How to go to Qingshui Cliff (清水断崖) - Xiaoqingshui (小清水) - Chongde Trail - Chongde Station (崇德車站) - Hualien (花蓮) - Taroko (太魯閣) Travel Series [Travel in Taiwan 170820: At my balcony]

Taiwan. My home. It’s paradise! Also, a land of dreams for those wishing to come here. Although underrated and often obscured by the influence of South Korea’s Hallyu wave and Japan’s anime world, my beloved island has a lot to offer. Taipei 101 is an international landmark and most tourists would stay in the capital. Others would go to the heart of Taiwan, all the way to Sun Moon Lake. If I have friends that will be coming to this country, I will take them to a special place in my home. To an area I can call as my own.

The observation deck at Xiaoqingshui

Qingshui cliffs. A myriad of happiness will fill your heart as you stand on one of the observation decks in Xiaoquingshui. Welcome to the most amazing sight in Taiwan! A rugged cliff standing mighty against the sea. 

A portion of the Suhua Highway while being repaired.

Running across its edge is Suhua Highway. A modern road that connects Yilan to Hualien, it is often blocked by rock falls during earthquakes. Tourist bus and private cars ran along the dangerous road. The vehicles here goes back and forth, ignoring the horror of what would possibly happen when Earth suddenly becomes angry.

Chongde Station

From the platform of Chongde Station, you can already see the Qingshui cliff but going to Xiaoqingshui will be an uphill climb.  There are no taxis here on this station so better get a cab at Xincheng Station.

On the side going to Yilan is Heren Station which marks the northern boundary of the Taroko National Park. To get to the next station, trains must travel approximately 11.5 kilometers southward to reach Chongde Station. It is an 8-minute journey in the train but takes almost three hours by foot. So if you want to come here, you have to board a taxi at Xincheng Station and then ask the cab driver to take you to Xiaoqingshui.

There are holes on the sides of the road tunnels which functions for air ventilation.  Going inside these opening will lead you into the open sea.

The old road built by the Japanese

Imagine cars passing by on this old Japanese road!

Tunnels. I had passed many of them. There is one beside Xiaoqingshui and another that will lead to Daqingshui. Running parallel with these tunnels is an old Japanese road. It has been built in the 1930s and served as the original highway when going to Hualien from Yilan. 

Risky and dangerous but marvelous. I imagined myself as the one who discovered of Taiwan as I stood at this ancient road. I was looking at the Pacific Ocean and its deep blue waters was so inviting. It's a temptation! A few more steps and I will say goodbye to my friends. Standing on the cliff while looking at the ocean, all I can say at that moment was “Ilha Formosa”.

To see a different view of the Qingshui cliff, go and check the Chongde Trail

The Chongde Trail is just a staircase...

... but at the end it will lead you to a platform near the beach.

The view at the far-end of Chongde Trail

Beautiful Taiwan! These words were uttered by the foreign invaders upon seeing Qingshui cliffs for the first time. How can you resist such beauty? You can only find at my home. On the eastern coast. At my balcony.

Sakura Series - Taiwan

2026 Forecast

Taipei 101 first flowers

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Taipei Flower Test Center

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Broadwood Park

Sunshine Sports Park kawazu sakura

Wuling Farm (武陵農場)

SYS kawazu sakura

Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

CKS Memorial Hall

Shibafen Yoshino Sakura

Hope River

Dongfang Temple

Tianyuan Palace

Neicou Stream Trail

Orange Garden Cafe

Yangming Park Visitor Information Center

Yangming Park Service Center Bus Stop

Huashan Road

Qianshan Park

Zhongshan Hall Entrance

Tenglong Sakura Farm

Flower Test Center Shōwa Sakura

Neihu Creek Trail

Shulin Land Office

Xióng Kōng Cherry Blossom Forest

Lung Yen Sakura Forest

Yangming Park cherry stream

Yangming Park fountain

CKS Memorial Hall Tairyō sakura

Wugu District Tianyi Road

CKS Memorial Hall yaesakura

Loving Farm

Yong Long Farm

Zhongbaling Sakura Road

Sun Link Sea

Tai'an Police Station

Cherry Hill Slope

Hsinchu Park

Taipei 101

Kāng Gào Kēng Creek

New Garden City

Broadwood Park

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Alishan Ranger Station

Alishan House

Alishan Police Station

Alishan Forest Railway

Alishan Station

Alishan Entrance

Alishan Gou Hotel

Alishan Magnolia Garden

Wulai tour

Wun Chang Elementary School

Bishanyan

Sanzhi Sansheng Trail

Sakura Series - Taiwan

Nei Cuo Stream

Orange Garden Cafe

Sansheng Trail

Tenglong Sakura Farm

Yangming Park Cherry Stream

Yangming Park Fountain

Flower Test Center

Broadwood Park

New Garden City

Yinghua Park

Pingjing St. Lane 42

Yangmingshan Visitor Center

Taipei 101

Tianyuan Palace backyard

Sakura Series - Japan

Kamonyama Park

Near the Nippon Maru Memorial Park

Shinko Park

Minato-mirai 21 area

Tokyo Tech Suzukakedai Campus

Onda River

Tenryuji

Byodoin

Kiyomizudera

Himuro shrine and Yakushi-ji Temple

Hōryū-ji Temple

Nara Park attractions

Tokyo Tech Ookayama Campus

Sumida River

Tsuruma Park

Gion

Maple Series

Taipei Aowanda

Shimen Dam

Alishan

Aowanda

Shanlinxi

Taoyuan Valley Garden

Fushoushan Farm

Yehliu to Jiufen? Yehliu to Shifen? Cheaper than yellow taxis

The "Taipei kong mahal" (My beloved Taipei)

Always in my heart

MRT birdman

Valentine's Day

Tulips Festival

2018 Taipei Lantern Festival

City of Azaleas

Linji Huguo Temple

Nanjichang Night Market

Gudetama Chef restaurant

Dalongdong Bao'an Temple

Shilin hollyhocks

Ningxia Night Market

Ximending graffiti

Discovery Center of Taipei

Chunghwa Postal Museum

Double-Decker Bus

Shilin Cold Balls

Jingimoo

GomanMango

mud volcanic ice

Fire and Ice Dumpling

Opium Fen-Yuan

Ichiran Ramen

Liu Shandong Beef Noodles

hydrangea flowers

National Palace Museum

Other attractions in Taipei

Taipei on a budget

Japanese buildings

Dāoxiāomiàn beef noodles

Presidential Office Building

Yongkang St. and Elephant Mountain

CKS and SYS Hall

City tour

Beitou ramen

MRT Monopoly Game

Winter city tour

Zhicheng Park

Shilin Plum Blossom

Art museums

Shopping in Taipei

Summer desserts

Qingtiangang

Qixingshan hiking

2015 Calla lily

2016 Calla lily

Beitou tour

Beitou-Zhuzihu tour

NTU

Confucius Temple

2015 Dadaocheng Festival

Puppet Museum

Fantasy Ice World

2016 Bread Show

Strawberry picking

2015 Rose Garden

Modern Toilet

Shilin Night Market

NASA Exhibit

Raohe Night Market

Longshan Temple

2013 Taipei Zoo

Maokong Gondola

Lupin flowers

Taipei 101 day visit

Taipei 101 night visit

Tiger Mountain

Din Tai Fung

Taipei Story House

2014 Flower Show

Chrysanthemum Show

Miramar Ferris wheel

Miniatures Museum

Archery

1600 Pandas

Wulaoguo hot pot

Upside Down House

2016 101 Fireworks

New Taipei

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

Elephant Rock SUP/kayaking

Meteor Garden school

Tamsui Pumpkin Tunnel

Shifen Waterfall

2017 Sand Sculpture

Dragon Caves

New Taipei tour

2016 Kite Festival

Pingxi Crags

Bitou Cape

2016 Sand Sculpture

2015 Christmasland

Juming - Jinshan

Houtong - Pingxi

Sandiaoling Waterfall

Jiufen foodtrip

Guanyinshan hike

Yehliu Ocean World

2014 Kite Festival

Pingxi Rail tour

Jinguashi tour

Vigor Kobo Pineapple

British Consulate

Yehliu Geopark

2014 Sand Sculpture

Paragliding

2014 Christmasland

2014 Pingxi Lantern

firefly watching

Yingge Ceramics Street

Jiufen tour