The Qingshui Cliffs are a 21 km stretch of mountains that drop almost straight into the Pacific on the northern edge of Taroko National Park in Hualien County. Seen from the shore, the green slopes, pale rock and deep blue water make one of Taiwan’s most famous coastal views.
Current status (September 2026): after the April 2024 earthquake, the Chongde Recreation Area viewpoint reopened on 1 July 2025 and the Suhua Highway (Highway 9) is open again. The Huide viewing platform is still closed for reconstruction, and the Mt Qingshui hiking trail is closed. Check taroko.gov.tw before you go.
Plan your visit to Qingshui Cliffs
- Entry: free
- Chongde viewpoint open (daylight best)
- Time needed: about 1 hour
Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
History of Qingshui Cliffs
The cliffs were formed as the Philippine Sea Plate pushed against the Eurasian Plate, lifting marble and schist straight out of the sea. For centuries they made travel along the coast extremely difficult. A first mountain path was cut in the 1870s, and roads followed in the Japanese era and after; today most traffic uses the tunnels of the Suhua Highway Improvement Project, completed in 2020, while the old cliff-side road remains for sightseeing.
Attractions at Qingshui Cliffs
- Chongde Recreation Area (open): the main viewpoint at the southern end of the cliffs, reopened in July 2025.
- Chongde Beach: a pebble beach below the cliffs with a classic view north. Swimming is not allowed because of strong currents.
- Huide viewing platform (closed): the roadside platform is being rebuilt.
- The view from the water: some Hualien operators run paddleboard or kayak trips along the coast in calm weather.
Things to Do at Qingshui Cliffs
- Photography: morning light is best on the cliffs.
- Walk down to Chongde Beach for a closer look.
- Combine with Taroko: the gorge entrance is a short drive south.
- Stay safe: keep to open areas and watch for rockfall signs after rain or earthquakes.
Qingshui Cliffs – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Entry is free. The Chongde viewpoint is outdoors and best visited in daylight. Conditions can change after typhoons and earthquakes, so check the national park website for closures before you set off.
Tours
- Private car charter (Qingshui Cliffs, Taroko, Qixingtan): on Klook
Some links in this guide are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
How Long to Spend at Qingshui Cliffs
Allow about 1 hour at Chongde, or a full day if you combine the cliffs with Taroko National Park and Qixingtan Beach.
How to Get There
- By car or taxi: about 30 minutes north of Hualien City on Highway 9.
- By train: Chongde Station is nearby, but few trains stop there.
- By private car or tour: the easiest option, as public buses are limited.
- From Taipei: express trains to Hualien take about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Arriving at Taoyuan Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer to your Taipei hotel, then take the train to Hualien.
Eateries Nearby Qingshui Cliffs
There is little food at the viewpoint itself. Eat in Xincheng near Taroko Station, or back in Hualien City, for example at Dongdamen Night Market.
Other Attractions Nearby Qingshui Cliffs
- Taroko National Park: partly reopened; several famous trails are still closed.
- Qixingtan Beach: a pebble bay near Hualien.
- River tracing: guided summer trips on the Sanzhan River.
- Dongdamen Night Market: Hualien’s main night market.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Hualien: Hualien City or Xincheng make a good base.
- Get a Taiwan eSIM on Klook before you land (unlimited data, Chunghwa Telecom network).
Qingshui Cliffs are one of Taiwan’s great coastal views, and the Chongde viewpoint has been open again since July 2025. The Huide platform and Mt Qingshui trail remain closed, so check the park website before you go.
See the cliffs on the same day as Taroko National Park and Qixingtan Beach.
