Day 3 in Taipei, we visited Yehliu Geopark, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial, Taipei 101, and Ximending.
Yehliu is located in Wanli District, around 40 km away from Taipei City. It can be easily accessed with bus. We reached ZhongXiao DunHua MRT Station at 9:15 am to catch the connecting bus (no 1815) to Yehliu. The bus stop is located a few steps away from exit 4. We waited 5 minutes for the bus. The journey to Yehliu took approximately 1 hour. From Yehliu bus stop, we walked for 10 minutes to Yehliu Geopark. It was very convenient as pedestrian lane was prepared.
Yehliu Geopark is filled with strange-looking rocks formed by marine erosion, which the harder stones remain, and the softer eroded. The special thing is, over millions of years, some of the rocks were actually shaped in the way that they resembles some objects- such as the queen rock, sandal rock (which is called as the fairy's shoe by locals), candle rock, ginger rock, dragon rock, and marine bird rock. Some of the rocks can be easily recognized for the distinct shapes, while others, strong imagination required.
The park entrance fee was NTD 80, operation hours from 8 am - 5 pm. The park was clean, signage was clear, the wind was strong, and the view, stunning. Unlinke Yuntai Mountain Geopark in China with a lot of stairs to climb, it is easier to move around in Yehliu Geopark. There is a small rest house built beside marine bird rock- the only place where restrooms and a food shack are available.
Our advices, be early. We were lucky that the day was a bit hazy with strong wind, so was not too warm, but the place can be very warm under blazing sun. There might be a long queue to take photo with the queen rock. Want to beat the queue? We can take photo at the other side of the rock, which looks about the same. Can't find the special rock? We can always ask the guard there (the guys with whistles with them), and they are more than happy to show us the location of the rock. The higher grounds offer stunning views around the area, so do take some effort to climb up to the observatory platforms there. We strolled around the park from 11 am until 12:45 pm.
Zhongxiao Dunhua Bus Stop is located a few steps outside gate 4 of MRT station (upper left). The bus 1815 brought us from Taipei City (upper right) to sub-urban area (lower right). The bus was air-conditioned with LCD flatscreens providing entertainment to passengers. The programme however was in Mandarin only.
Once get off the bus, what we need to do is to look for the signages and follow the pedestrian walkway to Yehliu Geopark.
The bus return to Taipei City is available at the bus stop opposite of the road (upper left). The pedestrian walkway is green in colour, and will lead us to the geopark (upper right). We passed by the harbor for fishing boats (lower right) before we reach the ticketing counter.
The visitor center consists of a souvenir shop, a canteen, and restrooms (upper left). Geopark map is available free of charge. The walkway in front of the the visitor center leads to the park (upper right), where we can see the crowds moving around (lower right). There is a stone garden on the right after the entrance. All the stones exhibit are the replicas. One of them is the panther stone, which had already damaged by wave. Our advice, go straight to see the authentic stones first, and leave the replicas to the last. We will walk pass the same place on our way back.
The mushroom stones from the observatory platform.
The 1.7 km long cape of Yehliu is flat except a small hill at the tip of the cape.
There were many visitors roaming around the area (upper left). The information about some special stones are provided in the park (upper right). Visitors are not supposed to go beyond the red line (lower left). Lifebuay is prepared, just in case someone steps too far beyond the red line.
The layers of limestone can be clearly seen.
Sandal rock or fairy's shoe rock (upper left), dragon rock (upper right), and bird rock (lower right) can be easily identified. We need to search the ground carefully for fossils.
The food shack marks the end of the flat land (upper left), then we need to climb stairs (upper and lower right) to the hill.
The tip of the cape can be clearly seen from the hill.
Town view from the hill.
The hawker center at the exit of the park with local delicacies and souvenirs (upper row). We bought some dried fish (lower right) and took our lunch at one of the eatery there. The price, reasonable.
After lunch with pork rice, unagi soup (eel), and fried oyster with egg, we went back to Taipei by bus. Again, we waited for 5 minutes only to get onto the right bus. Yehliu Geopark is a must visit place if you ever visit Taipei. You can find more information about Yeliu Geopark at the official website of the park. Next, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial and Taipei 101. Stay tune.
More about our experience in Taipei, please read out posts:
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