The coral formations of Xiao Liuqiu

Far from being a single, rather insignificant hole in the rock, as most photos of the place seem to imply, Beautiful Lady Cave is the name given to an extensive wonderland of tunnels, overhangs, weird formations, tiny springs of fresh water and deep, narrow gorges carved by the elements into a stretch of coral cliffs a couple of kilometers along the coast from Baisha. It's well worth paying the entrance fee (a combined ticket also valid for the other sights around the island), because there's plenty on the two main paths (one on either side of the road) through the strange landscape to keep a curious explorer happily occupied for an hour or two, and tons of photo opportunities.

Beautiful Lady Cave is just one of a number of fascinating areas of coral formations dotted around the coast. After a thorough exploration, jump back on the bike and head for the Mountain Pig Gully (山豬溝), a secret and complicated maze of craggy little coral-walled gorges, clefts and densely forested slopes.

A network of paved paths passes through some of the most interesting formations, but get off the path at least once, to discover some impressive side gullies such as 'A Slither of Sky' where the tall, overhanging walls of the narrow gorge almost meet high above, all but blocking out the sky.

A succession of similarly striking formations can be found at the Black Ghost Cave (烏鬼洞), although the main sight here, the eponymous cave, is a long, uncomfortable and very tight squeeze, best left to the kids.

A kilometer or so further, the coast road rounds the southernmost point of the island, and, turning north up the opposite side of the island, follows the wildest and least populated coastline on the island. Here the road lies below the cliffs, right on the foreshore. Look for the Kuanyin Head Rock, which is quite small and inconspicuous, but really does deserve its name, once discovered.

In another couple of kilometers (and only twelve kilometers after leaving Baisha at the start of the trip around the island), the road comes full circle, and you're back where you started. The entire journey could easily be completed in thirty minutes or so, but this wonderful little island is the perfect place to throw away the tourist brochure and explore, so allow at least a full day. There's a lot to discover!

1|2

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email