Turquoise water
Below the cliffs.
Fred Hsu — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Huaiwun — CC BY-SA 4.0 · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0 · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0
A colossal mountain wall dropping straight into the Pacific along 21 kilometres of Taiwan's east coast, averaging 800 metres high, its tallest peak, Qingshui Mountain, rising 2,408 metres straight from the sea. It ranks among Asia's most spectacular coastal views. Forest-green walls plunge to clear turquoise water whose white waves break on the pebbles at their foot, while the Suhua coastal highway winds along the slopes, cut into the rock with its tunnels. The best-known viewpoints are roadside platforms and the Chongde Trail down to the shore. The best time is early morning, when the sun rises out of the ocean and lights the cliffs before afternoon clouds roll in. It pairs with nearby Taroko Gorge in a single day. The site is free, reached by car or on a tour from Hualien. Do not stand below the cliffs, as rocks sometimes fall. Hualien is prone to earthquakes and rockfalls, so check road and trail status on the park website before going, and follow helmet and closure notices. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
Below the cliffs.
Cut into rock.
Lights the wall.
Suhua coastal highway, north of Hualien
From the viewing platforms on the Suhua Highway and the Chongde Trail down to the shore, best in the morning before clouds.