The golden sea of rice paints the breathtaking beauty of the Xinshe Terraces by the coast

By MOOK Travel Christopher | Reported and compiled

The endless blue ocean scenery is refreshing and uplifting, while the vast expanse of rice fields offers tranquility and helps one forget worries. When these two stunning views come together, they create a truly breathtaking spectacle. Located in Fengbin Township, Hualien, the Xinshe Terraces are the largest forest-sea terraces in Taiwan. Usually covered in lush green rice fields, they transform into a sweeping expanse of pale golden rice paddies when summer arrives.

The Xinshe Terraces are located around the 43.5 km mark on Provincial Highway 11. As you drive by, you’ll see farmland right next to the coastline. The seemingly infinite waves of rice, paired with the stunning blue of the Pacific, make the seashore blend seamlessly with the sky — as if covered with a golden blanket. Passersby can't help but stop and admire the view.

“Xinshe” in the Kavalan language means “a place where all things thrive.” Legend has it that when the Kavalan people migrated here, they longed for the vast rice paddies and the aroma of rice from their homeland. So, they transformed this coastal plateau into terraced rice fields, which is why it’s also known as the “sea terraces.”