Introduction

Yehliu is well-know for its unique rock formations and stunning scenery make it a place well worth visiting in Taiwan. As “the Crown coast” of the northern Taiwan and stretching about 2 kilometers into the sea, Yehliu Geopark possesses many micro-landscapes. Honeycombed rocks, mushroom rocks, Ginger rocks, chessboard rocks, sea arches/ notches and candlestick-shaped stone are just some examples of weathered grotesque rocks under spotlight. Fossils and trace fossils are commonly found in the park as well. The scientific and environmental significance of these landforms can be promoted as a great natural classroom with the good practice of environmental education.

Rocks carved by wave-cutting and weathering through time were formed into various shapes resembling real figures of people, animals, plants, etc. Many famous “statues” can be aroused in tourist memories such as Dragon’s Head, Fairy’s Shoe,Tofu Rocks, Elephant Rock. In which, the main attraction for most tourists, as witnessed by the constantly long, snaking lineups each day, is the hoodoo stone known as the Queen’s Head, supposedly named for its likeness to the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti or England’s Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen’s Head is so famous that it is commonly known as the flagship of the geopark in Taiwan. The park is also home to birds such as ospreys and little egrets. In the village of Yehliu, the elaborate, 19th-century Baoan Temple was built using materials from an abandoned boat.

Yehliu Geopark is the first site in the Northern Coast transformed and run according to the UNESCO values of geopark. In 2007, it was merged into the North Coast Geopark by the Tourism Bureau. It is the best environmental education site for eroded coasts and the most visited tourist spot along the north coast.