Chingshui Cliff, Coastal cliff in Hualien County, Taiwan
Chingshui Cliff is a rock face in Hualien County that stretches for 21 kilometers and rises up to 800 meters vertically above the Pacific. The wall consists of marble and metamorphic stone that lifts directly from the sea and connects with the Suhua Highway.
The rock face formed 250 million years ago when the Philippine Sea Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate, transforming limestone into marble. Construction of the Suhua Highway along the steep coast began in the 1930s under Japanese rule and was completed after World War II.
The name Qingshui comes from the Chinese words for clear water, describing the ocean color at this point. Travelers stop along the roadside or at viewing platforms to photograph the drop and watch the expanse of the sea.
The section can be reached from the Suhua Highway or from Chongde Station, with visibility best during morning hours. The road runs very close to the edge in some places, so extra care is needed during fog or rain.
Three different rock types – marble, gneiss, and schist – form vertical stripes visible from the observation points. The stone changes color depending on light and time of day, from pale white to dark gray.
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