Located in Kaohsiung City’s Tianliao District, Tianliao Moon World (田寮月世界) is an expanse of undulating hills topped with jagged ridges and sharp peaks. This extraordinary landscape bears a striking resemblance to the lunar surface, characterized by its barren, undulating terrain and peculiar rock formations, hence earning the moniker “Moon World.”
Please watch the following video for more interesting images of the otherworldly charm of Tianliao Moon World in Taiwan.
Ranked sixth in an online poll of Taiwan’s Top Ten Landscapes conducted by the Forestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, in 2013, this unique geological wonder offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the mysteries of nature.
Tianliao Moon World was featured as one of CNN’s “Top 10 Reasons to Love Kaohsiung” in a front-page article published on January 22, 2014. The area’s extraordinary otherworldly landscapes have also attracted filmmakers, with over 20 movies filmed in this captivating locale.
The formation of Tianliao Moon World
Covering 80 percent of Tianliao District’s 93 square kilometers (35.9 square miles), Tianliao Moon World is a unique geological formation formed by the erosion of soft, sandy mudstone over thousands of years.
The distinctive mudstone hills result from seafloor sediment being lifted from the water far from the land by plate tectonics and then eroded by the adjacent rivers. In addition, over time, the combined forces of wind and water have gradually eroded away the softer layers of sedimentary rock, leaving behind a surreal, lunar-like landscape. Visitors can explore this otherworldly terrain and marvel at its natural beauty and geological significance.
In fact, badlands can be found in other parts of Taiwan, such as Longqi and Zuozhen in Tainan, Neimen and Yanchao in Kaohsiung, and Liji and Kenting in Pingtung. However, the Kaohsiung Tianliao Mudstone is the most spectacular, as the district is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the badlands take up the lion’s share.
Tianliao Moon World Landform Park
In response to the popularity of the Badlands, the Kaohsiung City Government has created the Tianliao Moon World Landform Park in this distinctive area. Jade Lake and Moon Lake are two striking lakes in the park. The former is in front of the tourist center, and the latter is on the top of the hill.
There are four trails in the park: Lakeside Trail (環湖步道, 800 m), Badland Trail (惡地步道, 600 m), Chang’e’s Silk Road to the Moon Trail (嫦娥奔月絲路, 421 steps), and Moon Landing Trail (登月步道, 250 m). These trails form a loop around the valley, connecting Jade Lake, Moon Lake, Ladder to Heaven (天梯, 156 steps), and Crescent Observatory Deck. While walking along the trails, visitors can explore the unique terrain and the mud volcano from different angles.
It is recommended to walk from Moon Landing Trail to Moon Lake and Crescent Observatory Deck, and then down the Ladder to Heaven, and then to Chang’e’s Silk Road to the Moon, as well as Badland Trail to Jade Lake to avoid getting too tired.
Those who enjoy physical challenges can walk 600 meters from Jade Lake along the Badland Trail and climb 156 steps through Ladder to Heaven to Moon Lake. Moon Lake is a natural lake, and is the pinnacle of the park. Crescent Observation Deck is located along Moon Lake and offers visitors a panoramic view of Jade Lake and the kaleidoscopic beauty of the layered mudstone badlands.
Local delicacies of Tianliao Moon World
Visitors to this distinctive badland park can savor the renowned mud-baked chicken. This specialty features locally raised free-range chicken, which becomes exceptionally delicious after being baked within a mud mold.
Another tourist favorite is eggs boiled with the wild mudstone grass known as Bu-jiang (埔薑), offering a unique and flavorful culinary experience. It provides a memorable taste of local gastronomy amid the captivating lunar-like landscape.
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