By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
The seasonal scenic wonder known as "Laomei Green Stone Trough," located along the Danjin Highway on the northern coast, turns a vivid emerald green every spring, resembling a coastal green carpet that attracts numerous visitors and photography enthusiasts eager to witness its beauty.
Morning light at Laomei Green Stone Trough. (Image source / North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration; Photo by Liu Hsin-hsin)
The Laomei Green Stone Trough is situated near the seashore around 25K on Provincial Highway 2 of the Danjin Highway on the northern coast. It only appears abundantly during April and May each year before temporarily vanishing with the arrival of summer. However, the spores of the seaweed remain in the crevices of the rocks, waiting to regrow when the northeast monsoon returns. The green stone trough is formed by a combination of sea-eroded grooves and seaweed. Due to its unique landscape, it draws large crowds and photography lovers every spring who come to this seasonal coastal green carpet as a kind of pilgrimage.
The stunning scenery of Laomei Green Stone Trough is truly breathtaking. (Image source / New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The neatly aligned Laomei stone troughs, all stretching vertically into the sea, feature distinct rock ridge textures and a magnificent, unique formation. They are already considered a highly rare geological landscape among coastal landforms worldwide. When spring arrives, the sea lettuce that grows along the northern coast gradually transforms the originally gray-black troughs from tender green to vibrant green, then deep green, and finally to a grayish white. This adds such a lush green vibrancy to the once monochromatic stone troughs, as if calling forth the arrival of each new spring.
The greenery of the Laomei Green Stone Trough, set against the sunset, creates an unforgettable view. (Image source / New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The short life cycle of the green stone trough makes many late-arriving visitors feel heartbroken—but in fact, this is an annual phenomenon, not a result of climate change. The best time to visit the green stone trough is between April and May during low tide times each day. When visiting, be cautious as the surface of the stone troughs is slippery and seawater may spurt out from between the grooves. Avoid jumping or stepping on the troughs to prevent personal injury and damage to the formations.
The unique stone trough landscape often draws photographers looking to capture the scene. (Image source / New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
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Public Transport Information:
Take the Danlin or Keelung bus from in front of the Tamsui MRT Station or next to Keelung Railway Station (the route runs between both cities), and get off at the “Laomei” stop
◎ After getting off, walk straight through the Laomei community to reach the site
Vehicle & Motorcycle Access Information:
1. National Freeway No. 3 (Jinshui Interchange) → Provincial Highway No. 2 → Wanli → Jinshan → Shimen (at 26.3 km mark on Provincial Highway No. 2)
2. National Freeway No. 1 (Wugu Interchange) → Expressway No. 64 → Bali-Wugu (heading toward Tamsui) → Guandu Bridge → Zhuliao → Hongshulin → Provincial Highway No. 2 → Sanchi → Shimen (at 26.3 km mark on Provincial Highway No. 2)
3. Taipei → Shilin → Guandu → Zhuliao → Hongshulin → Provincial Highway No. 2 → Sanchi → Shimen (at 26.3 km mark on Provincial Highway No. 2)