Yilan

As the most popular and largest night markets in Yilan, Luodong Night Market boasts yummilicious variety of authentic Taiwanese street food, making it difficult to try everything at one time. But some of must tries are pancakes loaded with local fresh scallions, pearls with red bean filling, stinky fries (stinky tofu disguised Fresh fries) and deep-fried paste made of chicken, pork and shrimps. Other recommended delicacies include steamed spring rolls, ice-cream and peanut wraps and mutton soup. Seating is available at some eateries, so you don’t have to walk with your mouth full. Besides food that fills your tummy and heart with content, a bit of shopping and entertainment will also put a smile onto your face. This is a night market to please your stomach and mind.

For those who are into arcade games, Luodong Night Market is a perfect place to relive your childhood memories until you’re tired of it without even hurting your wallet. However, please pay attention to your personal safety as gangsters sometimes gather in the nearby park.

Many foreign tourists who go to Wushi Harbor (烏石港) to surf will be momentarily shocked by the huge concrete building that looks as though it has collapsed into a lake as a result of an earthquake. But this is actually Lanyang Museum, which had been planned for many decades before finally being built. It is designed by architect Kris Yao, whose other representative works are the China Steel Corporation Headquarters, the Southern Branch of National Palace Museum and several unique high-speed rail stations. In the entrance to Lanyang Museum, the main building looks like a cuesta emerging from the surface of the lake. Cuesta is the outcome of colliding crustal plates and this sort of special landscape is common in north-east Taiwan.

Entering the hall inside, guests are amazed by the glass curtain and dolphins flying in the sky. Natural light has replaced the fluorescent lamps generally used in such buildings. A tilted array of tiles resemble the texture of terrain cuesta, looking just like crustal plates formed over hundreds of thousands years. Taking the elevator to the top, visitors are greeted by wax figures of aboriginal people dressed in traditional costumes. In the pavilion area, visitors are met with common trees and ecology of the Yilan area.

Lanyang Plain has nurtured a wide range of rice paddies and farmers who live there. Being close to the Pacific Ocean means there are many fishermen who need to jump on boats to catch fish in the middle of the ocean. People in Yilan depend on both the land and ocean, so they worship the sky and pray for a better harvest. Many folk activities in Yilan are unique and especially valued, such as “Qiang-Gu” (搶孤). Rural life and modern changes are depicted in forms of words or models at Lanyang Museum. This museum is more an interesting record of local life than it is a monotonous display of “stuff”. It doesn’t matter whether you are coming here just to hide from the rain or intending to see the building and exhibition, this is the attraction site that you definitely have to visit while you are in Yilan.

Taipingshan sits in mountain area with average altitude of 2,000 meters in Yilan and is away from city in around 2 hours driving distance. Here you could find the largest alpine lake in Taiwan: Cuifeng Lake (翠峰湖). Throughout the whole year, countless visitors are attracted to here for different landscapes: in summer and autumn, the view is contrasting with varying water level; during winter, sometimes thin-coating snow would cover the lake, which is quite rare scene in Taiwan. If you are going to spend a night in recreation area and willing to get up early, you should take chance to see the brief moment Cuifeng Lake veiled by mist. When the sun rise and shed its light on Taipingshan, the heaven does so. If you are lucky enough, you might watch sea of cloud as well. Although the lake is only about 4 kilometers in circumference, it still takes about two hours to detour around, as rough mountain road and muddy walkway would cause hindrance to inexperienced tourists. However, it is still worthwhile to give it a go, as you would be surrounded by forest and able to overlook the lake on your way. Moreover, many trails are available for hiking in the area, ranging from an hour to a half day in length. Some of them are ideal for bird watching or admiring the scene of dawn. In fine nights, the place also suits for star-gazing. The forest consists of many trees, though some are withered, but their pale boles and leafless branches do enrich the atmosphere.

Taking the Provincial Highway No.7 (台7線) to enter the mountain area from Yilan, any convenient store or B&B but one natural outdoor hot spring could be found by the way. The only legal registered accommodation here is Taipingshan Villa (太平山莊) in the recreation area. Due to its room availability, early booking is necessary in holidays and peak seasons. For tourists used to wide variety of shops and restaurants, it is recommended to buy some snacks, instant noodles, breads, etc. as a fail-safe if the meal provided here does not suits their preference.

Jiaoxi Township is located in the northeastern corner of Yilan County and is internationally famous for its hot springs. The history of this area stretches back over four centuries to the time of the Kavalan and Atayal peoples. It wasn't until 1796, when immigrants led by Wu Sha from Fujian began clearing and developing the land, that Jiaoxi gradually grew into an important town in northern Yilan.

This area's prosperity is deeply intertwined with the development of its hot springs. The town's growth has always revolved around its thermal waters, from the early days when residents simply built enclosures for bathing, through the Japanese colonial era when public bathhouses and inns were established for commercial use, to its recent designation as a Special Hot Spring Tourism Zone. Notably, the local community even utilizes the thermal water for various agriculture and aquaculture practices, making the springs not just a leisure resource but a vital economic lifeline for the area's prosperity.

The Jiaoxi Hot Springs are a sodium bicarbonate spring, a rare type of flatland hot spring in Taiwan. This water is rich in minerals, including sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and carbonate ions. It is clear, odorless, and emerges from the ground at a temperature of approximately 58 Celsus degree.

Due to its smooth, soft, and non-sticky quality on the skin, this spring is affectionately known as the "Beauty Soup." High mineral content means that whether the water is used for soaking, bathing, or processed for drinking as mineral water, it offers significant health benefits, making a visit to the Jiaoxi springs a must-do itinerary item for travelers to Yilan. Today, centered around the Jiaoxi Train Station, the surrounding area provides an abundance of soaking options. Nearly a hundred hotels, resorts, and public bathhouses are concentrated here, forming a vibrant "Hot Spring Village" ready to welcome every traveler seeking thermal healing.

The Dongshan River, Yilan’s fifth-largest river, flows through the three townships of Luodong, Dongshan, and Wujie. Its entire 24-kilometer basin has been meticulously planned as a multi-functional riverfront recreation area, integrating sports, recreation, and leisure. It's positioned as a unique "Outdoor Aquatic Museum." The river area is divided into upper, middle, and lower sections, each featuring distinct recreational themes.

The Water Park (Qingshui Park) serves as the core attraction of the Dongshan River recreation area. Its central design philosophy is to "rebuild the natural ethic between people and water." The park’s layout skillfully mimics natural landscapes while incorporating a strong sense of Lanyang's local culture and color.

Today, the Dongshan River Water Park has become one of Taiwan's most popular tourist destinations and Yilan’s most important venue for outdoor activities. The annual Dragon Boat Race (held during the Dragon Boat Festival) and the widely popular Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival are both grandly hosted here. Furthermore, during the Chinese Valentine's Day (Qixi Festival), a romantic Magpie Bridge is erected, making it a perfect spot for couples to celebrate and adding to the park's romantic atmosphere.

Here is the English translation of the revised description of Toucheng Old Street:

📜 "The First Street of Taiwan's Settlement": The Mark of Time on Toucheng Old Street

Toucheng Old Street, historically known as "Touwei Street" and now called Heping Street, holds the prestigious title of "The First Street of Taiwan's Settlement" (Kailan Diyi Jie). This street is not just the starting point of Yilan’s development; it carries the legacy of the region's earliest prosperity.

The Former Glory of a Maritime Hub

In the past, Yilan's primary transport route was maritime trade. Heping Street, located right next to the critical Wushi Port, naturally developed into a bustling center for cargo distribution. Though the hustle and bustle of that era have long subsided, the street's decline has only made its historical footprint clearer. The historic buildings and old temples that line the street still quietly tell the story of its former glory.

An Architectural Museum of Blended Styles

Toucheng Old Street runs north to south, with Fude Temples at both ends acting like guardians embracing the thoroughfare. Walking down this street is like entering a condensed museum of Taiwanese architectural history. The buildings here seamlessly blend styles from the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese colonial period:

• You can spot traditional Southern Min style red tiles and bricks.
• You can admire the intricate carvings and decorative washed-stone techniques characteristic of Japan's Showa era.
• Other buildings incorporate Baroque elements like rounded arches and columns.

Each distinctive old house, weathered by time, stands as a witness to the passing years. A stroll through Toucheng Old Street offers an intimate journey through a fascinating chapter of Taiwan's architectural history.

National Center of Traditional Arts is the largest exhibition and performance site for traditional arts with rich collection of cultural antiques in Taiwan. The life of the past of Taiwan has been recreated here along with historic streets, traditional stages and houses with a brick kiln in the center. Visiting National Center of Traditional Arts can be like traveling on a time machine. Visitors will have a basic understanding of various types of traditional arts such as dough figurines, handmade soaps, glassmaking and glove puppetry, even if they don't have the slightest idea about any of these before.

Located in the Wujie Township of Yilan, National Center of Traditional Arts is a definite crowd magnet, where the traditional folk culture has been well preserved and represented with performing arts (puppetry, ballads, acrobatics and repertoires of traditional narrative) as well as handicrafts (weaving, fragmented ceramic art and metalworking). Guided tours are available for groups and can be reserved in advance. The outdoor opera performances (the so-called yetaixi) are held every day, and the whole crew will travel from the commercial street all the way to the main stage. It is a spectacle of traditional Taiwanese theatre that serves as a great cultural experience for international visitors. For some natural fun, you may either hop on the cruise or rent a bike to have a scenic tour around the adjacent Dongshan River. Accommodation is also available within the art center — a quaint hotel whose architecture and its surroundings are reminiscent of a traditional village homestay.

🐢 Guishan Island: The Spirit of Yilan

Guishan Island, an isolated volcanic island floating in the sea, is situated approximately 10 kilometers east of the coast of Toucheng Township, Yilan County. It is the largest offshore island under Yilan County's jurisdiction. Not only is it one of the few remaining active volcanoes in Taiwan, but its name also comes from its distinctive shape, which closely resembles a giant turtle floating on the ocean's surface. For the people of Yilan, sighting Guishan Island—whether by land or sea—signifies that Yilan is near, making it a true spiritual symbol and the county's most famous landmark.

Unique Landscape and Natural Wonders

The island's topography is clearly divided into three parts: the Turtle Head, Turtle Shell, and Turtle Tail. It is mainly composed of andesitic lava flows and volcanic pyroclastic rock. The Turtle Tail, located at the island's end, is a long pebble beach that shifts north and south due to seasonal winds and tides, creating the famous natural spectacle known as the "Divine Turtle Wagging its Tail." The island's "Turtle Lake" (Guwei Pond) was originally a freshwater lake but became brackish after residents attempted, unsuccessfully, to connect it to the sea to form a fishing harbor.

Though the island has no permanent residents today, it has been developed into a Marine Ecological Park offering both educational and scenic experiences. Strict visitor capacity controls successfully protect its unique cultural and ecological resources. Combined with whale and dolphin watching activities in the neighboring waters, Guishan Island has quickly become the most popular tourist destination on the northern "blue highway."

Rare Ecology and Spectacular Views

Guishan Island boasts an extremely rare underwater environment: thousands of crabs manage to survive in the severe conditions of high-temperature sulfur and strong acid waters. Another celebrated scenic spot on the island is the view known as the "Beauty Looking Up to the Sky." From the former military camp, one can see steep, lush mountains with clearly defined ridges, resembling a beautiful woman gazing upwards—a testament to nature's superb craftsmanship.

Made up of three waterfalls found close to the township of Jiaoxi, Five-Peak Flag Waterfall has long been a popular destination for those who want to escape the heat and humidity in the sweltering summer. The trail that leads to the waterfall will only take you one to two hours to finish and is ideal for all.

The very well-established trail is made of stone steps, so there is no need to worry that your shoes might get messy and muddy during the hike. However, when rain approaches, watch your footing as it can be quite slippery. In merely thirty minutes’ time, you will be reaching the first two waterfalls of the three, while the third one is still twenty minutes away. Your hard work climbing those steps will pay off when you finally hit the end of the trail — the stunning waterfall with an elevation difference of 42 meters between the highest and lowest points will take your breath away. It might seem challenging, but the route is well equipped with pavilions and benches for hikers to rest their weary feet whenever they feel like having a break on the way. It is highly recommended to complete the hike as it is truly rewarding.

Wushi Harbor is a surfer paradise tucked away on the east coast of Taiwan, where surfing and sand surfing are both on the menu here, as is general beach activities. Rental shops are abundant, where you can get your surfboard and lessons as well; some ever offer pick-up and drop-off at Toucheng Train Station in Yilan. Usually, the beach grows crowded as the day wears on, especially on weekends, so we suggest you to stay at a nearby hostel the night before to catch some early-morning waves.

The harbor is the main port that connects the main island with Guishan Island (A.K.A. Turtle Island), and the area is also popular for whale-watching tours that start right from Wushi Harbor. Forget about the captive dolphin shows at ocean theme parks. Why not taking a ride on the boat and sailing on the Pacific Ocean? Let the wild and happy dolphins surprise you from every possible direction. Common bottlenose dolphin, spinner dolphins, pygmy killer whales and sperm whales can usually be spotted. This is a chance for you to get close to nature, as you've never seen it before.

On the cultural side, there is for sure a unique event you can’t miss here — Grappling with the Ghosts, a annual pole-climbing competition that takes place in the seventh lunar month at Wushi Harbor. Participants have to climb to a height of 12 meters above the ground on poles covered in oil to celebrate the end to the trepidatious holiday when the dead are said to be walking the earth — winning this contest is no simple feat though. The tourist center is standing right across from Lanyang Museum, and both architectures are unique and inspired by local landscape, making it a photographic hotspot. If you are craving for some fresh seafood, the fish market is a stone’s away and will stuff your tummy nice and full with the freshest catches and all kinds of dried seafood products. Whether you are an outdoor person, cultural type or big foodie, Wushi Harbor has it all.