The breathtaking seasonal coastline of Laomei Green Stone Troughs

 

The volcanic rock geology is suitable for the attachment and growth of seaweed. Each winter, when the northeast monsoon prevails, the seawater splashing against the coast nourishes the surface of the stone troughs, allowing green seaweeds such as "Enteromorpha prolifera," "Ulva fasciata," and "Ulothrix flacca" to thrive. As the seasons change, the dead seaweed remains harden into a thin layer of lime, upon which new algae continue to attach and grow. This cycle of life and death continues relentlessly, eventually forming this beautiful algal reef.

The Green Stone Troughs usually appear from mid-March to early May, with the period around the Qingming Festival in April being the most beautiful.The Green Stone Troughs coastline stretches nearly 2 kilometers, with its neatly arranged coastal grooves covered in seaweed, creating rows of green stone troughs that paint the entire shoreline in vibrant green. The most breathtaking sight is when the seawater crashes against the troughs, sending up bursts of spray, making the waves resemble fireworks bursting beautifully along the shore—an astonishing spectacle.

As the monsoons and sunlight conditions change, the seaweed disappears under prolonged sun exposure, only to return next year to once again paint the coast in vivid green. This is why many photographers and visitors flock here to witness this season-limited beauty. It’s also important to note that the Green Stone Troughs are under survival pressure due to visitor foot traffic, so visitors are encouraged to stay on the sandy beach to admire the view and avoid stepping onto the Green Stone Troughs area. The surface above the troughs is particularly slippery and dangerous—slipping and getting injured could ruin your visit.

 

Visitors heading there to take photos should first check the daily low tide times for Shimen District on the Central Weather Bureau website to ensure they don’t miss out on capturing the beauty of the green coastline due to high tide submerging the troughs.

 

3. Taipei → Shilin → Guandu → Zhulian → Hongshulin → Provincial Highway No. 2 → Sanchi → Shimen (at 26.3 km mark on Provincial Highway No. 2)