East Coast National Scenic Area

The East Coast National Scenic Area, known as "Taiwan's last unspoiled land", stretches 170 kilometers down the east coast of the island from the mouth of the Hualien River in the north to Siaoyehliu (Little Yehliu) in the south. To the east it is bounded by the Pacific Ocean, and to the west rises the Coastal Mountain Range. The land here consists of volcanic rock, classic rock from deep beneath the sea, and shale that has been pushed upward -- and is still being pushed upward -- by tectonic action. Weathering, erosion and accumulation have produced a wide range of landforms here, including coastal terraces, sand and pebble beaches, shoreline reefs, inshore islands and capes, along with sea-eroded platforms, trenches and caves. This varied topography provides habitat for a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

The East Coast is the primary homeland of the Amis aboriginal tribe. Amis villages dot the coastline, and the harvest festivals that they hold in July and August every year offer visitors an opportunity to gain insights into the culture of this unique people. Before the Amis settled here there were prehistoric peoples who came and went, leaving a rich store of artifacts and ancient sites that can still be seen today. Among the more modern cultural features of the coastline are enchanting temples, churches, and quaint fishing villages. This rich store of natural and cultural assets prompted the Tourism Bureau to establish the East Coast National Scenic Area in 1988, and to engage in the active development of the leisure resources here.