Indescribable beauty    The ultra-popular unbeatable coastal views of the Northeast Coast

Text & Photos /A-Kuai’s Home

A beautiful and easy hiking trail — just stroll along the stone path, and the breathtaking seascape unfolds before you... Known as the "Great Wall Trail," the Bitou Cape Geopark has Bitou Elementary School right at its starting point. Hike uphill from here, along undulating slopes and winding coastlines, walking along the spine of the mountain as if on a Great Wall-like path, all while taking in the stunning mountain and sea views — truly magnificent!

Bitou Elementary School is located in a remote fishing village on the Bitou Cape at Taiwan’s northeastern tip, surrounded by beautiful scenery and dramatic mountain and sea landscapes. Though it may seem like the perfect learning environment, the cold northeastern monsoon that blows for up to half the year makes the students’ learning journey extremely challenging.


Bitou Elementary School is a small yet beautiful school, nestled between mountains and the sea — arguably the elementary school closest to the ocean. I remember visiting last time during the rain, and only catching a fleeting glimpse of this unique school. But now, the cliffside campus has developed its own charm, themed around the "Ocean," offering visitors a chance to experience the vastness and serenity of the sea.


Bitou Elementary School is the closest elementary school to the sea, situated on a steep cliff with a rugged sea erosion cliff right behind the campus.
The back entrance of Bitou Elementary School is like a “Shanhaiguan” gate tower, offering sweeping views of the mountain and sea scenery. Within Bitou Cape Park, there are recommended route signs where you can choose to follow the suggested paths for a leisurely stroll or climb up and down the stone steps. For those who love the sea, you can also walk about one kilometer down the stone stairs to Longdong Bay Park for a conversation with the ocean. Of course, the anglers here will keep you company.


We parked our car at the Bitou Cape parking lot along Provincial Highway 2 (the coastal highway), crossed the pedestrian overpass, and arrived at Bitou Elementary School in about five minutes. Right next to the school gate is the starting point of the Bitou Cape Trail; there are clearly marked trail maps and interpretive materials available here.


The long flight of stairs beside the Bitou Elementary School gate leads to the starting point of the Bitou Trail, commonly referred to as the "Little Great Wall." It serves as a warm-up climb — although you’ll be out of breath after climbing these steps, the stunning scenery that greets you afterward is absolutely worth it...

We walked toward the lighthouse, staying close to the coastal views. With the ocean breeze dancing around us, we encountered never-before-seen sights and delightful surprises at every turn, leaving us feeling refreshed and invigorated.




Bitou Cape Park features rich geological formations such as sea erosion platforms, sea cliffs, mushroom rocks, tofu rocks, and small terraces, making it an excellent natural geology classroom for educational purposes.


The sweltering heat of summer can be quite daunting, but we chose to explore the Northeast Coast in autumn. The endless call of the ocean waves finally beckoned us to run wild along this path that lies between the mountains and the sea.




Walking leisurely along the trail to Bitou Elementary School, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking sea-and-sky view. The end of the trail leads to Bitou Cape Lighthouse, but due to landslides on that section, access is restricted — you can instead take the ridgeline trail.


A beam of light shimmers across the ocean. We paused to take photos and admire the view — so beautiful, so mesmerizing, we couldn’t tear our eyes away even after snapping pictures.




The trail to Bitou Cape Lighthouse is damaged and currently closed for entry.

In the valley stands a military radar station, while on the distant cliffs, a few goats graze. The rugged rocky coastline sees ceaseless waves crashing — the mountains and sea of Bitou Cape unfold scene after scene. Every turn on the trail reveals a new landscape...




In autumn, though the sunlight isn’t overly harsh, there are few shaded spots along the way, so sun protection is absolutely essential.

The sea erosion landforms in Bitou Cape Park feature rich geological views, such as sea erosion platforms, sea cliffs, mushroom rocks, tofu rocks, and small terraces.








The sea-and-sky view is truly uplifting.



Heading toward the "Bitou Cape Ridge Valley Trail," we climbed step by step. Though the trail starts to get steep here, it’s not overly strenuous overall. With just 200 meters to go to reach the pavilion, we took our time ascending the staircase, captivated by the ever-changing coastal views that were truly unforgettable.


As the coastal scenery and mountain ridges shifted with our footsteps, our gaze continuously absorbed and memorized the surroundings. Our spirits felt as free and unrestrained as birds soaring through the sky. Even if just for a second, the moment would be etched in memory forever...
 





We knew the path would be uneven, and despite it being autumn, the sun could still be surprisingly intense. But the blue of the ocean and the green of the coastal mountains were the most captivating sights under the sunlight.

We strolled leisurely along the trail, stopping often to take photos. A rice ball and a bottle of fresh milk made for a simple breakfast. At the cliffside pavilion, we reveled in being enveloped by the radiant ocean, reluctant to leave its stunning beauty.


On the seaside tofu rocks sat a few anglers, while the cliffs above hosted a vast grassland dotted with wildflowers nestled next to the reefs, seemingly waving to us. Aside from us, there were almost no other hikers on this trail, creating a peaceful atmosphere. We sat quietly on the grass, gazing at the sea.


At the mountaintop ridge trail, there’s another path that leads back to the small fishing village of Bitou Cape (Bitou Fishing Harbor)! Or you could enjoy the locally caught, fresh and delicious seafood.



The observation deck stands tall on the cliff. Standing beside it and looking up to take photos, we couldn’t help but feel moved. The long-missed ocean, with its unceasing tides crashing against the shore, stretched out before us from the deck — the endless cliffs gently extend into the water.




From here, the path continues along undulating slopes and winding coastlines. Walking along the spine of the mountain, it feels like trekking along a Great Wall-like trail, with mountain and sea views to behold at every turn — absolutely stunning!






Bitou Cape Geopark boasts some of the most beautiful geological features and sea-and-sky vistas. The majestic waves crashing against the reefs had us snapping countless photos. The beauty here is beyond words — you simply have to experience it for yourself...

Waving goodbye to the ocean and mountains is just like how everyone hates to say farewell at every gathering—the feeling lingers, our hearts still in that place where mountain meets sea...


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