Qingshui Cliffs

Qingshui Cliffs are a natural landscape spanning 22.7 kilometers, located between Heping and Qingshui in Xiulin Township, Hualien County. The cliffs are composed of marble, gneiss, and greenschist, presenting the most magnificent scenery along the Suhua Highway. They are also a spiritual symbol of the Suhua Highway and one of Taiwan's Eight Great Sceneries. Besides being the most spectacular view along the Hualien-Taitung coast, Qingshui Cliffs are also an excellent spot for watching the sunrise. Beyond marveling at the cliffs, visitors can enjoy kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding in the blue Pacific below, getting an even closer look at their beauty. The cliffs plunge directly into the sea, with a vertical drop of over 800 meters. This impressive cliff was formed by the Philippine Sea Plate pushing up the Eurasian Plate, while rain and wind eroded softer surface materials, revealing the hard granite and marble beneath. Qingshui Cliffs are sea cliffs formed by fault structures approximately 250 million years ago. Biological remains such as corals, shells, and algae gradually accumulated on the seabed, forming limestone through diagenesis. Subsequent deep burial by overlying rocks caused the limestone to metamorphose into marble. Around 9 million years ago, the Eurasian Plate and Philippine Sea Plate began to collide, causing the sea cliffs to gradually uplift and rise. Coupled with erosion from rain and weathering, this created the spectacular marble cliff face seen today. Standing on a platform and gazing at the majestic Qingshui Cliffs, one of Taiwan's Eight Great Sceneries, and the shimmering waves crashing against them, a scene that fills the heart with wonder and admiration for nature's beautiful peril, inspires a sense of humility and reverence. The observation deck next to the Chongde Tunnel entrance at Suhua Highway 176.4K is the best viewing spot. From there, gazing at the coastal road of Suhua Highway and the tunnels carved along the cliffs, one can truly appreciate the engineering hardships faced by the pioneers who built the highway. These pioneers had to risk their lives, contending with the vast ocean and perilous cliffs to open this magnificent cliffside highway, an endeavor that was no easy feat. Transportation: ● Public Transportation: Take Hualien Bus (North Line via Provincial Highway 9, Provincial Highway 8, Central Cross-Island Highway) - Route 1132 - alight at Chongde Station. This route reaches attractions along Qingshui Cliffs. ● Driving: Address: North of Chongde Tunnel on Suhua Highway, Xincheng Township, Hualien, at the 182.5 km mark of Suhua Highway.