock formations really do look unique. I’d still go check it out, even though I know absolutely nothing about geology. Although at this point, any ocean escape sounds enticing. My soul is dehydrated living in landlocked Madrid!
Also, thank you for the shoutout! :)
Yep, sometimes I just need to go out and see the ocean too when I’ve been landlocked for too long! I’m not a huge geology person either, but it was fun to spend a day by the coast, and I really liked walking along the beach and stopping at random places.
And no problem! I loved the post and saved it for my next trip to Florence!
Omg omg I wanted to go there SO MUCH! But I would’ve went there alone and I couldn’t find clear information on how to get there. If only there was a post like yours! The rock formations look SO COOL! Props to you for making a friend so easily!
I’m so sorry you didn’t know because of lack of clear directions :( :(. If you really love nature, I think you would have loved this!! You’ll just have to come back to Taipei someday and hit this up. :)
Those formations look AWESOME! I definitely would’ve thought it was sand if there weren’t all those huge gaping holes in them. And that one really saturated picture in the middle of all those cloudy ones is like BAM, look at me!
I hope you don’t think I took that one, lol! I had to steal that picture because I didn’t want to wait in line for the photo op, and there were also too many people that there was no way you would be able to get a clear shot. But that is one case of the picture looking better than in actual life!
Hahahahahahaha. I’m dying. But I totally get it. Sometimes documenting is a HUGE pain.
Firstly, awesome way to make friends! I’d be far too shy to say that. Next time such an occasion might arise I’m going to follow your example! And of course those rock photos are beautiful. I particularly like the orangey swirly ones right next to the water. It’s a shame you didn’t get to see all the rocks you wanted, but it seems like you saw an awful lot all the same! Good excuse for a return trip?
I’m really shy too, but I’m trying to get out of my shell more, and I figured… what’s the worst that can happen? The other person says no and we never see each other again? lol. Yeah, I like the swirly ones by the ocean too! And there also wasn’t that many people at that part so it was perfect. :)
What an awesome place! That Mediterranean area looks reminiscent of Santorini, Greece.
I thought the same too… even though I’ve never been to Greece, haha! And nice you see you back Katrina! :)
Wow, what a beautiful place! And good for you for being forward and making a friend! I’m so shy when it comes to breaking the ice with strangers so I give you credit! Sounds like you two had a lovely day trip :-)
Oh trust me, I’m really shy too. But travel does make you want to be braver, I think. And I figure.. the worst that can happen is that the other person says no and we never see each other again, and I don’t think that’ll be too traumatizing for me, hehe.
that shot of the fisherman is my favorite! I haven’t been to Yehliu since our first fall here. the Queen’s Head was definitely underwhelming but the park was still pretty interesting :)
That picture is my favorite one too :). Yeah I completely would have pass the Queen’s Head if there wasn’t a long line for pictures. The park was fun but I think I enjoyed the walk to the park more!
Good on you for making friends in a shop :) This really looks like a wonderful trip, and I can see why you love all of the temples – those colours and details are beautiful. I also love the photo of the underwhelming rock ;) The blue sky is stunning!
I hope you don’t think I took that photo, haha! I had to steal it because I wanted to show the most famous rock there, but I didn’t want to get in line for the photo op. And yes, the temples in Taiwan are really pretty! I think they’re pretty unique. :)
This area is too beautiful for words. I enjoy beaches/ coastal area like these. It reminds me of some places in California. I can travel along the coast and stop in every beach if they let me. I like that you had the courage to make new friends. You never know the surprises that friendships may bring.
I’ve done the drive up the Californian coast once with some friends, stopping at a lot of the coastal towns on the way, and it was such a fun trip! I’m trying to be less shy when it comes to making friends! It’s so hard to make friends as an adult and especially when traveling as a couple… but I’m learning that you just have to go for it sometimes!
Forgot to tell you, thanks a lot for choosing one of my post as a favorite of last week.
Of course! I’m totally going to look up that concert hall when I’m in Barcelona!
Hey Anna! This place is AMAZING!! I don’t blame you for not wanting to wait around or pay too much for stuff. Sometimes it’s just best to enjoy the moments without the gimmicks! Fun that you made a new friend! Those rock formations are incredible, but you’re right, sometimes it’s just too many rocks. :) Great post!
Hahaha yup you can only look at rocks, however cool they are, for so long before getting bored (or getting hungry!). And yep, I was not about to wait in line for a picture! And the picture wouldn’t even have come out like that anyway because of all the people in the back.
Sometimes, I find the less plans we have the more we either see, or the more fun we have. I like just planning to go somewhere and then just seeing what happens.
I’m one of those losers that think rocks are cool, so I would have really enjoyed this, although I would have had more fun at the first rocks, I feel like too many people ruins the fun! Because I’m unsociable haha.
I’m so horrible at planning and never plan anything apart from how to get somewhere. This day turned out really well (though thank god Khee had a map of the bus route saved so we knew to get off a few stops earlier). I think I had more fun at the first rocks too. :)
Wow those rocks are so cool – and I really like the spots you discovered before you even got to the Geopark!
Me too! I had the most fun on the walk to the geopark and just randomly bumping into stuff to see and areas to explore! Most tourists who come just go the the Geopark stop, but I definitely think it’s worth it to walk a bit.