Nature’s Wonders at Yehliu Geopark. 10-Days Trip Itinerary in Taiwan (Part 3)

Taipei, here I come again! Well, in late August 2014 we traveled to Taipei, Taiwan. For this trip, I had the fun and hubby had to work. The last time we both visited Taiwan was back in 2008, and that was our first overseas trip together. 

Hubby at a very last minute asked if I wanted to re-visit Taiwan and of course, I answered "XXX"! That's a great thing being a wanderlust wife...hehe!

So, on 29 August 2014, I had my solo-travel and took Malaysia Airlines from Penang – Kuala Lumpur – Taipei. My flight was in the midnight and I arrived Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport the next morning at 6.00a.m. on 30 August 2014 while hubby greeted me at the hotel lobby. I spent 10 days, 9 nights in Taiwan (29 August 2014 – 7 September 2014) and it was entirely a free & easy trip for me.

Day 1: 29 August 2014  

PENANG → Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) → TAIWAN (TAIPEI)

Depart from Penang – Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) – Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)

Day 2: 30 August 2014  

TAIWAN (TAIPEI)

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall – National Palace Museum – Damsui Fisherman Wharf – Tamsui Old Street – Shilin Night Market

Day 3: 31 August 2014  

TAIWAN (JINGTONG – PINGXI – SHIFEN – JIUFEN)

JINGTONG – Jingtong Train Station (Japanese wood constructed station) – Jingtong Old Street – Jingtong Railway Story Museum – Coal Mining Memorial Park

PINGXI – Pingxi Old Street

SHIFEN – Shifen Old Street – Shifen Waterfall – Yanjingdong Waterfall – Shifen Bridge –Jingan Suspension Bridge

JIUFEN – Jiufen Old Street – Jiufen Village - Shuqi Street

Day 4: 1 September 2014  

TAIWAN (TAIPEI)

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (Changing of Guards Ceremony at 10.00a.m.) – 228 Peace Park – Presidential Office – Taipei 101 & Taipei World Trade Center – Longshan Temple & Longshan Temple Underground Shopping Bazaar – Ximen Red House – Ximending Commercial /Pedestrian Area – Sogo Departmental Store (Fuxing Branch)

  

Day 5: 2 September 2014   
TAIWAN (TAIPEI) 
Taipei Confucius Temple – Dalongdong Bao’an Temple – the 44^th Kan Street – Sogo Departmental Store (Fuxing Branch) -  Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area  

Day 6: 3 September 2014   
TAIWAN (TAIPEI) 
Taipei 101 – Xinyi Shopping District Skywalks – Hankyu – Eslite Xinyi Bookstore – Shin Kong Mitsukoshi - Xinyi Place 

Day 7: 4 September 2014   
TAIWAN (TAIPEI) 
National Museum of History – Damsui Fisherman Wharf – Damsui Old Street - Sogo Departmental Store (Fuxing Branch) – Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market 

Day 8: 5 September 2014   
TAIWAN (TAIPEI) 
The Luzhou Lee Family Historic Estate – Yonglian Temple - Luzhou Miaokou Market 

Day 9: 6 September 2014
TAIWAN (TAIPEI) 
Yehliu Geopark – Taipei Songshan Airport Plane Observation Deck – Pinglin Old Town & Old Street – Bao Ping Temple – Night Markets near Longshan Temple (Guangzhou Street Night Market, Huaxi Street Night Market, Xichang Street Night Market, Wuzhou Street Night Market) 

Day 10: 7 September 2014   
TAIWAN → Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) → PENANG 

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) - Penang  

Yehliu Geopark, was my last stop on our second last day in Taiwan.  We had been to Taiwan back in 2008, but we missed Yehliu due to the unrecommended weather condition during our travel period during that time.

Ginger Rock

Mushroom Rocks

This "honeycomb weathering" can be found all over Yehliu GeoPark

So, on 6th September we headed to Yehliu Geopark, a cape located on the north coast of Taiwan. We took the earliest bus from Taipei (bus stop near Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, opposite Sogo Departmental Store) to Yehliu via Kuo-Kuang Bus no.1815 (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes ride) and arrived there at around 8.30a.m. The drive to Yehliu is very scenic, especially when you get closer to the coast. 

Fisherman's Boat

The bus stopped us at the main road.  We walked for 10 minutes towards the end of the street and saw many seafood restaurants and a temple before arriving at the entrance to the Geopark along the way.

Holely Rock!

As it was a sunny day, the whole area was terribly packed with people and umbrellas.

Renowned for its fascinating rock formations composed of mixed sandstone and shake sculptured by wind and water, the 1700 meter long coast is one of the most famous wonders of the world.  

The Geopark are divided into 3 main areas. The 1st area houses the mushroom, ginger, candle and ice cream rocks. The 2^nd area, nearer to the coastline features the elephant rock, fairy shoe, earth rock, peanut rock and the famous Queen’s Head. The 3rd area is the wave-cut platform with steep cliffs where rocks are incarnated as a result of torrent waves and sea erosion such as the 24-Filial Piety Hill, Pearl and Marine Bird Rock. The third area also includes the major ecology reserve of Yehliu Geopark.

The Queen's Head - Packed with people and umbrellas

The star attraction is the "The Queen's Head", an iconic image of Taiwan that resembles the profile of an Egyptian Queen. This rock is such a treasured symbol of Taiwan, that you simply can’t go near neither lays a finger on it. The photo session with the “Queen” was terrible too! Check out the number of crowds behind.

Lovers Rock

Giant mushroom rock

Lovers Rock

Thick-neck mushroom rocks

Thick-neck mushroom rocks

Dragon's Head Rock

The formation rocks at Yehliu Geopark:

• Honeycomb Rock, Honeycomb weathering
• Mushroom Rock
• Ginger Rock
• Candle shaped Rock
• Bean Curd Rock
• Mini Taiwan Rock
• Queen's Head
• Fairy's shoe
• Marine Bird Rock
• Ice Cream Rock
• Elephant Rock
• Peanut Rock
• Pearl Rock
• Little Turtle Rock
• Japanese Geisha Rock
• Fried Drumstick
• 24-filial piety hill
• Lover Cave
• Dragon Head Rock and many many more.... 
• Click here to know about Yehliu Natural Landscape. 

The sun, the rocks and the blue blue sea!

Honeycombed Rock

Fairy’s Shoe (Left) & Peanut Rock (Right)

Leopard Rock?

Various kinds of fossils found in the sandstone all over the Yehliu GeoPark

We also found some fossil and the Statue of Lin Tien Jane, in commemoration of his bravery for scarifying his own live for saving others along the way. 

Statue of Lin Tien Jane

We enjoyed this place very much and left after more than 2 hours walk. The magnificent views of those beautiful rocks simply look great and we couldn’t resist ourselves to snap a few more photos back as memories. And also due to the brilliant weather, it makes our presence with those rocks look so picture perfect! 

Air Itinerary Details: 

Malaysia Airlines (MH): Penang - Kuala Lumpur International Airport  (KLIA) – Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) / Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) - Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) - Penang

Accommodation: 

Taipei Fullerton East

(nearest MRT station: Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Station via Bannan Line)

Address: No.32, Section 5, Nanjing East Road , Songshan District, 105 Taipei

Website: http://www.taipeifullerton.com.tw/

e-mail: service@ taipeifullerton.com.tw

The Sherwood Taipei

(nearest MRT station: Zhongshan Junior High School Station via MRT Muzha-Neihu Line)

Address: No.111, Sec.3,Min Sheng East Road, Taipei

Website: http://www.sherwood.com.tw/

e-mail: sherwood@sherwood.com.tw 

Places of Interest / Entrance Tickets: 

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – FOC

Damsui Fisherman Wharf – FOC

National Palace Museum - NT$250

Presidential Office –FOC

Taipei 101 - NT$500

Taipei World Trade Center - FOC

Longshan Temple – FOC

Ximen Red House – FOC

Taipei Confucius Temple – FOC

Dalongdong Bao’an Temple – FOC

National Museum of History – FOC

The Luzhou Lee Family Historic Estate – NT$60

Yonglian Temple – FOC

Yehliu Geopark - NT$80

Must Try / Eat:  

• Jingtong Chicken Rolls
• Fried Squid (Damsui Fisherman Wharf)
• Deep Fried Chicken Cutlets (Shilin Night Market)
• Lime Juice
• Xiaolongbao (Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101)
• Wrapped Ice-Cream with Shaved Peanut Rolls (Longshan Temple Night Markets)
• Ke Kou Fish Balls (Damsui Fisherman Wharf)
• Ice-Monster Shaved Ice Desserts
• Chia Te Pineapple Cake
• Formosa Chang Braised Minced Pork Rice

Local Transportation:

• Easy Card NT$200 (Deposit NT$100) 
• Taxi fares from Taoyuan International Airport – city – NT$900
• National Palace Museum  (Take Damsui Line, stop at Shilin Station and take bus no. 30, 255, 304)  
• Yehliu Geopark (Taipei – Yehliu via Kuo-Kuang Bus no.1815 for approx. 1 hour 20 minutes) NT$96
• Wufenpu Garment Wholesale Area (Take Nangang Line, Stop at Houshanpi Station)
• Sogo Departmental Store (Fuxing Branch) (Take Nangang Line, Stop at Zhongxiao Fuxing Station)
• Taipei Confucius Temple & Dalongdong Bao’an Temple (Take Damsui Line, Stop at Yuanshan Station)
• Ximen Red House &  Ximending Commercial /Pedestrian Area (Take Banqiao Line, Stop at Ximen Station)
• Taipei 101, Taipei World Trade Center, Xinyi Shopping District Skywalks, Hankyu – Eslite Xinyi Bookstore, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi (Take Xinyi Line, Stop at Taipei 101 or World Trade Center Station)
• 228 Peace Park & Presidential Office – (Take Xinyi Line, Stop at NTU Hospital)
• Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – (Take Xinyi Line, Stop at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall)
• Taipei – Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, Jiufen – (Take bus no.1062 at Kee Lung bus station to Ruifang train station) (approx.1 hour)
• Damsui Fisherman Wharf - (Take Damsui Line, Stop at Damsui Station)
• Shilin Night Market (Take Damsui Line, Stop at Shilin Station)
• Longshan Temple (Take Banqiao Line, Stop at Longshan Temple Station)
• Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall (Take Nangang Line, Stop at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station)
• The Luzhou Lee Family Historic Estate &  Yonglian Temple (Take Luzhou Line, Stop at Sanmin Senior High School Station, walk from  Fuxing Road towards National Open University)

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware” – Martin Buber  

 Read more about our travel experiences @ Taiwan:   

Taiwanderful. Our 10-Days Trip Itinerary in Taipei (Part 1) 

Sending Wishes to the Sky. 10-Days Trip Itinerary in Taiwan (Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen, Jiufen Part 2) 

Welcome to Small World! This blog is not a travel agency, but rather a personal site which allows me to share my past travel experiences in a straightforward and far-reaching way. I often made great use of other peoples travel blogs and sites every time I plan for my travel itinerary as they often contained most updated information and invaluable resources from their past travel experiences.  I hope that you will find every piece of information & images contained within my blog handy and useful. Thank you very much for reading my post(s). If you find my blog worth a read, please feel free to leave a comment/testimonial or click "Like/Share" if you love reading them all. xoxo The writer is a passionate traveler who enjoys speaking to young keen travelers about the freedom to get cultured and to taste the fullness of life. Feel free to contact the writer if you need any travel advice, guidance or tips or if you have any burning questions with regards to your upcoming trip(s)/ journey. Happy Planning & Reading.

- Be inspired but more importantly be inspiring -