Yue Dong Recreation Area Introduction
Yue Dong is located in Fengbin Township, Hualien County, about one kilometer south of Shitiping and close to Gangkou Village. It is a natural limestone cave and is considered a sacred place by the indigenous people of the Gangkou tribe. Inside the cave, there is a lake approximately five meters deep, which rises and falls with the phases of the moon, hence the name "Yue Dong," also known as "Yue Jing." According to legend, the lake is home to many eels, including one that weighs over ten kilograms, known as the thousand-year eel, which is said to be aggressive, making it unwise for anyone to dive in for exploration. Yue Dong is approximately eighty meters above sea level and about eight hundred meters from the coast. The cave entrance is about twenty-five meters high, and the entire cave stretches approximately one hundred seventy-six meters in length, featuring a unique shape. Inside the cave, there are two openings; the left one is larger and extends about fifty meters inward, with a narrow, pointed top that is home to thousands of bats, adding an air of mystery. The right opening is shorter, about forty meters. The cave is dark and mysterious, with stalactites visible on the rocky walls, and hanging bat colonies adding to the scenery along with features such as flowstone, dripping water, stalagmites, and fish head fossils. To explore the cave, visitors must take a small boat operated by a guide, utilizing the boat’s lighting for viewing. The temperature inside Yue Dong is around twenty degrees Celsius, making it warm in winter and cool in summer, suitable for year-round recreation.
