Sandra Bornstein

  • Home
  • Meet Sandy
  • 100 Things Boulder
  • For Readers
  • For Partners
  • For Glio
You are here: Home / Worldwide Travel / Asia / Yehliu Geopark

Yehliu Geopark

June 15, 2015 By Sandra Bornstein Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Share
Approaching Yeliu Park via a Tour Bus
Approaching Yehliu Geopark
via a Tour Bus

After living in Colorado for 15 years and exploring different geological formations around the world, I will always be attracted to unusual terrains. When I came upon the following description of a half-day Keelung, Taiwan excursion, I did not hesitate booking the tour.

 

 

Yehliu Park, a promontory stretching over a mile into the sea, revealing an amazing variety of rock formations.

My previous travel experiences had set my expectations high. Just last year, I visited national and state parks near Moab, Utah. My travels took me off the beaten track to a less visited state park, Goblin Valley State Park. There the rock formations resembled goblins and there were only a few other tourists.

Small Grouping of Goblins at Goblin Valley State Park
Small Grouping of Goblins at Goblin Valley State Park

In other years, I had witness the spectacular beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and the Ramon Crater in Israel. I was eager to see what Yehliu Geopark had to offer.

Map of Yehliu Geopark Courtesy of www.ylgeopark.org.tw
Map of Yehliu Geopark
Courtesy of www.ylgeopark.org.tw

As I approached the entrance, I could easily measure the popularity of this Taiwanese destination. People were everywhere. Unlike geological parks in other parts of the world, this place was relatively small. From the entrance of the Yehliu Geopark to the end of the cape is less than 2 km while the widest area of the park is less than 300 meters.

What is the main cause of this Sea Erosion Landscape? 

The surrounding waters of the East China Sea.

East China Sea Eroding the rock formations at Yeliu Park
East China Sea Eroding
the rock formations at Yeliu Park

Yehliu Park is located in a temperate and humid climate and is in the direct path of the Northeast monsoons. Every year, months of intense waves erode the sedimentary rocks. This weathering effect changes the texture and composition of the limestone.

In various places, we observed weathering rings. The color of the rings was dependent on the minerals found in the water. Higher concentrations of certain materials created more intense colored rings. Sometimes the chemical reactions with the sand grains inside the rocks causes raised ridges to form.

Mushroom Rocks and Weathering at Yeliu Park
Mushroom Rocks and Weathering at Yeliu Park

Yehliu Park is best known for its mushroom rocks that number approximately 180.  These globe-shape gray colored rocks are perched on the top of thinner cream colored stone pillars. The top part of the mushrooms are covered with holes of different sizes and resemble honeycombs. Not surprising these notable rock formations are referred to as honeycombed rocks.

Mushroom rocks undergo a multi-stage eroding process that starts with no neck, progresses to a broad neck, and then ends with a narrow neck.

DSC_0096

These unique formations are also located on the ground. The ones on the ground are called honeycomb weathering. The surfaces of these rocks are filled with marine eroded holes of a multitude of different sizes.

DSC_0109

It was a challenge to take scenic pictures that did not include people or the red line that designated where you could not walk. Security guards with whistles warned those who crossed over the line.

Queen's Head at Yeliu Park
Queen’s Head at
Yehliu Park

Throughout the park were rock formations that resembled different objects. Notable formations were nearby whenever we witnessed masses of people congregating in a specific area. Oftentimes, it was not possible to get a close up view unless you stood in a long line. My zoom feature came in handy when I saw the ridiculous line for Queen’s Head formation. While I honestly didn’t think much of this rock, many see the profile of Queen Elizabeth.

DSC_0100

The puddling of seawater illustrates the ongoing process of erosion and the weathering of the rock. If you looked closely, wildlife was swimming in the water. In the background there are candle shaped rocks. Marine erosion creates the circular trench at the top and whenever time moves downward to create a shape that resembles a candlestick.

DSC_0105

As the sea waves eroded portions of the cape, the land was worn down and narrow spaces developed. Small bridges connected the two parcels.

DSC_0099

One had to be mindful wherever they walked. Occasionally, we observed people trip while walking on the uneven terrain and step into the abundant holes filled with water

After following the guide for a short time, we opted to explore the area on our own. We walked toward a hilly area that was at the tip of the cape. The land became narrower.

DSC00973

The crowds dissipated as soon as we started uphill. Since we did not have a map, we had no idea what was ahead of us. The sidewalk was surrounded by lush greenery and the air was filled with the sounds of birds.

DSC01002

We rounded a bend and came upon a group of people with very expensive cameras. Although none understood English, we presumed that they were waiting to take pictures of the birds and colorful butterflies that inhabited this peaceful sanctuary.

DSC01003

At the top of the hill was a covered structure that provided a wonderful vantage point of the vigorous waves hitting against the steep cliffs. It was an ideal spot for a picnic, but we did not have any food. Eventually, we left this amazing spot to join our tour group.

DSC00997If you enjoy nature and can cope with busloads of tourists, Yehliu Geopark is a wonderful option for a half-day excursion in Keelung.

Related Posts

Precruise Exploration of Hong Kong

Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center

Half-Day in Taipei

Exploring Southeast Utah- Little Wild Horse Canyon

Exploring Southeast Utah- Goblin Valley State Park

Sandra’s Bio

Sandra Bornstein is the author of MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE. It is available on Amazon. Sandra’s memoir highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. She is a licensed Colorado teacher who has taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad as well as college level courses. Sandra is married and has four adult sons. The memoir was a finalist in the Travel category for the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the 2013 International Book Awards, the 2013 National Indie Book Excellence Awards, the 2013 USA Best Book Awards, and received an Honorable Mention award in the Multicultural Non-Fiction category for the 2013 Global ebook Awards.

Filed Under: Asia, Worldwide Travel Tagged With: Goblin State Park, Keelung excursions, Moab Utah, port of Keelung, Yehliu Geopark

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You can purchase here.

Purchase on Amazon


Newsletter

Genres

Most Recent

Sandy Bornstein Appears at The Read Queen Book Signing

Sandy Bornstein NATJA’S Featured Author/Writer September 2024

Reflecting on my First Year of Grief

Announcing Sandy’s Interview on Big Blend Radio– August 19, 1954

In 2024– Don’t Forget to Keep Moving and Live Without Regrets







Connect with Sandra

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on LinkedInFollow Us on E-mailFollow Us on Goodreads

© 2012-2025 Sandra Bornstein | All Rights Reserved