From Kaluluan to Sanxiantai: Sharing Driftwood Art with the Winds of the Pacific

Text & Photos /Gui Xiaosun

Writing has always been a way to instantly return to the present—a form of memory that’s incredibly fast. Every time I look at the photos I’ve taken, no matter how impressive they are—or aren’t—they’re memories of me standing on that very land. That memory is what it is today, but it will absolutely be different the next time I come. The distant eastern coast, for us on the other side of the Central Mountain Range, has always been an out-of-reach travel destination.

That’s how it should be said, because we’re so used to convenient transportation. We’re accustomed to taking the high-speed rail for a same-day round trip from Taipei, or going on a two-day mini-trip to Tainan thanks to the weekend system. Because getting to the east requires more time and a bigger budget, it becomes a less frequent destination. But isn’t it precisely because of this that the eastern coast possesses the purest beauty?

Driving all the way from downtown Taitung along Provincial Highway 11, our first planned stop was 【Kaluluan】, a place that welcomes you like a roadside rest stop—no entrance fee, no parking fee. We stopped here first. During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, we didn’t encounter much rain, but when we arrived on the first day, there were still dark clouds lingering over the mountains, urging us to move quickly.

But we still stopped here, just to look at the sea, just to see the Pacific Ocean.

We parked in the vast parking lot. 【Kaluluan Coastal Rest Area】 features many driftwood installations. Those driftwoods are simply erected and intertwined, without any extra colors or embellishments. They purely represent the simplicity of the East Coast, and they genuinely make you take a second look—not because of how beautiful they are, but because of how simple they are.

Walking around like this, we didn’t have any preconceived notions of what we needed to see or capture. We just stood at a distance, watching the locals on the shore, seemingly fishing or treasure hunting, living their lives, listening to the sound of the wind, waiting for it to pass.

After walking a few steps, we just sat down, facing the entire Pacific Ocean, boundless and endless. Perhaps it didn’t have the perfect colors of a sunny day, but it still allowed us to quietly admire it. Admiring the waves gently lapping against the gravel beaches unique to the east, and the greenery approaching us. The round leaves were adorable and charming.

Just like that, we stayed at the first stop. At that moment, I thought to myself: This is my first self-driven trip to the east—I’ve made it here.

It felt like I hadn’t thought about it, like I hadn’t expected it, and yet it also felt like many things slowly approach you when you’re just about to start something, allowing you to harvest the fruits step by step. Perhaps this is the inevitable path of pursuing dreams—putting in ten times the effort, but only waiting for the results with five times the anticipation. In the end, you’ll definitely have your own brilliant life.

After leaving 【Kaluluan】, we headed to 【Dulan Sugar Factory】 and 【Jinzun Coffee】 next, but since we wanted to cover both coastal spots in one article, this piece directly includes the continuation to 【Sanxiantai】. Everyone can get a rough feel of the two coastal sceneries in one go XD. Actually, 【Sanxiantai】 was discovered by me on the same day when I realized there was still plenty of time left, and seeing it was right along the way, I decided to drop by on the spot.

There’s an entrance fee here, charged based on vehicle size. For regular cars: 50 NTD per entry, which is quite reasonable. After parking, following the crowd, the first thing you see is the vendor area. There are some small shops here that can be a lifesaver for those planning to swim but forgot to bring gear. XD. There are also simple snacks, ice cream, and drinks—absolutely essential in the scorching summer heat.

Hiking further in along the path, you’ll reach the landmark of 【Sanxiantai】. It’s about a 3-minute walk, and part of the path is covered with round, pebbly gravel, so those with mobility issues might need to be cautious. At the end, you’ll see the 【Sanxiantai】 landmark and a vast expanse of ocean spread out before you.

At this point, the pebbles of roughly the same size under your feet are piled up to form a small hill with a slope—one end leading to the sea, the other showcasing the rocky shoreline. People take photos and play in the water here. I noticed that hardly anyone walks across the 【Eight-Arch Ocean-Crossing Footbridge】, probably because it’s too hot. XD

And we, just like everyone else, sat on these round pebbles, gazing out at the Pacific Ocean, feeling the sea breeze and basking in the sunlight. I also recorded a video here, capturing the sound of the waves at Sanxiantai.　

Please watch:

I really enjoy candidly filming passersby. I love those genuine, unposed actions and smiles—not the ones that are intentional—but the most real, the most unaware “protagonists.” Memories are always the closest to life, and thus the most beautiful. And how lucky am I to have these real moments captured? The older love gets, the harder it is to say “I love you,” because love has melted into every moment of life.

Let the sound of the waves hit my ears, one by one, distinguishing the different sounds of them crashing against the pebbles and the sandy shore.

Let the sound of the wind sweep past my ears, one by one, gently brushing against the sensation on my scalp and hair tips.

And so, the so-called Pacific Ocean is like a first love—novel and genuine.

Be your own protagonist, write your own story.

Always remember—truly live in the moment, not just exist.

【Kaluluan】: 157.5K on Provincial Highway 11

【Sanxiantai】: No. 4, Jisui Fan, Sanxianli, Chenggong Township, Taitung County

Author of this article:[Enjoy life, don’t be bored. Gui Xiaosun]