Double-Heart of Stacked Stones, Stone fishing weir in Chimei, Taiwan
The Double-Heart of Stacked Stones is a traditional fishing weir made from basalt and coral reef stone, built along the coast of Cimei Township, Taiwan. The two connected heart-shaped enclosures form pools where fish are trapped as the tide goes out.
The technique of fishing with stone structures was developed around 700 years ago by the island's fishers, who adapted it to local tidal patterns. Knowledge of how to build and maintain these weirs was passed down by word of mouth, without the need for written records.
The heart shape was not chosen by accident: it has become a symbol of love in the region, and many visitors come specifically to see it from a higher viewpoint. Local people take pride in this structure as something that belongs equally to fishing tradition and to the identity of the island.
The heart shape is best seen at low tide, when the water pulls back and the full outline of the stones becomes visible. Because the form is hard to read at ground level, finding a slightly raised viewpoint nearby gives a much clearer sense of the overall shape.
Among the roughly 570 stone weirs found across the region, this is the only one built in a double-heart shape, which makes it stand out even among locals. The stones were placed without mortar or binding material, held in position purely by their own weight and careful arrangement.
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