Yehliu Geopark: Millions of Years of Sea-Carved Wonders in One Trip
Yehliu sits in Wanli, New Taipei City, along a cape roughly 1,700 metres long where sea, wind and time have sculpted Taiwan's densest cluster of sea-eroded rock. The star is the Queen's Head — and an honest note is due: her neck has thinned noticeably from weathering, touching is banned, and she may one day break naturally. So "see her while you still can" isn't a marketing line, it's the truth. Beyond the Queen you'll meet mushroom rocks, candlestick rocks, ginger rocks and sea caves, like flipping through a 3-D geology textbook. The main trails take about half a day, making Yehliu the perfect first stop on a North Coast day tour.
Must-See: Five Rock Formations You Can't Miss
Almost every rock here was shaped by nature alone. Take your time through Zones 2 and 3 and match each formation to the signboards like a treasure hunt:
- Queen's Head: the park icon; admire and photograph from behind the line only
- Mushroom rocks: big-headed, thin-necked "mushrooms" that photograph best in clusters
- Candlestick rocks: hollow tops that look like they hold candles, clearest at low tide
- Ginger rocks: criss-crossed cracks resembling knobs of old ginger
- Sea caves & potholes: hollows and round pits carved by relentless waves
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to wander and shoot. Bring a camera, sun protection and water — there's very little shade by the sea.
Visitor Info: Tickets, Hours & Best Times to Go
Admission (for reference; always confirm the park's latest official notice): full ticket around NT$120, concession around NT$60 (students, children 6–12, seniors 65+); children under 6 or under 115 cm usually enter free.
Opening hours: roughly 08:00–17:00 year-round, often extended in July–August, with occasional "Yehliu Night" events; check the official announcement for exact times.
Best times: right at opening or near dusk, when the light is soft and crowds thin, so you can shoot the Queen's Head without a scrum. Midday summer sun is fierce, so plan around it. Peak season and tour-group waves get busy — a charter's flexible timing lets you dodge them neatly.
The North Coast Golden Route: Yehliu Is Just the Start
Yehliu is only about 1 to 1.5 hours from central Taipei, an ideal launchpad for a North Coast loop. A classic run looks like this:
1. Morning Yehliu Geopark: cool air, fewer people, sea-carved wonders
2. Midday Jinshan Old Street: goose meat, old-street strolling, lunch
3. Afternoon Jiufen Old Street: mountain stairways, teahouses and ocean views
4. Dusk Shifen sky lanterns: write a wish and send it skyward
Arriving by cruise at Keelung Port? Fold Yehliu into a Keelung day tour and soak up the best of the North Coast in half a day.
Enjoy Safely: Coastal Safety & Conservation Rules
Yehliu's wave-cut platform looks flat, but it's mossy and slippery after the tide, and the North Coast occasionally sees sneaker waves (sudden surges) — so don't cut corners on safety:
- Stay inside the red warning lines at all times; never cross them for a photo
- Wear non-slip shoes; sandals and flip-flops slide on wet rock
- Watch the sea and listen for announcements; keep well back when waves or wind pick up
- These rocks took millions of years to form — don't touch, climb or carve them
With kids or older travellers, hold hands and slow down the whole way. Getting everyone home safe matters more than the perfect angle.
Charter or Public Transport? The Smoothest Way to Yehliu
Public transport works: the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Crown North Coast line, Keelung Bus 1068 and Kuo-Kuang 1815 all stop at Yehliu — fine for a single-site round trip on a budget. But if you want to link Yehliu, Jinshan, Jiufen and Shifen in one day, transfers and waiting often eat up most of it.
The charter upside is simple:
- Door-to-door pickup from your hotel or the cruise pier, luggage left in the car
- Route and dwell time fully customised to dodge crowds and chase good light
- Especially kind for travellers with elders, strollers or a tight schedule
To compare your options, see our Taiwan transport guide: charter vs HSR & train.
Ready to Go? Get a Quote Online, Reply Within 2 Hours
The Queen's Head won't wait forever — while she still stands gracefully, gather the North Coast's sea-carved rocks, mountain town and sky lanterns into one smooth itinerary. RaywayGO offers Mandarin/English/Japanese/Korean-speaking drivers and well-worn North Coast charter routes, tailored to your group size, days and must-see stops.
Pricing is quoted by group size and route with no hidden fees. Fill in your travel date, party size and target attractions on the site and send an enquiry — we usually reply within 2 hours. Leave the driving and logistics to us; you just enjoy Taiwan's sea and stone.