Chihsingtan Beach, Coastal beach in Xincheng, Taiwan.
Chihsingtan Beach is a crescent-shaped stretch of Pacific coast in Xincheng Township, Taiwan, covered with black stones and pebbles. The stones reach down to the water and form a surface that differs clearly from ordinary sandy shores.
Japanese authorities turned the original lake into Hualien Airport in 1936, forcing residents to move to the present coast. The new settlement grew along the shore and carried the old name forward.
Residents call this shore Qixingtan, which means Big Dipper, to keep a link to their former settlement near the airport. The name recalls a way of life that began decades ago in a different place.
The shore lies a short walk from Beipu Station, which connects to Hualien city through the Taiwan Railways line. Visitors should bring sturdy shoes since the smooth stones can become slippery when waves wash over them.
The stones form shifting patterns when ocean waves touch them, changing with the tides. Each wave rearranges the dark pebbles and leaves temporary lines and shapes along the shore.
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