Ocean sunrise
From the beach.
Chi-Hung Lin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chi-Hung Lin — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Chi-Hung Lin — CC BY-SA 3.0
A broad crescent of smooth coloured pebbles facing the Pacific north of Hualien city. Its name, Seven Star Lake, comes from an old lagoon shaped like the Big Dipper, filled in during the 1930s. The beach stretches between the deep blue ocean and the green Central Mountain Range, which looks very close behind it, while strong waves break on the pebbles with a distinctive sound. Visitors love sitting on the stones to watch the sea and collect coloured pebbles. The best time is dawn, when the sun rises straight out of the ocean and people gather to watch. A cycle and walking path runs along the shore, with a star-watching deck and small stalls. Swimming is forbidden, as the beach shelves steeply and the currents are very strong. It is free, a quarter of an hour by car from central Hualien. 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.
From the beach.
Smooth.
Behind the shore.
Xincheng Township, north of Hualien city
No, the beach shelves steeply and the currents are very strong; it is for watching, walking and cycling only.