Yue Dong Recreation Area Introduction
Yue Cave is located in Fengbin Township, Hualien County, about one kilometer south of Shitiping and near Gangkou Village. It is a natural limestone cave that is considered a sacred site by the indigenous people of the Gangkou tribe. Inside the cave, there is a lake about five meters deep, with water levels fluctuating with the phases of the moon, hence the name "Yue Cave," also known as "Moon Well." 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, deterring anyone from diving in to explore. Yue Cave is approximately eighty meters above sea level and about eight hundred meters from the coastline. The cave entrance is about twenty-five meters high and the cave itself is approximately one hundred seventy-six meters long, featuring a very unique shape. There are two chambers within the cave: the left chamber has a larger opening and extends about fifty meters, with a narrow, pointed ceiling that is home to thousands of bats, adding a mysterious atmosphere. The right chamber is shorter, about forty meters long. The interior of the cave is dark and mysterious, with traces of stalactites visible on the rock walls, bat colonies hanging above, and features such as undercurrents, dripping water, stalagmites, swallow nests, and fish head fossils. To explore the cave, one must take a small boat operated by a guide, making use of the boat's lighting for illumination. The temperature in Yue Cave is about twenty degrees Celsius, making it warm in winter and cool in summer, suitable for visits throughout the year.
