Shihyusan, Natural rock formation in Taitung County, Taiwan.
Shihyusan is a coastal rock formation in Taitung County, on Taiwan's eastern shore, known for its mushroom-like silhouette. The wide, overhanging top rests on a narrow eroded base that sits at the edge of the sea, close to a small fishing port.
The formation took shape over a very long time as wave erosion and weathering wore away the softer rock at the base faster than the harder rock above. This uneven erosion gradually produced the overhanging shape visible today.
The name Shihyusan translates roughly to "stone mushroom mountain" in Chinese, which describes the shape of the rock quite well. Visitors tend to walk around it slowly, looking for the angle where the wide cap seems to float above the narrow base.
The rock sits a short walk from the nearby fishing port, where basic facilities and parking are available. Coastal paths around the formation are easiest to walk when the weather is dry and the tide is low.
The narrow base supporting the wide top continues to erode, meaning the formation looks slightly different from decade to decade. At some point, the overhanging cap will likely detach completely, but no one knows exactly when.
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