You’ll find yourself walking right into the middle of the sea! Six must-visit “Heavenly Paths” you shouldn’t miss

By Sharelife (Sharing Life)

Taiwan is surrounded by the sea, and there are always places that only “emerge” with the tides—like those limited-edition Moses-parting-the-sea sights, which can only be seen in Penghu and Kinmen. Of course, the main island has also built small bridges and land extensions to let people “walk” into the sea, such as wetland art installations and tombolo landforms. Travel across Taiwan and chase these “Heavenly Paths” together.

Taichung – Gaomei Wetlands

▲ (Photo provided by Kenny Chen)

With its massive white wind turbines and abundant natural resources, the natural beauty of Gaomei Wetlands always makes it a must-visit spot on the travel list for both domestic and international tourists coming to Taichung. The wooden boardwalks, carefully planned and built through the wetlands, meander all the way to the water’s edge, offering a view as if from heaven. In the morning, against a backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the big wind turbines spin; in the evening, as the sun sets, watch the fiery red orb dip into the water, creating silhouette views of a different kind of charm.

However, the wooden boardwalks are not open all day. They close two hours before high tide and reopen two hours after high tide. Also, visitors are reminded that the wetlands are still part of a wildlife protection area. It is prohibited to step on the wetlands or capture any organisms there to avoid legal consequences.

Address: estuary of the Dajia River, Qingshui District, Taichung City

Yunlin – Chenglong Wetlands

▲ (Photo provided by the Guanshu Education Foundation)

Unlike the Moses-parting-the-sea phenomenon caused by tides, this Chenglong Wetlands in Yunlin offers a different charm in every season. The work comes from the “2017 Chenglong Wetlands International Environmental Art Project,” created by a Dutch duo artist team called “Microclimate Lifeline.” It uses bamboo as a framework, extending from the land all the way into the wetlands—a concept that seems to float in the middle of the water.

The organizers explained that the project was mainly designed to help more people understand the environmental issue of land subsidence in the region. It aims to protect the wetlands through aquaculture methods that do not involve pumping groundwater. This lifeline will grow unique algae (Enteromorpha) in April, which then disappears after summer. The algae turns white when dried by the sun, giving the artwork a different look in each season.

Address: Chenglong Village, Kouhu Township, Yunlin County

Taitung – Jinchun Tombolo Island

▲ (Photo provided by Taitung County Tourism Website)

The “Jinchun Recreation Area,” made up of a small bay, offshore reefs, coastal cliffs, and stretches of sandy beach, is located next to Provincial Highway 11. Because the bay is shaped like a wine glass, it’s called “Jinchun” (Golden Cup), and because it resembles an anchor, it’s also known as “Anchor Island” or “Anchor-shaped Reef.”

Among them, Jinchun Tombolo Island is an offshore island parallel to the coast, formed by a sand and gravel deposit tombolo, and is the only tombolo currently forming in Taiwan. During low tide, the sandbar emerges from the water and connects to the nearby offshore island, hence the name “tombolo island.”

Address: about a 2-kilometer-long sandy beach south of Jinchun Harbor, Donghe Township, Taitung County

Green Island – Chaikou Snorkeling Area

▲ (Photo provided by Taitung County Tourism Website)

Among the three major diving spots on Green Island, the northernmost one is the Chaikou Snorkeling Area. In the past, when Han people came to develop Green Island, conflicts arose with the local Yamis (also known as Tao people). They built wooden walls here to face off, which was called “Zhaokou.” Later, as times changed and local development progressed, it was renamed “Chaikou,” and is now widely known as a snorkeling area.

Following the wooden boardwalk next to the observation deck, it turns into a rocky trail. The nearby seabed is a reef platform terrain, with diverse marine conditions. Just 30 meters from the shore, there are four different water depth levels, with the deepest area being about three stories high. You can stand on the trail to observe the intertidal ecology or walk to the end to gaze at the endless ocean.

Address: Zhongliao Bay, Zhongliao Village, Green Island Township, Taitung County

Penghu – Beiliao Kuibi Mountain / Chiyu Islet

▲ (Photo provided by Penghu National Scenic Area Administration)

Walking on the waves at Beiliao Kuibi Mountain is the most famous tourist attraction after Aimen Beach. It was formerly called “Turtle Wall Mountain” but was later renamed “Kuibi Mountain” due to administrative division. Actually, the “Kuibi Radiance” of Beiliao Kuibi was once one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Penghu, as the sea was filled with fishing lights, complemented by moonlight and stars, making it incredibly beautiful. However, in recent years, the sight of the sea covered in fishing lights has become rare. Instead, the wave-walking path and the “Moses-parting-the-sea” journey to Chiyu Islet attract visitors.

There are two paths in the Kuibi Mountain sea area leading to Chiyu Islet. One connects to Fanshaiziwei. During low tide, these three areas form an intertidal pool that never dries up, which is also the activity area for Beiliao villagers. Most visitors usually walk along the S-shaped basalt path on the right, reaching Chiyu Islet, which is 300 meters from the coast. If you’re lucky enough to encounter low tide, you might even get to see the sunrise. But because you can’t return to shore during high tide, make sure to check the timing before you go. If you miss the right time, you’ll have to wait for a boat rescue on Chiyu Islet. Never attempt to swim back to shore, as it could lead to accidents.

Address: Kuibi Mountain, Beiliao Village, Huxi Township, Penghu County
Tide Table:http://www.penghu-nsa.gov.tw/TravelGuide/Tidenew

Kinmen – Jianguo Islet

▲(Photo provided by Cairns Wei)

Many may be familiar with the “Moses Parting the Sea” view on Penghu’s Chiyu Islet, but Kinmen’s Jianguo Islet offers a similar spectacle. Located at the mouth of the Wujing River, this small island spans approximately 500 square meters and is connected to the southwestern coast of Kinmen’s main island. It also served as a strategic outpost between Kinmen and Lesser Kinmen. The name “Jianguo” (建功) means “building merit,” while “Islet” (屿) refers to a small island.

Due to Kinmen’s large tidal range, the stone path connecting Jianguo Islet to the main island is completely submerged during high tide and only becomes walkable during low tide. Once the tide recedes, the stone path reveals a rich intertidal wetland ecosystem and birdlife. Aside from the military outpost, the islet is also home to a 27-ton statue of Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga), which was a gift from Nan’an City in Fujian Province in 2009 (the 88th year of the Republic of China) and carved from Quanzhou white stone. To visit Jianguo Islet, it’s essential to check the tide times — the interval between high and low tide is about 12 hours, and missing the right time means waiting another day.

Address: Xiashu Village, Jincheng Township, Kinmen County
Tide information:http://tour.kinmen.gov.tw/chinese/tide.aspx?n=10325

Whether the pathways are natural or man-made, these “paths to heaven” are often teeming with rich ecosystems. When you have the chance to explore such places, besides capturing their beautiful scenery at different times, don’t forget to take your trash with you and leave the most stunning views for the next traveler.

This article is published with authorization from “Sharelife分享生活.”Original article here