Go to the main content section Anchor point

New Taipei City Travel

The Must-see Attraction for Foreign Visitors- the Yehliu Geopark

Anchor point
The Must-see Attraction for Foreign Visitors- the Yehliu Geopark
You only have a week in Taiwan and do not want to spend too much transportation time? Then you definitely cannot miss the "world-famous" tourist attraction- the Yehliu Geopark. I assume you have done your research on the must-see attraction that people are talking about before coming to Taiwan. Have you heard of the "alien planet" in the northern Taiwan? If no, please add it to your travel to-do-list. The Yehliu Geopark is located in the suburban area of Taipei City. It is 40 minutes away from downtown by public transportation. The long and narrow capes sticking out from the island are eroded by the strong northeast monsoon, and with the weathering and coastal erosion, the "Mars landscape" is thus generated. There are lots of rock types here and you can even see gradient colors on some of the rocks. The famous rocks will be introduced below. You will definitely be amazed when seeing the art of nature in person!

Pedestal rock area/ wave-cut platform- 2 main characteristics of the Geopark
In the first area, you will see lots of pedestal rocks, ginger shaped rocks and candle shaped rocks. When looking around, pedestal rocks are everywhere. With time passing by, the hard concretion inside the sandstone is exposed, and with the effect of wind, sun, rain, wave as well as the erosion of the northeast monsoon, the pedestal rocks of different shapes, such as the pedestal rocks with no necks, bulk necks, narrow necks and broken necks, are thus formed. The landscape with lots of pedestal rocks is very uneven, so pay attention while you are walking on it. Do not be too focused on taking photos or enjoying the view and fall.

The second area on the other side of the Geopark has the wave-cut landscape. You will find sea caves, coastal notches, wave-cut platform and cuesta. On one side of the wave-cut platform is the cliff and on the other side is the rapid wave. You will find lots of interesting rocks eroded by the seawater here, including the Twenty-four Filial Exemplars Rocks.

Landscape Wonder- The Pedestal Rocks
When first walking into the Geopark, you will see a huge area of the pedestal rocks. When seeing afar, it's like the cute mushrooms park. And the pedestal rocks are the landscape that attracts most people in the Yehliu Geopark. The process for the formulation of the pedestal rock is first the rock formation exposed from the sea surface, and the seawater will erode the rock continuously. After some time, the hard concretion inside the sandstone is exposed, and with the effect of wind, sun, rain, wave as well as the erosion of the northeast monsoon, the pedestal rocks of different shapes, such as the pedestal rocks with no necks, bulk necks, narrow necks and broken necks, are thus formed. The different shapes of the rocks represent the different formation processes. The landscape with lots of pedestal rocks is very uneven, so pay attention while you are walking on it. Do not be too focused on taking photos or enjoying the view and fall.

The Star of the Geopark - "Queen's Head"
The next coming up is the star of the Yehliu Geopark, "Queen's Head". The Queen's Head is a kind of pedestal rock. When the crustal structure was rising, the differential erosion of the seawater made the Queen's Head what it is like today. If we divide its height by the average crust rising speed in northern Taiwan, we will learn the Queen's Head is about 4,000 years old. The Queen's Head is a kind of pedestal rock. However, the joint on its upper concretion broke during 1962-1963. When viewing from a certain angle, it looks similar to the head portrait of Elizabeth II and thus acquires the name. With the natural weathering effect over the decades, the neck of the Queen's Head is getting even narrower. To prevent erosion by human activities for that tourists might touch it, the Queen's Head is now under protection. If you would like to take a photo with the Queen's Head, you can walk on the wooden plank trail to line up. Besides, you can view the Queen's Head from afar and take photos with it on the trail.

    The "Cute Princess Rock" and "Candle Shaped Rock" are the popular landscape at the Geopark. The formation process of the "Cute Princess Rock" is similar to that of the Queen's Head. The eroded rock looks like a princess with a ponytail and is said to be the potential replacement of the Queen's Head. Doesn't the rock look like a little girl with her hair in a bun? Though the Cute Princess Rock is probably not as element and sophisticated as the Queen's Head, it gives people a feeling of passion and sweetness.

    How was the "Candle Shaped Rock" named? I guess you already know! The landscape looks just like candles. There are 3 main processes for the formation of the Candle Shaped Rock. First the candle fire is exposed, and the area around it is eroded to form a groove. Finally, the candlestick is cut and the Candle Shaped Rock is thus formed. The candle fire is actually a round concretion in the rock formation. When seawater erodes sandstone, the round concretion which is harder is exposed on the ground. And when waves dash against the concretion, seawater flow around the concretion to erode the sandstone around it. A groove is formed as a result. Since the formation outside the concretion is harder, seawater will flow according to the shape of the formation and cut the rock into a cone shape that looks like a candlestick. And a rock that looks like the shape of candle is formed by mother nature.

    Amazing Rocks- Cuesta
    Now let's look at the beautiful scene of the Cuesta in the second area. Walking along on the road to the Cuesta, you will see the most beautiful sea and mountain scene in the Geopark. You can view the Cuesta on one side and the sea cliff as well as wave-cut platform on the other side.

    The Cuesta features a sharp cliff on one side and a smooth slope on the other side. It is formed because the main stratum is pushed by uneven force and speed, which results in uneven rise of the stratum. When the stratum is pushed, the lump on the ground will cause the stratum to break. And after the seawater erosion, a landscape that looks like a "natural slide" is gradually formed.

    Guess how famous is the Yehliu Geopark? CNN once reported that the scene at the "Yehliu Geopark" is like the landscape in the outer space and that it has the environment that looks just like the one Mars has. You will definitely find lots of gorgeous and special rocks, including the "Queen's Head", "Ice Cream Rocks", "Beehive Rocks", "Ginger Shaped Rocks" and other wave-cut landscape. You will definitely be amazed by the diverse geologic structure and landscapes here. What's more, you can see how great and powerful nature is. Whether it's from the perspective of geographic environment or location and transportation, the Geopark is definitely worth visiting!

    Transportation Information of the Yehliu Geopark
    *Tamsui Bus No.862 (Take the bus heading to Keelung in front of MRT Tamsui Station and get off at Yehliu.) The bus sets out every 30 minutes.
    *KUO-KUANG eBus No. 1815 (Take the bus heading to Chinshan Youth Activity Center at the KUO-KUANG eBus Station at Taipei Main Station. The Bus drives along Zhongxiao E. Road and makes a brief stop at the Taipei City Hall Bus Station. Please get off at Yehliu.) The bus sets out every 20 minutes.
    *Keelung Bus No.790 (Take the bus heading to Jinshan next to Keelung Train Station and get off at Yehliu.) The bus sets out every 15 minutes.
    *Keelung Bus No.1068 (Take the bus heading to Jinshan at National Taiwan University and get off at Yehliu Geopark.)
    *Keelung Bus No.953 (Take the bus heading to Jinshan at the bus station next to Banqiao Train Station and get off at Yehliu Geopark.)

    Nearby Places to Go
    Previous
    Best Place for Children to Exert Energy- New Taipei Metropolitan Park
    Do you feel like your children have endless energy? And time seems to become slower when staying at home? There are lots of inclusive parks in New Taipei City that have new facilities different from the all similar facilities at traditional parks. You can enjoy facilities in different ways! The most popular "New Taipei Metropolitan Park" has the natural riverside view. A giant grassland is here for people to run, jog and jump. Besides, romantic installation art and interesting amusement facilities for kids can be found here. Mommy and Daddy, let's move! Bring your kids here to exert energy!The New Taipei Metropolitan Park has an area of 424 hectares, which is 1.25 times bigger than the Central Park in New York City.The New Taipei Metropolitan Park extends from the Wugu District, Luzhou District to Sanchong District with a length of 7.7 kilometers and a total area of 424 hectares. It is the biggest riverside sports park in New Taipei City. The area of the New Taipei Metropolitan Park equals to 16 Daan Parks in Taipei City and is 1.25 times bigger than the Central Park in New York City!You will find 14 themed areas in the Park. Xingfu Shuiyang Park inside is an inclusive park and one of parents' favorites when it comes to taking children out. The transportation here is quite convenient. Take the MRT to "Sanchong Station" and you can walk to the Park. Besides, you can see the riverside view from height on the Chenguang Bridge next to the MRT Station. When at night, the romantic lighting will shine on the Bridge.The Erchong Floodway used to be a flooding area. After treatment and organization, it has become a great park in the city. At the Park you will find a giant grassland where people can run to their hearts' content or have a picnic. What's more, the flower field that changes with seasons are right next to the riverside view. Large installation art that is great to take photos with will be established on a constant basis. The most incredible thing of the Park is the amusement facilities set up along the embankment. You can always see cute children playing on the facilities. The facilities make the Park an ideal place for kids.The Super Exciting Slide of 7 Meter Height! Children Might Get Crazy When Just Entering the Park!Let's take a look at the Park area that might get children crazy. When walking out of MRT Sanchong Station, you will first see slides on a grassland. With the combination with the slope landscape, 6 slides were built in colorful shades! If you look closely, you will see the slides can be separated into 2 layers. On the upper layer is the tube slides over 1-floor height. And you will find lots of people lining up for the slides since it's rare to have a chance for using slides this long for free. Follow the instruction on the ground to line up.At the entrance of the slide is a flash notifier that will detect whether there are people at the exit below. Please follow the flash notifier to enjoy slides safely. There are 2 more curve slides on the upper layer, and they are longer and steeper. Therefore, the speed sliding down will be faster and people on slides will feel more excited! But before using the slides, you need to climb up first. Children can choose rock climbing, rope climbing, net climbing or taking stairs. Children seldom have the chance to climb using both hands and feet. It is challenging but a great way to train children's muscle!The Simple, Safe, Barrier Free and Interactive Facilities Realize the Spirit of Inclusion!On the lower layer are facilities for little kids. There are 2 curve slides here that are a lot shorter than the ones on the upper layer, and they are less dangerous. Moreover, at the end of the slide is a chair. Therefore, kids will not directly sit on the ground after sliding down, which is a lot safer. Next to these slides is the appealing terrazzo slide in a bowl shape. 2 slides are in the middle and around the slides are 2 half circle slopes. Children can sit side by side to slide down together. When sliding down, they can roll over at the same time. How fun is that!Below are 2 pieces of other playground equipment: The climbing ball is very challenging. Children have to climb and weave in and out of the ball using their arm strength and balance skills at the same time. The other equipment is the swivel chair. Children can choose to sit inside or push it and run around it outside. They can cooperate with each other. The faster the swivel chair spins, the louder the laughter is. How joyful!*感謝好景點網站( https://foncc.com/ ) 提供美照-->The whole playground is covered with colorful Polyurethane paving. The paving not only has a colorful and cute appearance, but is safer for the kids to run and jump in the Park. An instruction sign is set up next to each facility to remind people of safety notices while playing. Besides, the difficulty of how challenging the facilities are is written on the sign. Parents can pick the amusement facility based on children's age and physical strength to challenge your kids.If you continue to walk along the embankment, you will see a giant artificial grass-skating field with the slope of 7 meters. The blue and white color scheme makes the field look like a waterfall. With the blue sky and a large area of green land, the scene is beautiful and comforting. In the middle of this section is the grass-skating area. The ground is covered by artificial turf and you can slide down from the slope with a grass-skating board or cardboard. How exciting it is! On both sides of the field is the climbing area where children can climb up on the bumpy slope. After a few times of climbing up and down, they will definitely be exhausted! A little reminder for parents: The Park is spacious and it can get very hot in summer time, remember to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated. The grass-skating field is suitable for children who are above the age of 5. When sliding down, make sure to keep some distances from the previous person and do not climb up from the grass-skating area in the middle to stay safe.*圖片來源:好景點網站、我的新北市粉絲團-->Holidays Only! FUN Park Train for Parents and Children!Besides slides on the grass land and the grass-skating field like a waterfall, the "Embankment Slope Amusement Park" that was open in June 2020 is the latest highlight of the Park. The amusement park features animals in Taiwan is a must-visit!The New Taipei Metropolitan Park is the largest riverside park in Taiwan. The Erchong Circular Biking Trail of about 20 kilometers is built within the Park. We recommend you to bring your family members to come here cycling on the Trail and feel the natural temperature with wind breezing on your face. Beautiful landscaping is right beside the Trail, so if you feel exhausted for too much cycling, stop the bike, take some photos and take a break. Or you can take New Taipei Metropolitan Park Train at Xinfu Station (across Chongxin Bridge Flea Market) on holidays. The Train circles the Park counter-clockwise and passes by MRT Sanchong Station, the Waterfall Grass-skating Field, Amusement Park and Love-telling Plaza on the way. The trip is about 30 minutes.After seeing the introduction, I believe you feel like visiting the Park now! The New Taipei Metropolitan Park is definitely the best place for children to exert energy. We welcome you to bring your children and have fun here!Nearby Places to Go -->Air Force Sanchong First Military Village Chenguang Bridge
    Next
    8 recommended tourism factories in New Taipei City: Creating a good memory together
    New Taipei City is renowned for its thriving industries, notably the long-established ceramic industry in Yingge, which has evolved since the Qing Dynasty, and the mining industry in Ruifang. During the export-oriented policy of the 1960s, light industries such as food, textiles, electronics, and others began to flourish. Factories congregated in Sanchong, Wugu, Xinzhuang, Banqiao, and Tucheng along Provincial Highways 1 and 3, contributing to the so-called "Taiwan Economic Miracle". As industries progressed, changes in labor costs and environmental consciousness prompted a gradual outward migration of manufacturing activities. In response to these shifts, some factories underwent a government-guided transformation into tourism-centric establishments, aiming to present traditional industries to citizens in a lively and enjoyable manner. Today, these locations have become popular leisure destinations for families, offering them opportunities to deepen their knowledge and create souvenirs through do-it-yourself (DIY) experiences. This chapter will introduce 8 tourism factories in different fields to satisfy the interests of travelers.【Sanchong】​​Beer Head Tourist BreweryEstablished in the spring of 2015 in Sanchong, the Taiwan Head Brewers, also recognized as the Beer Head, stands as the inaugural craft beer brewery tourism factory in Taipei City and New Taipei City. Spanning nearly 1000 ping, it is situated adjacent to the Xianse Temple MRT station and the Xingfu MRT Station of the Circular Line. The Beer Head prides itself on using primarily local ingredients in its beer production. Its notable offering is the "Twenty-four Solar Terms" beer series, which skillfully infused with Taiwan’s winter melon sugar, Changhua’s Jasmine tea, Pingtung’s cocoa, oriental beauty tea, and various other regional flavors. These beers are crafted to deliver enjoyable brews that capture the distinctive tastes of the island. The Taiwan Head Brewers offers professional tours guided by highly experienced brewers, providing travelers with an in-depth observation of the various beer brewing stages. Visitors can also pour a perfect pint of fresh beer themselves and can their creation under the brewer's guidance to take home!【Sanchong】Indian DIY LeathercraftTaiwan was once a stronghold of the pigskin leather industry but gradually declined due to the rise of environmental awareness and the outward migration of manufacturing activities. Established during this wave of industrial transformation, the Indian DIY Leathercraft is committed to promoting green, non-toxic, eco-friendly, and naturally vegetable-tanned leather crafts, including materials packs, hardware accessories, dyes, and finishing agents in various products. During the tour, professional tour guides will not only provide insights into the history and process of leather production but also offer the opportunity for travelers to engage in a do-it-yourself (DIY) activity, creating their own fashionable leather accessories using this ancient method, which is the oldest known leather-making technique!【Wugu】Fengde Tourism FactorySituated within the New Taipei Industrial Park, Fende is the first food company that began its business from a legally operated slaughterhouse. Apart from having its business scope extended to the supply of pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, Fende has also developed a “food and agriculture education”-themed tourism facility dedicated to promoting domestic agricultural products, fostering healthy dietary habits, and cultivating an appreciation for food. The factory is established with a transparent vegetable-and-fruit corridor and a production visiting area, allowing visitors to learn about the process from food processing to packaging and distribution. It also lively presents all kinds of food ingredients in front of visitors through interactive AR and VR guided teachings for them to do FUN DIY activities (such as making colorful mochi, shaking rice balls, and creating red tortoise cake) while enjoying the fun of cuisine.【Bali】PopSmile Popcorn Tourism FactoryRecognized as one of Taiwan's leading brands of flavored popcorn, PopSmile has opened Asia’s first popcorn tourism factory on the left bank of the Tamsui River in Bali. With a vibrant ambiance embellished with colorful themes, the tourism factory features an American small-town setting, making it irresistible for visitors to refrain from capturing photos with their mobile phones. Led by professional tour guides, travelers can explore the history and evolution of popcorn, acquire related life knowledge, and discover the advanced AI automation technology used in production lines. Visitors can also engage in entertaining interactive games and DIY activities. It is a must-visit destination for popcorn enthusiasts.【Linkou】Prince Creative Stationery KingdomPrince Stationery has long been dedicated to the eraser industry and hastened the production of Taiwan's first yellow-barrel ballpoint pen, creating the brand of “high-quality stationery from Taiwan”. Prince Creative Stationery transformed part of its factory site into a tourism facility, becoming the new highlight of Linkou’s tourism scene. Let's follow its mascot, Duke, into the “Time Tunnel of Eraser” and “Celebrity’s Stationery Treasure Box” to catch a glimpse of the eraser production process. Visitors can also create cute and creative stationery using completely non-toxic, eco-friendly materials, providing both adults and children with a delightful and memorable experience.【Yingge】Hsin-Wang Shu Ceramics Memorial MuseumYingge is the capital of ceramics in Taiwan and was home to thousands of ceramic factories during its heyday. Established in 1926, Hsin-Wang Shu Ceramics witnessed the rise and down of of Yingge’s ceramic industry. The Hsin-Wang Shu Ceramics Memorial Museum was established in 2010 and became the first tourism factory that passed the evaluation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The museum has preserved various historical artifacts, including antique-grade gas kilns, kick wheels, and other pottery-making equipment. The experiencing zone is divided into hand-pulling clay, hand-pinching pottery, glaze painting, and mosaic collage experiencing areas, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the joy of creating ceramics.【Tucheng】Wang Ding Time Arts MuseumHave you ever wondered why time appears different everywhere when you travel overseas? Wang Ding, established in 1984, invested significant resources in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and even sought expertise in Switzerland to develop the "World Time Zone Clock Movement". In 2012, Wang Ding established a time-themed arts museum to explore how the global time zones are determined and the assembly and production process of quartz watches. In the DIY zone, visitors can have an in-depth experience assembling quartz clock movements and designing products in their own style using the craftsmanship of watchmakers, which is both fun and educational!【Banqiao】Yumeeiren Garment Tourism FactoryYumeeiren initially operated as a ready-made garment factory and later transformed into a supplier of maternity clothing and related products. This long-standing clothing factory has been established for over half a century and has endured the decline of traditional industries and the impact of Taiwan’s declining birth rates. Despite these challenges, it continues to insist on maintaining the production line for maternity clothing catered to expectant mothers. From design to production and finally to the finished products, everything originates from Yumeeiren’s factories. It's the first maternity clothing company to receive MIT certification. Come visit the Yumeeiren Garment Tourism Factory to understand the process of creating ready-made garments, try making do-it-yourself baby clothing and fashion T-shirts. Moreover, all family members can also wear the unique, specially weighted maternity clothes available exclusively in Taiwan to experience the weight that mothers carry during their ten-month pregnancy journey.
    Back to the top of page
    小客帶路