Let's go further south from the Taroka National Park (please read my last story) at the east coast of Taiwan, former known as Formosa. Along the Highway 11 you have to go 140 kilometers before you reach the Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge, in Chinese: 三仙台, a strange building at the oceanside, that is connecting the mainland with a small, wild island named, yes, Sanxiantai. It's not a normal bridge and it isn't a normal island: The name Sanxiantai means "three immortals platform", referring to the island with three large standing rocks. And the bridge has eight arches, so it looks like the waves rushing in from the Pacific Ocean.
The area is famous in Taiwan because it has a beautiful beach and several islands located on the coast of Chenggong Township in Taitung County. This beach stretches for ten kilometers in length and all along the lenght it has a lot of rocky coastal views. The best place here is the long footbridge in the shape of a sea dragon.
Riding the sea dragon
A few steps going upwards, where the bows are starting. Build in 1987, the dragon bridge let you have a first look on the island, named after three mystic immortals who have had a break here while a long march along the coastline. At this time the Island of Sanxiantai could only be reached during low tide, so they must have jhad wet feet while this.
The taiwaneses are great fanatics of all kinds of myths and dragons, so the bridge shape should imitate the shape of a dragon: The eight bows with cravings and beautiful colors remind in appearance of the curved, scaly back of such a mythical animal.
If you reach the other side, you will find a 1,5 kilometerl ong circular route partly made of wood that leads to the highest point on the island. There is a lighthouse from where you have a wonderful view of the surroundings and the unique shape of Sanxiantai Island. Between the three extremely large rocks are holes where waves crushig, fine and mostly empty beaches and wild jungles. It's a surprise to see how the water abraded and hollowed out the stones into bizarre shapes.
The “Platform of the three immortals” is always crowded, because the legend about the three Chinese saints a very popular. Lu Dong Bin, the most widely known among the group of deities known as the Eight Immortals is said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty in the middle age at the year 750.
Three holy men from different times
Li TieGuai is said to have lived during the Western Zhou period and is best known for his meditation practices. He Xian Gu was said to have lived during the 7th century AD. But hohohoho! All three met here according to the Taoist legend because there is a belief that a magical peach maked them immortal.
No peaches here now, so we can't live forever. But many birds, flowers and a few very small trees. To walk the complete way you need only one or two hours, so the Sanxiantai Dragon Bridge it's a must see when you drive around the beautiful island of Formosa without any belief on immortality or myths too. And hey, the next stop on the road is a very real wonder where water is running upwards.
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