There are two words I could use to describe Yehliu Geopark in fall/winter: chilly and fascinating. I don’t think that Yehliu Geopark would only be interesting to people who are fans of nature and geological landscapes, though they probably would have a stronger appreciation for the scientific aspect of it.
The rest of us common folk can just enjoy making out the interesting shapes and things that the rock formations resemble. Some of them require more imagination than others, but it’s all good fun!
Personally, I liked this place more than I expected. It’s a little island of rocks, but more than that I love taking in this place as a whole. There’s something soothing about this specific combination of tan clay-like earth crowned with green foliage. Now take all that and frame it with blue skies and waters. There’s a specific hue and shade that makes the landscape super pleasing to the eyes!
Yehliu Geopark is a cape that juts out to the sea like a beckoning finger. Because of its location, all the waves that bang or brush against the rocks make the coastline vulnerable to natural erosion. That’s why Yehliu Geopark is pretty much just a thin strip of land seemingly being chipped away by the sea ever so slowly. But in what is a classic example of something being created out of a destructive force, this natural erosion is also why there are all these interesting rock patterns and formations here.
Three million visitors a year come to see the wonders of Yehliu Geopark, and on one windy day, I became one of those figures.
The park has a bunch of interesting rock formations scattered all over, but there was this one area you get to via a bridge that was probably the most unique. At a distance, the rocks look like giant alien shrooms sprouting from barren land. Those giant chunks of honeycombed rocks are like heads perched on top necks of varying widths.
The rock formations here are all enumerated on this site, and it actually kind of helps to know what the rock formations represent beforehand because some of them are hard to decipher if you’re standing at the wrong angle. There are rocks shaped like candles, a piece of fried chicken, an ice cream sundae, and even a peanut!
There’s even this one giving off King Kong vibes with its gorilla shape:
What about this hard-to-deny slipper-shaped rock on the right photo below? That’s called the Fairy’s Shoe. Nature is neat! On the left is just a photo of a sea groove connected by a bridge.
The main attraction of Yehliu Geopark is without a doubt the 4,000 year-old hoodoo stone called Queen’s Head. It is the only one that has a line of tourists waiting to get a snapshot with the stones that they say bear a likeness to England’s Queen Elizabeth I, or even the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti. I am more partial to the latter. It looks more like that’s an Egyptian headdress wrapped around her head to me.
Sadly, some experts say that this rock formation may be nearing its end. The neck of the Queen’s Head used to be much thicker, but thanks to consistent exposure to the elements, it may just topple if even a strong earthquake or typhoon hits the area. If not, then they’re putting its demise some time around 2020 to 2025. You all should go see it before then!
Now this Dragon’s Head below I have fond memories of. I actually posted it as an Instagram story but I edited in some fire coming out of the dragon’s mouth. The target? My brother lol. Check out my Taiwan Highlights on my Instagram to see it. 😉
I didn’t want to snap all the photos of the rock formations because it’s all yours to explore when you come here. It’s just a really fascinating place. At just 1.7 kilometers, it’s easy to explore the entire Geopark in less than 2 hours.
Because it’s located at seaside, Yehliu Geopark can get quite chilly during the fall/winter months. The wind blows hard and blows often as well, so you’ll see the seawater jumping ever so constantly against the coastline. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as well since you’ll be walking along some rocky pathways every once in a while. There’s also an open bridge that has no railings at one part of the park.
In any case, I hope you guys enjoy your time here. It’s another of Taiwan’s unique locations! I was supposed to put up a video about this place but I wasn’t happy about the footage so you’ll have to take my word for it. I hope these few pics help.
[How to get to Yehliu Geopark]
Visit Yehliu Geopark!
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