Shitiping Geopark along Taiwan’s east coast, literally meaning Stone Step Plain, because it looks like a bunch of stone steps. Some special geological forces have created this rock that resembles a bunch of stone steps on the east coast of Taiwan. Did I mention that there are stone steps? It is still a beautiful and unique stretch of coastline.
Historical Background: Shitiping literally means "rock stair plateau" get's it's name from the staircase shaped rocks along the coast. The area is made up of hard sedimentary rock placed over softer sandstone, which creates cuestas or staircase shaped rock formations. This makes for a unique structures and shapes, including potholes and trenches. Now it is a major tourist attraction along Taiwan's east coast. How to get there: Take highway 11 south from Hualien City about 60km or two and a half hours. If you do not have a scooter or car, buses also stop along this route. You can also take bus 1140A which takes about three hours. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Price: Parking is 50-60 NT for cars, and 15-20 NT for scooters. Otherwise entrance to the park is free. Tours: You can book a snorkeling, SUP, or diving experience and more at Shitiping on Klook here or KKday here. Hours: 24 hours a day Map: Please see below: Our Journey: We have been to Shitiping once, and it was a magical mystical place along the east coast highway. Previously I had only been as far as Sanxiantai, and had only taken a car and train through the East Rift Valley.
You can check out our drone footage above.
Or check out a 360 degree panoramic view of the area above.
Here you can see rice fields right next to the ocean in Hualien, with Shitiping in the background. Rice fields sitting right next to the ocean is actually a common sight along the east coast here.
And some abandoned hotels...
Inside the Shitiping Scenic Area, there are also places to camp right along the coast.
View of the trail along the coast.
View of the main rock steps at Shitiping from the parking lot.
Looking back at the mountains behind from the parking lot.
Steps leading down to the seashore.
More steps along the way.
More steps leading to Shitiping.
Finally the trail leads to a sandy bottom here.
View looking out at the ocean.
People crowded near the stone steps.
This is the instagram spot.
View looking north up the coast.
People crowded on the pointy slopes of Shitiping.
View looking down.
Looking back up the trail.
View of one of the ocean trenches here, carved out by thousands of years of wave action.
Another sea trench.
People lining up for their photo.
A group lined up on top.
Someone getting their photo taken.
Looking back at the main staircase.
Stone steps.
Wider view of the stone steps.
Steps just small enough for humans to enjoy.
The grand staircase.
View up the coast.
Last view of the Shitiping stairs before we left.
View of Shitiping via drone.
Another view via drone.
More photos in the gallery above.
Another view of the abandoned houses here as we left.
You can book a snorkeling, SUP, or diving experience and more at Shitiping on Klook here or KKday here. You can find more tours of Hualien on Klook here or KKday here. You can also check out our full guide to Hualien here, our full guide to Taroko Gorge here, and our full guide to Taroko National Park here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
1 Comment
sam
1/3/2024 10:43:22 am
I think those are villas that still operating instead of abandoned houses :) i come across this villa when searching for accommodation around shitiping Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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