yilan tour

50+ Fun Things to Do in Yilan, Taiwan (2024 Updated!)

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

Yilan County is the 5th largest of Taiwan’s 13 counties and home to about half a million people. It is located in the northeast of Taiwan. Most of the things to do in Yilan are located on the rice-paddy-covered Yilan (Lanyang) Plain, where the main towns of Jiaoxi , Yilan City, and Luodong are located. South of the plains, most of the county is mountainous and inaccessible.

Yilan (宜蘭, sometimes spelled Ilan or I-lan) is often overlooked by visitors to Taiwan, who tend to ride the train right through it when traveling from Taipei to Taroko Gorge in Hualien County . But for locals, especially the 7 million people who live in Taipei and New Taipei City , Yilan is a favorite weekend getaway, with countless possibilities for overnight or day trips from Taipei .

Yilan’s attractions range from hot (& cold) springs, beaches and high-mountain resorts to night markets, museums, and quirky treats. Yilan is especially suitable for people visiting Taiwan with kids , with hundreds of small-scale family-oriented museums & leisure facilities. There are too many kid-friendly things to do in Yilan to list in this article, so I’ve just stuck to some of our favorites. Meanwhile, off-the-beaten-path travelers will find some of the most rewarding things to do in Taiwan in Yilan.

The recommendations I provide in this article come from many years and numerous trips to Yilan with my friends and family. Yilan is the kind of place we never get tired of, either returning continually to our favorite spots (like Jiaoxi hot spring and Wai Ao beach) or driving around and discovering new places.

If you’ve already done the big sites in Taiwan like Sun Moon Lake and Alishan , it’s time for you make some room in your Taiwan itinerary for Yilan!

Table of Contents

Yilan Top Things to Do

These are some of the highlights and best places to visit in Yilan, which I’ll be covering in great detail below.

• Green onion cakes & ox-tongue cookies (all over Yilan!)
• Jiaoxi Hot Springs
• Wai Ao Beach
• Kavalan Whiskey Distillery
• Luodong Night Market
• Nanfangao Seafood Harbor
• Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area

Tips for Visiting Yilan

• Read my general Yilan guide for planning your visit.
• Explore some of the best sights in Yilan on this Yilan day tour .
• Search here for the best hotel deals in Yilan
• Use Klook to find discounted travel deals. Sign up with my referral link first to get TWD100 off .
• If you’re basing yourself in Taipei, find the best places to stay in Taipei here .
• Find our the best times to visit Yilan in my guide to when to visit Taiwan .
• Learn every else you need to know for planning a Taiwan trip in this article .
• For the east coast road trip, see my guide for traveling from Yilan to Hualien , my recommended Hualien itinerary , and how to get from Hualien to Taitung and Kenting .

Getting to Yilan

• Hire a driver for the day (Yilan only) or this one that includes driving to/from Taipei (find more private driver recommendations here )
• Rent a car to drive there yourself.
• Get a private transfer from Taipei to your hotel in Yilan.
• Buy your bus ticket from Taipei to Yilan here .
• Ride the regular train – check the times on the TRA website .
• Rent a scooter in Jiaoxi, Yilan, or Luodong for getting around.

Since Yilan is a whole county, there isn’t one single way to get to Yilan. It’s going to depend on where exactly you want to go to in Yilan, and even then, you’ll have different options for getting there. If you rent a car or hire a driver, this is really going to help for exploring Yilan, as most of Yilan’s top attractions are kind of spread out around the county. You can also rent a scooter (IDP needed) outside of Yilan’s three main train stations.

There are three major towns in Yilan that provide access to most of the Yilan things to do that I will cover in this article. They are Jiaoxi, Yilan City, and Luodong. I will also provide individual transportation details for most of the places to visit in Yilan listed in this article. Riding the train or bus to Yilan are both good options and take a similar amount of time. Buses can be a little faster, except during rush hour, when train might be a safer choice.

Getting to Yilan from Taipei City by car used to be much slower on the super winding Provincial Highway 9, which goes up and over the mountains. Now, thanks to the Xueshan Tunnel , one of the longest tunnels in Asia, the drive from Taipei to Yilan only takes about 1 hour (double that on a long weekend, though).

When the road finally exits the never-ending series of tunnels and emerges onto the Yilan (Lanyang) Plain, the first town you’ll come upon is Jiaoxi. Yilan City, the Yilan County capital, lies south of it, and Luodong is further south on the other side of the Lanyang River.

Getting from Taipei to Jiaoxi

Trains to Jiaoxi from Taipei Main Station or Songshan Station take about 1.5-2 hours and cost TWD100-200.

The bus from Taipei to Jiaoxi is usually faster. And unlike local trains, you’ll always get a seat on the bus.

The buses take about 1 hour (longer at peak traffic times). There’s no toilet on the bus, so go before you get on!

Getting from Taipei to Yilan City

There are frequent trains from Taipei Main Station or Songshan Station to Yilan City, taking 1.5 to 2.5 hours (TWD140-218). Taroko/Puyuma Express trains only take an hour, but these trains are almost always sold out and don’t allow standing tickets.

Buses also depart every 15 minutes or so, taking about 1 hour and 15 minutes (slower at peak traffic times).

Getting from Taipei to Luodong

The same trains from Taipei to Jiaoxi & Yilan City continue on to Luodong, taking a total of 1h45min to 2.5 hours. Taroko Express trains can get you there as fast as 1h15min but, as mentioned above, are very hard to get seats on.

Buses take around 1.5 hours to reach Luodong under normal traffic conditions.

Things to Do in Yilan: Jiaoxi

Jiaoxi (礁溪, sometimes spelled Jiaosi) is my personal favorite town in all of Yilan County and one of my favorite day trips from Taipei . We’ve stayed overnight here many times to enjoy the excellent hot spring facilities, food, craft beer, and waterfall hikes around town.

Enjoy some of the best hot spring spas in Taiwan

For visitors to Taiwan in winter , Jiaoxi is one of the best hot spring resort towns in Taiwan , with dozens of hot spring spas and hotels to choose from. You can find more details about the village in my complete guide to Jiaoxi Hot Spring .

Almost every hotel in Jiaoxi has its own spa (and often a hot spring tub in your own room), plus some of the best hotel spas are open to non-guests. Overall, spas in Jiaoxi are better value-for-money than those in Taipei at Beitou Thermal Valley .

The only downside is that almost none of the hot springs in Jiaoxi have natural views, even though the countryside around Jiaoxi is quite beautiful if you walk or drive just a few minutes out of town (think lots and lots of rice paddies).

One pair of spas in Jiaoxi stand out above the rest: Chuan Tang Spring Spa Hotel ( location 1 / location 2 ). The hotel spa (guests allowed for a reasonable entry fee) has the best variety of scented and brightly colored hot springs in town, plus a young children’s section, scented steam rooms, and more. Both locations are good and only a few minutes’ walk from Jiaoxi Train Station.

If you’re looking for a private hot spring room try this one or this one or search for others on Klook – there are many.

Go Down a Hot Waterslide

Another fun spa worth considering is the one at Art Spa Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor ). This one also has a great kids’ section, including a really tall hot water slide (older kids only), plus a small selection of colored/scented tubs, tons of massage jets, and more.

You don’t have to actually stay in these hotels to enjoy their spas; there are loads of better and cheaper options in town; find the best places to stay here .

If you only want to visit the hot spring and not stay in this hotel, you can book your hot spring experience online here .

For more great hot springs in Taiwan, visit Tai’An in Miaoli County on the west coast or Wulai Hot Spring in New Taipei City .

Let fish nibble your feet in Tangweigou Hot Spring Park

Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園) is a long, narrow walkway/park in the Jiaoxi City Center stretching between Jiaoxi Street (礁溪路五段) and Deyang Road (德陽路).

A hot water stream runs through it and there are numerous spots for soaking your feet and letting fish nibble the dead skin off them. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s incredibly ticklish! You’ll need to pay a small fee for the unusual experience, and you can even enjoy a draght craft beer while you do it.

Eat the spiciest ice cream you’ll ever try

At the southern (Jiaoxi Street) entrance to Tangweigou Park, Chili Hunter is a specialty ice cream shop serving the spiciest ice cream I’ve ever tried. Not all the flavors are spicy; go for level 0 for non-spicy. But if you are brave enough to try the strawberry ice cream (level 7, the highest) like we did, I can only say that the feeling is similar to burning your tongue. Definitely I’d recommend one of the levels in between.

If you need something to neutralize your mouth, go for one of the delicious green onion cakes served from stalls at the back of the park.

Drink green algae craft beer

Yet another awesomely unusual thing to do in Tangweigou Hot Spring Park is to sample beer crafted by the local Yilan brewery Mai Tian Fresh Brewed Beer (麥田現釀啤酒). Their beers include wheat (小麥), barley (大麥), rye (黑麥), and spirulina (green algae) (螺旋藻).

Are they good? Well, you’ll have to try to find out! There are several stalls in the park serving the beer on tap, but our go-to patio for post-hiking beers is a small café called 9號咖啡(德陽店 at the back of the park on Deyang road, behind Maison de Chine Hotel . However, a reader recently informed me that this cafe is now closed/moving.

2024 Note : some readers have mentioned that it’s no longer possible to find the green beer in town.

Soak your feet while feasting on Japanese hot spring cuisine

If letting fish nibble the skin off your feet doesn’t sound too appealing, then maybe you’d rather soak your feet in hot springs while you enjoy delicious Japanese food?

You can try Leshan Hot Spring Ramen (樂山溫泉拉麵) right by the train station, but the restaurant is notoriously busy. For a better chance at a spot, their second location, try Rakuzan Ramen (樂山溫泉拉麵二店) near the Jiaoxi bus terminal.

Both of them specialize in hot spring ramen, hot spring eggs, and an assortment of other delicious Japanese foods.

Marvel at Wufengqi Waterfall

The most famous scenic attraction associated with Jiaoxi is Wufenqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布), three kilometers west of town. There you’ll find an easy hiking trail leads to a series of breathtaking waterfalls.

Getting to Wufengqi Waterfall: You can walk there in about 45 minutes from town, but we often hop in a taxi from Yilan train station and get the driver’s number for the return pick-up. They are usually a few vendors selling snacks and local specialties at the entrance to the waterfall trail.

Hike to Yuemeikeng Waterfall

Starting very close to Wufengqi but significantly less known is the start of the trail to Yuemeikeng Falls (月眉坑瀑布). The trail is better for intermediate hikers as you’ll need to cross a small stream or two and climb over a few boulders, but the reward is a gorgeous, 3-tiered curtain waterfall that you can even swim under when the water level is high enough.

The return hike takes around two hours. To find the trail from the entrance to Wufengqi, follow the path downhill through the forest to Dezikou River, then cross the Dezikou River Check Dam (得子口溪攔沙壩). Watch for macaques; we spotted a whole troupe of them on this hike!

Things to do in Yilan City

When Taiwanese people say they’re “going to Yilan this weekend”, they are most often referring to somewhere in Yilan County, not necessarily Yilan City.

While Yilan city is the capital and largest city in Yilan, I’d personally rather stay in Jiaoxi (for hot springs) or Luodong (for the best night market). Some people choose to stay in Yilan city for Silks Place Yilan , one of the top luxury hotels in Taiwan . Its restaurant, Red Lantern, is famous for its Peking duck nigiri.

Go on a walking tour of Yilan City

Starting right in front of the Yilan train station, Jimi Square (Jimmy Park or 幾米公園) is a cute park with many painted walls and statues themed on Jimmy Liao , a Taiwanese artist from Yilan, and the movie Turn Left, Turn Right (向左走·向右走), which he wrote.

Down the street, Happy Station (Happiness Transfer Station or 幸福轉運站) has the same idea, but applied to a bus station. There is also an extremely cute children’s playground with indoor and outdoor facilities, including a bus converted into an elephant that kids (or selfie-snappers) can climb up into.

From there, walk 15 minutes to Yilan Distillery Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum (甲子蘭酒文物館), where you can learn about (and of course taste or buy) traditional Taiwanese liquors. For a bit of fresh air, head to the Yilan Riverside Park (宜蘭河濱公園), and don’t miss the unique Jin-Mei Pedestrian Bridge (慶和橋津梅棧道).

Another popular thing do in Yilan is to try some traditional Taiwanese ice cream. Just type “Yilan ice cream” into GoogleMaps and you will find loads of shops. I can personally recommend Qilin Ice Cream (search for “奇淋冰品”), one of the most popular among locals (thanks to my Taiwanese friend for taking me there!)

Get local at the Yilan Night Market

By Taiwanese standards, Yilan City’s main night market, called Dongmen Night Market (東門夜市), is pretty tiny and doesn’t have much selection. On the plus side, it is very local, and prices are cheap, cheap, cheap. If you happen to be spending the night in Yilan, this will give you something to do in the evening.

For a larger and more popular night market in Yilan, check out Luodong Night Market (see below).

Play with LEGO at Brick Ark Museum

At the southern end of Yilan City, Brick Ark Museum (積木博物館) is a dedicated LEGO museum. Where else will you get a chance to see a huge hand holding pearl milk tea (made of LEGO bricks)? The museum also has DIY workshops and you can take home what you build, so it’s a fun place to visit if you are traveling to Yilan with kids.

It’s a little far to walk there, but you can hop on bus 772-1 or 772-2 from bus station at the back of Yilan train station and get off at Yilan County Government stop (縣政府站).

Leisure Farms in Yilan

There are several leisure farms around Yilan where families can meet/pet/feed animals and do a variety of other hands-on and DIY farm activities. Some also have hotels where you can spend the night – I’ve linked to those below.

Here are just a few that you can consider adding to your Yilan itinerary. I’ve mentioned ever more green onion-focused ones further below in the article.

• Dancewoods Japanese Garden (綠舞日式主題園區): a Japanese-style garden with animals (capybaras, alpacas), matcha making, mask paiting, kimono for rent, and overnight hotel . Here’s my guide to all the places to see capybaras in Taiwan .
• Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm (張美阿嬤農場): more capybaras, alpacas, sika deer, Japanese torii gates, and green onion cakes. This one comes highly recommended from one reader of this site!
• Toucheng Leisure Farm (頭城農場): a large and very popular leisure farm in northern Yilan with animals, traditional earth houses, various DIY activities, and a hotel on site .
• Bambi Land (斑比山丘): super popular spot focused mainly on Taiwanese sika deers
• Sinbow Leisure Farm (星寶蔥體驗農場): DIY green onion cake making, cute dwarf donkeys, sika deer, and more
• Shangri La Leisure Farm (香格里拉休閒農場): in a very pretty location, with forest ladder, swing with a view, and overnight hotel
• Shang Yang Leisure Farm (勝洋休閒農場): a water-focused leisure farm with fishing, playing in water, DIY activities, rainbow umbrellas and more (some reviewers are disappointed by this one, so make sure to read the reviews before you go!)

Things to do in Northern Yilan County

Besides the Jiaoxi and Yilan City centers, there are plenty of other things to do spread out around them. This section covers everywhere in Yilan County north of the Lanyang River, besides Yilan City and Jiaoxi, which I already covered above.

Hike the Caoling Historic Trail

Once described by Lonely Planet as the most worthwhile hike in all of Taiwan, the Caoling Historic Trail follows a route that once was the only connection between New Taipei City and Yilan County. It also makes my list of the best hikes within short distance of Taipei .

Beginning near Fulong Beach in New Taipei City, the trail climaxes at a section of high mountain grasslands (watch for buffalos!) and bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean above Dali (大里) in Yilan. A more difficult (but even more scenic) continuation follows the Taoyuan valley along the bluffs, ending near Daxi (Dasi or 大溪).

The most popular time to walk the trail is in autumn, when the silvergrass blooms and paints the hillsides along the hike a silvery gray.

Hit the surf at Wai Ao Beach

The most popular beach in Yilan County, and one of the best beaches within easy reach of Taipei , is Wai Ao (外澳).

Wai Ao is the best place to try surfing in northern Taiwan, especially for beginners. You can hire surfboards right on the or from one of the several surf shops behind the southern (surfing) end of the beach.

If surfing is not your thing, you can also ride a horse on the beach near Wai Ao !

Getting to Wai Ao: You’ll have to travel about two hours on the slow train from Taipei to get here, but when you see that long stretch of sand and incredible view of Turtle Island (see below), you’ll realize it’s completely worth it.

For beach lovers, also see my list of other great beaches in Taiwan .

For the best surfing beach in southern Taiwan, see my guide to Dulan, Taitung .

Visit Turtle Island (Guishan Island)

Guishan Island is one of Yilan’s most recognizable landmarks. Also called Turtle Island, but literally “turtle mountain island” (龜山島), the island is known for its turtle-like shape and is located 10.5 km off the coast of Toucheng in Yilan. The island is formed by the only active volcano in Taiwan (although Yangmingshan may be active as well), and it is Yilan’s largest and only inhabited island.

A variety of boat tours run from Wushi Harbor (烏石港), which is just south of Wai Ao beach, to Turtle Island ( March to November only). I recommend this Turtle Island tour, which includes dolphin watching, a boat ride around the island, and you get to stop on the island and climb to the top of 410 Peak, the island’s main peak.

Read about Taiwan’s other small islands here .

Learn more about Yilan at Lanyang Museum

Between Wai Ao and the town of Toucheng, Lanyang Museum (蘭陽博物館) is right on the coastal highway and worth a visit. The museum delves into local Yilan topography and history.

The museum’s exterior is also quite a sight, designed to mimic the cuestas (hills or ridges that are gentle on one side and abrupt on the other) that are common in the area.

The museum is included on this Yilan day tour from Taipei .

Take a stroll down Toucheng Old Street

Of the many “old streets” in Taiwan, Toucheng Old Street (頭城老街) is one of the least lively, but I still include it here for anyone that may be passing through and want to take a quick look.

Unlike the others, you won’t find loads of food stalls or people, but instead a quaint neighborhood of old residential buildings where you can get a real feel for old-time, small-town Taiwan. It’s pretty much empty during the week but does get a little busier on weekends.

We usually make a quick stop at A-Zong Taro Ice Cream (阿宗芋冰城) on the main road near the Old Street for some delicious old-fashioned Taiwanese ice cream.

Sample some of the world’s best whiskey at Kavalan Distillery

The multi-award winning Kavalan Whisky Distillery is one of the most well-known sights in Yilan. Come here to join a free distillery tour (Mandarin only), which includes one sample at the end. To arrange an English tour and/or a “bottle-your-own whiskey” experience, you’ll need to contact them via their website.

Kavalan distillery is included on this Yilan day tour from Taipei .

Getting to Kavalan Distillery on your own: The distillery is located in Yuanshan Township, directly west of Yilan City. To get there, you can take bus #752 (only 7 per day) from Yilan Train Station (about 30 minutes) or hop in a cab. The next entry is just down the street.

Get your craft beer fix at Jim & Dad’s Brewery

If you prefer beer to whiskey like I do, then don’t worry, Yilan has still got you covered! Only 15 minutes on foot from Kavalan, you’ll find Jim & Dad’s Brew Company (吉姆老爹啤酒工場), another local institution.

The brewery adds unique touches to their brews with local Yilan ingredients (for example kumquat IPA or smoked plum marzen), and their handsome taproom is worth the trip. We visited with my wife’s family, only to find out that one of the owners was my father-in-law’s old friend!

Make your own candy & chocolate at Sophisca

One of the many Yilan attractions appealing to families is Sophisca (菓風糖果工房), a candy and chocolate shop with some hands-on, candy making activities for kids. It’s not a reason to travel all the way from Taipei, but a fun little stop if you happen to be Yilan with kids. They’ve even got vegan options and chocolate lipstick!

The candy store is located a little ways southwest of Yilan City in Yuanshan District; if you don’t have a car, it may not be worth the journey.

Admire the variety of plant life in Artemis Garden

On a weekend trip I made to Yilan with my wife and her Taiwanese friends, one of our best finds was Artemis Garden (香草菲菲/芳香植物博物館), a beautiful greenhouse in a quiet corner or Yuanshan township, just before the Yilan plains give way to the mountains.

The large, bright greenhouse is filled with all manner of local flora, perfect if you are looking for something special to take back to your apartment in Taipei (I got a carnivorous flower!) There are staircases leading up to ramps covered in hanging plants; it’s quite a beautiful place to visit, and there’s a small café inside.

Bus #752 (the same one that goes to Kavalan Distillery) also continues on to here. It’s quite a journey from Yilan Station though (about 45 minutes) and there are only a few buses per day. Get off at Artemis Garden/Taiyangpi (太陽埤) stop.

But your Artemis ticket online here , with the option to add afternoon tea.

Be surrounded by pumpkins at a Pumpkin Leisure Farm

Of the many “leisure farms” I’ve been to in Taiwan (I covered leisure farms for a whole year while writing for Travel in Taiwan magazine), this is one of the smaller but more interesting ones I’ve been to. I found it when I went on a weekend trip to Yilan with a cram school I was working for at the time.

Pumpkin Farm Yilan (旺山休閒農場-主題南瓜園) is off-the-beaten-track (you’ll need a car to get there) on a small road east of Yilan City. It is exactly what it sounds like; a pumpkin farm aimed at domestic tourists. Don’t expect a whole lot to do, but do expect to take a whole bunch of fun pumpkin pics.

Besides admiring the rather picturesque rows and tunnels of pumpkins, kids can do a few DIY activities, and eat (or drink!) a variety of pumpkin-based treats, like roasted pumpkin, pumpkin pizza, pumpkin soup, and more. I had to try the pumpkin coffee, and it was actually pretty good!

Things to Do in Yilan: Luodong

Luodong township is the second largest urban center in Yilan County. There isn’t a whole lot to do there, but it is a transportation hub for accessing many of the Yilan sights around it, and a good place to spend the night if you’re traveling with a group.

Some people also like to take an express bus from Taipei to Luodong and then hop on the train to Hualien from there as a faster (or less crowded) way to reach Taroko Gorge from Taipei (or coming back).

Happiness Yes Inn (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a kid-friendly hotel in central Luodong with ball pools, slides, children’s beds and more!

Feast on snacks at the best night market in Yilan

Luodong Night Market (羅東夜市) is the largest and best night market in Yilan County, eclipsing the much smaller Dongmen Night Market in Yilan City. Here you can expect the typical crowds and variety of snacks that you would find at any of the great night markets in Taipei or elsewhere in Taiwan.

The night market wraps around a park in the city center. It is especially known for its angelica mutton soup, ice cream cilantro wraps (invented in Yilan!), and many green onion cakes stalls. Find out more about what to eat at Luodong Night Market .

Getting to Luodong Night Market: the night market is located 750 meters (10 minutes’ walk) west of Luodong train station.

Stay in a Luodong Minsu

There are literally hundreds of minsu (民宿 or local guesthouses) in and around Luodong, catering primarily to local families and groups. If you’re traveling with a large family or group of friends, this is a great place to rent a beautiful house in a quiet area surrounded by rice paddies, but you’ll probably need your own wheels to get to most of them.

You can find many of these house rentals here or Booking or here on Agoda. Just open the map function and search around Luodong and you will see many of them!

Go for a stroll at Luodong Forestry Culture Park

Luodong Forestry Culture Park (羅東林業文化園區) is a lovely park which exhibits, statues, locomotives, and more devoted to the area’s former logging industry. It is built around a large pond where logs were once floated in off the river to store.

Getting to Luodong Forestry Culture Park: It is free to visit and located 10 minutes’ walk north of Luodong Train Station.

Hang out with cats in a cat cafe

As Yilan is a leisure-focused destination, there are dozens, perhaps even hundreds of cafes across the county, including several cat cafes. One of the best cat coffee shops in Yilan is Cats’ Day (猫的生活提案) in Luodong. The cafe features pretty standard food and drinks, but the real draw is all the kitties to pet. There’s a second floor with elevator access.

The cafe is a few minutes walk west of Luodong Train Station, near Luodong Night Market. You can find other cat coffee shops in Yilan by simply searching “cat cafes” on GoogleMaps. Find many more cat cafes in my guide to cat cafes in Taipei and across Taiwan .

Other Things to do in Southern Yilan County

South of the Lanyang River, the plains surrounding Luodong are dotted with attractions. More so than north of the river, you are going to need your own transportation to get around here, although some of the sights do have infrequent bus services or slow trains from Taipei.

Heading south along the coast past Su’Ao Cold Spring toward Hualien County and Taroko Gorge , the coastal scenery becomes increasingly dramatic. Most of Yilan County is actually made up of mountains, which visitors can most easily access at Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area and Taipingshan.

I’ll cover the sights in this part of Yilan in roughly a clockwise directions, starting to the north of Luodong, and finishing in the mountains to the west.

Visit museums dedicated to pencils and crayons

If you’ve got kids (or maybe just prefer quirky museums?), Yilan’s got both a pencil and a crayon factory/museum. Rabbit Pencil School (玉兔鉛筆學校) is just north of Luodong and was the first company to produce ballpoint pens in Taiwan.

Lucky Art Crayon Factory (蜡藝蠟筆城堡) is further south, heading toward Su’Ao Cold Springs (see below) and close to Xinma Train Station. This is a popular spot for families. There’s even a super tall rainbow colored slide inside! You can buy your ticket online here .

Both facilities cater to school groups and will appeal mainly to visitors with kids, with a number of displays and activities on offer.

Spend a whole afternoon at the Yilan National Center for Traditional Arts

One of the biggest attractions in Yilan is the National Center for Traditional Arts (國立傳統藝術中心) in Wujie Township, east of Luodong. The huge, nearly 20-year-old, government-run facility is devoted to preserving and promoting traditional arts in Taiwan.

Here you can learn about traditional arts such as Taiwanese opera, woodworking, and jewelry making. You can also buy Taiwanese crafts and sample local foods. There are various workshops and hands-on activities, and many sections have beautiful settings worthy of backdrops for photos.

You can buy your ticket online for a small discount and the option to add a shopping coupon, river boat ride, or DIY experience. The center is also included on this Yilan day tour from Taipei .

How to get to National Center for Traditional Arts Yilan: Take bus #241 from Luodong Station, departing at 10:00, 12:00, or 14:00.

Cool off at Dongshan River Water Park

If you’re visiting Taiwan in summer with kids who love water, definitely drop by Dongshan River Park (冬山河親水公園), a large outdoor children’s pool and spray park (a rarity in Taiwan), connected to the riverside cycling trails.

As a parent (and a person who is always too hot here), I wish there were more parks like this EVERYWHERE, especially in Taipei. See here to learn about other waterparks in Taiwan .

Dongshan River is also where Yilan’s races usually take place during the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals in Taiwan .

Getting to Dongshan River Park: take bus #241 from Luodong Station, which only departs three times per day. It’s the same bus that goes to the National Center for Traditional Arts.

Cycle along Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue

One of the best way to experience the Lanyang (Yilan) Plains is to hop on a bike, and Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue is one of the best places to do this. The bikeway is named after the Mr. Brown Boulevard in Chishang , Taitung , which has similar scenery (read more in my guide to the East Coast of Taiwan from Hualien to Taitung ).

Take the regular train to Dongshan Station (one stop south of Yilan), hire a bike, and off you go! The 21-kilometer-return easy ride takes in beautiful rice paddies, and the Wushierjia Wetlands. Cross Lizejian Bridge to reach Dongshan River Park.

The scenery is incredible, so do consider getting a good cycling camera for your bike!

Ride a kayak through the rice paddies

There’s a brand new experience in Klook which allows you to ride a kayak through the rice paddies in Yilan . I have yet to try this myself, but it looks really fun!

You’ll need to get there yourself (there’s a location link in the Klook description – it’s east of Luodong). Minimum age is 6, and only kids 8 and up will get an hour.

Uncover the history of pearl milk tea

If you’re a huge bubble tea fan, and you’ve already made a pilgrimage to the homeland of bubble tea in Taichung , your next step is to check out this cute little museum devoted to the sweet chewy drink.

The Kili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Cultural Center (奇麗灣珍奶文化館) is devoted to this history and culture of Taiwan’s most famous drink. You can even make your own bubble tea in a DIY activity.

The center is a little out of the way, located near the coast in Su’ao township. Buses 1797 and 1791 go there from Luodong.

Camping or Glamping in Yilan

There are numerous locations for camping and glamping experiences in Yilan. Usually almost everything you need is provided and there are various family friendly activities on offer. It’s best to find out exactly what is included before booking.

A few you can consider are this one , this one , this one , this one , this one , and this one . I told you there are a lot!

Beat the heat at Su’ao Cold Springs

Su’ao (蘇澳) is Taiwan’s most famous cold spring village. Here on the east coast of Taiwan, right at the point where the Yilan plains meet the rugged coastal mountains of Hualien , carbonic acid mineral water bubbles out of the ground.

The springs truly are cold, so you’ll want to save this for a hot summer day. There are a few facilities in town where you can enjoy the water, some for a fee, and some for free. Most of them are pretty run down, though. See this article for more info and details about visiting Su’ao cold spring . You can also stay in this resort in Su’ao (see on Booking / Agoda ), which has both hot and cold spring facilities.

The train from Taipei to Su’ao takes about three hours, or about 30 minutes from Luodong to Su’ao. Bus 1879 from Yuanshan MRT in Taipei is faster, getting there in about 2 hours.

For a more natural (but harder to reach) cold spring experience, see below.

Eat super fresh seafood at Nanfangao Harbor

Of the many harbors in Taiwan where fresh seafood can be purchased and eaten right on the pier, Nanfangao (南方澳, sometimes written Nanfang’ao) is one of the best. You may remember Nanfangao from the news, when on October 1, 2019, a bridge across the harbor suddenly crashed , killing six people.

Like most harbors in Taiwan, you’ll find multiple seafood restaurants around it, catering to families and groups. But for the most local experience, head to the Nanfangao Fish Market (南方澳觀光漁市場), where the vendors display the catches of the day. The takeaway trays of super cheap & fresh sashimi are irresistible!

Choose whatever you’d like on one side of the market, then bring it over to the other side where one of the simple eateries will cook it up for you on the spot, along with your choice of veggies, noodles, rice, beer, etc. This is a true Taiwan dining experience!

Getting to Nanfangao Harbor: Check GoogleMaps for train + bus options to get here from Taipei or cities in Yilan.

Check out the view at Nanfangao Lookout

If you’ve got your own vehicle (or some extra energy to climb the stairs behind Zhen An Temple or 鎮安宮), head to Nanfangao Lookout (南方澳觀景臺), a lookout point with a panoramic view of the entire Nanfangao harbor.

This is also a popular stop for anyone driving down the coast from Yilan to Hualien .

Get off the beaten track at Dongyue Cold Springs

Going south past Su-Ao, the Suhua highway (Su’Ao to Hualien highway) becomes a winding, slow-moving, and incredibly scenic drive. After going way up and then way down to pretty Dong’ao Bay, a little detour off the highway around the aboriginal town of Dongao will bring one to remote Dongyue Cold Springs (東岳湧泉, also called Dongao Cold Spring or 東澳冷泉).

This is a more natural and completely non-touristy version of Su’ao cold spring, and people from the immediate area are the main ones who frequent it. It gets pretty busy in summer, and don’t be surprised if friendly locals offer you a beer. The train line passes by on an overpass practically right above the cold water pools.

Without your own vehicle, you could walk here from Dongao train station, which is a 2.5 to 3-hour ride from Taipei.

If you travel further south from here, you can visit remote Nan’ao Beach falls (南澳滴水坑瀑布) and Aohua Waterfall (澳花瀑布) before reaching Hualien County.

Adventure seekers: You can also ride an ATV on a beach or go river tubing around Dongao!

Things to Do in the Mountains of Yilan

Now we jump over to the area lying to the west of Yilan, at Meihua Lake and Sanxing, before heading up into the mountains of southwest Yilan County.

If you’re interested in exploring this gorgeous region, then we would recommend Locasu Bed & Breakfast (see on Booking / Agoda ).

These lovely cabins are in a perfect location for exploring all of the following attractions, with a pretty setting near the river. Stay here if you love a quiet stay away from the city (and you have your own wheels).

Admire beautiful Meihua Lake

Meihua Lake (Plum Blossom Lake or 梅花湖) is a tiny, pretty lake southwest of Luodong. You can take a pleasant stroll around the lake, hire a bike, or relax in one of several cafés. It’s a popular spot for local families and youths to kick back.

Getting to Meihua Lake: join this Meihua Lake tour from Yilan or take bus #281 from Luodong bus/train station to Meihua lake stop, which departs five times per day.

Eat green onion cakes in Sanxing village

All of Yilan county is famous for green onion cakes (蔥抓餅, also known as green onion pancakes or scallion pancakes), and the tiny village of Sanxing (三星, or Sanshing) has the most famous of them all. These are one of the top-10 street foods in Taiwan ! You can even see the name Sanxing on various green onion cakes vendors in Taipei night markets .

What makes them so good? Well, for starters, green onions grow all over Yilan, so the onions used are fresh & local. Second, they tend to fry them in a TON of oil, so they greasily delicious. Note than not all green onion cakes are vegetarian. See how to ask in my Taiwan vegetarian guide .

The most famous local spot in Sanxing to try them is on Sanxing Road Section 7 (三星路七段), where two extremely popular street-side green onion cake stalls across the street from each compete for business: Apo Green Onion Cakes (阿婆蔥油餅) and Luo Family Green Onion Cake (羅家蔥捲餅). They are both located a short drive west of the Sanxing town center, heading towards the mountains. In the Sanxing town center, you can try 蔥蔥蔥蔥油餅 or 小梅蔥油餅.

When you order, you’ll have to answer two important questions: egg or no egg, and spicy or not spicy. Say yes to both.

You’ll need to drive or ride a scooter to get here.

DIY green onion picking and making your own cakes

Besides just eating green onion cakes, you may want to try picking green onions and making green onion cakes by yourself. These are family-friendly DIY experiences and a great way to learn about local Yilan culture and food.

The Sanshing Green Onion Culture Palace (三星青蔥文化館) is a small museum devoted to green onion cakes. Groups with bookings can pick green onions and learn how to make the pancakes. It is located in the Sanxing town center.

Sinbow Green Onion Experience Farm (星寶蔥體驗農場) is another sport just west of town offering a similar experience, plus they’ve got dwarf donkeys, sika deers, and other animals.

Soak in remote hot springs

At the base of the mountains a short drive west of Sanxing, there are a handful of wild and developed hot springs along Provincial Highway 7, also known as the Northern Cross Island Highway.

The first is a remote wild hot spring called Fan Fan Hot Spring (梵梵溫泉), which has two sections on the Fan Fan Stream: 梵梵溫泉A區 and梵梵溫泉B區 . A second one is Ribs River Hot Spring ( paigu wenquan or 排骨溫泉), which is located near where the highway 7 veers away from the Lanyang river and up into the mountains toward Mingchi National Scenic Area.

For a developed hot spring facility, head to Jiuzhize (Renze) Hot Springs (鳩之澤溫泉) at the bottom of the drive up to Taipingshan (see below).

Cook hot spring eggs

Besides soaking in hot springs in Taiwan, you can also cook eggs in them! Due to the temperature of the water, the eggs cook slower than normal hard boiled eggs, achieving a gooey texture on the inside that is extremely delicious!

Water Geothermal Square (清水地熱廣場), which requires a drive into the hills from Sanxing, is a hot spring park where you can cook eggs, corn, and even prawns in the hot water. There are also foot soaking pools.

Another spot to do this is just outside the popular Jiuzhize Hot Springs (see below) at the start of the long winding road up Taipingshan. You can buy eggs there for cooking in the water. See my Taipingshan guide for all the details .

This Taipingshan and Jiuzhize Hot Spring day tour from Taipei or Yilan includes a stop to cook eggs (but doesn’t include soaking in the hot spring).

Soaking at Jiuzhize Hot Spring

After cooking your eggs, go for a stroll on the Jiuzhize Nature Trail (鳩之澤自然步道). This includes crossing a beautiful river valley on the Dauwan Suspension Bridge (多望吊橋).

After hiking, go for a soak in the popular Jiuzhize Hot Spring (鳩之澤溫泉). One of the best parts of this hot spring is sitting in one of the hollowed out stones in the hot spring pool (see image above).

It’s best to get here on your own. You can take the bus there, but there’s only one bus per day in each direction. It is the same bus that goes from Yilan to Taipingshan (see final entry of this article). If you want to take it to Jiuzhize, it means you will have to spend around 5.5 hours at Jiuzhize, which is a little long.

If you want to do this, bus 1750 departs from Yilan station at 7:40 AM. The bus stop is here . it will arrive at Jiuzhize around 9:30 AM. Going back, the bus will depart from Taipingshan at 2:30 PM, and pass Jiuzhize around 3 PM (go to the bus stop early just in case).

Eat (& drink) tea at a tea-themed restaurant

Have you ever heard of tea cuisine? This is a special style of dining that has developed in Taiwan (and maybe some other tea producing regions in the world?) in which tea, tea oil, and tea leaves are used to prepare all the dishes in a meal.

You find this kind of food in several places in Taiwan, but one that we found just by searching around our hotel in the area was 田媽媽玉露-茶葉大餐 in a tiny village across the river from Sanxing.

We were the only guests when we dropped in on a random weeknight. We feasted on deep fried tealeaves, Taiwanese guabao with tea sauce, meats, tofu, and noodles cooked in tea oil, and of course lots of tea to wash it down. This is truly a unique style of food, and I would highly recommend it!

To find more places like this, see my article on tea in Taiwan .

Walk around stunning Mingchi Lake

Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area (明池國家森林遊樂區) is a name that all Taiwanese people know. The main focus of the park is picturesque Mingchi Lake.

The gorgeous alpine lake is located near the highest point of the (very winding) Northern Cross-Island Highway . The lake is often shrowded in mist, and it’s an easy 30-minute stroll around it. Our kids’ favorite part were the ducks, swans, and turtles.

There is one large facility near the parking lot, Mingchi Villa (明池山莊), offering rooms and cabins, and popular among local families and tour groups.

Explore Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area

If you loved Alishan National Scenic Area , then you will also enjoy visiting 1950m Taiping Mountain (Taipingshan or 太平山). This less-visited peak offers fresh air and a network of trails through high mountain forests of cypress, pine, maple, and cedar, which were once logged by the Japanese.

Since there’s only one bus per day to Taipingshan, and you have to get to Yilan city super early to catch it, it’s most convenient to take this Taipingshan day tour from Taipei or Yilan .

One of the highlights of visiting Taipingshan is riding the Bong Bong Train (蹦蹦車). Like the Alishan Forest Railway, it was once used to haul wood. Another similarity is that it was closed to the public due to typhoon damage. After being closed from 2012 to 2018, the Bong Bong Train is up and running again!

Taipingshan is also one of the best places for seeing snow in Taiwan in winter. There isn’t always snow there in winter, but when there is, it will usually be announced in the news, and masses of people will flood there. Even when there’s no snow, if you visit Taipingshan in winter, expect it to be very cold, especially when riding the Bong Bong Train.

To enter the scenic area, you’ll need to pay TWD150 (weekends 200), and a ride on the Bong Bong Train costs TWD180. On weekends and other popular times, there can be a very long wait for the train.

There’s only one very basic, park-run accommodation at Taipingshan, and it can be difficult to get a booking.

Getting to Taipingshan: Only one bus, Kuoguang bus #1750 , departs per day from Yilan (7:40 a.m.) and Luodong (8:00), arriving at Taipingshan at 10:30. The bus returns from Taipingshan at 14:30. To make life easier, take this day tour that includes Jiuzhize, or this tour that only focuses on Taipingshan.

Cuifeng Lake

Cuifeng Lake (also spelled Cueifong Lake, Cuifenghu, or 翠峰湖), is a gorgeous alpine lake with various hiking trails and lookout points around it. The lake is a 30-minute drive further up the road from the main tourist area of Taipingshan, and there are no buses that go up there.

To visit Cuifeng Lake, you’ll either need to drive or join this Taipingshan Day Tour and choose the Cuifeng Lake option, or this other day tour . You can also spend the night at a simple, park-run accommodation there, but it can be very hot in summer and very (very!) cold in winter.

Well, I hope you’ve found enough ideas here to plan a lifetime of fun trips to Yilan, Taiwan! Let me know if there’s anything I should ad to the list, as we are always looking for new places to explore! !

Related Posts

8 thoughts on “50+ Fun Things to Do in Yilan, Taiwan (2024 Updated!)”

Very informative and useful. Thanks very much. Given me some great ideas for next time we come.

Thanks for reading!

Hi Nick, would it be recommended to self-drive in Yilan with a 3-year old toddler given the attractions are relatively spread apart and less accessible via public transport? If so, are there any recommended car companies from Taipei? Thank you!

Yes, driving yourself is a good idea, if you are comfortable with the roads in Taiwan. I normally recommend Klook for renting a car in Taiwan, which includes the option to add a child seat. Here’s a link (you might have to copy-paste it) https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=3452&aff_adid=626006&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Fen-US%2Fcar-rentals%2F%3Fspm%3DActivity.CategoryBar_L1%26clickId%3Dcd3bb6b89e

I think one of your best posts – your website is full of great and detailed information. I’m surprised you’ve done all of this! I booked a hotel through one of your links to Booking.com. ^_^

Thanks so much!

You mentioned horseback riding at Wai’ao Beach. Do you know the name of the establishment and their contact info? TIA!

Yes, search 外澳小山丘馬場 on GoogleMaps or their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076296005304&ref=pages_you_manage

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

A Travel Guide to Yilan, Taiwan’s Family-Friendly County

Yilan (宜蘭, formerly spelled Ilan) is a favorite weekend getaway for Taipei people, especially families. It is close enough for day trips but has enough things to do to justify spending multiple days there. Consider stopping in Yilan on your way to Hualien !

But don’t only come to Yilan if you’ve got kids. The county has a surfing beach, excellent hot and cold springs , tasty food (especially green onion cakes!), waterfalls, leisure farms, museums, DIY activities, Kavalan distillery , and one of Taiwan’s best mountain resorts, Taipingshan .

I’ve been to Yilan 20+ times, for hot spring, beach, and hiking day trips with my friends, weekend getaways with my family, field trips with my students, and as a starting point for road trips down the east coast .

In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know for planning an Yilan trip: how to get there, best hotels and minsus (local guesthouses), top and less famous attractions, best tours, how to plan your itinerary, what to eat, and events.

Table of Contents

Yilan Introduction

The name Yilan comes from the Ketagalan Taiwanese aboriginal tribe , who originally inhabited the area. You can learn about them at the free Ketagalan Culture Center in Beitou.

Although it is quite close to Taipei, the Yilan plain (also called Lanyang Plain or 蘭陽平原), where the vast majority of the Yilan population lives, is separated from Taipei by mountains. In the distant past, people would hike to Yilan on what is now the Caoling Historic Trail.

The Yilan plain is filled with rice paddies, green onions, and fruit farms. Yilan-style green onion cakes are enjoyed across Taiwan. The small village of Sanxing (三星) in Yilan is especially famous for its green onion cakes.

For many years, the slow and winding Highway 9 was the main way to reach Yilan. It passed through Pinglin (a tea growing area) and took around two hours. In 2006, travel to Yilan became much faster thanks to Xueshan Tunnel (雪山隧道), one of the longest tunnels in the world, at 13 kilometers. Now you can get to Yilan in only one hour from Taipei.

Yilan has three urban centers. Driving or taking the bus from Taipei, you’ll emerge from the tunnel at Jiaoxi (礁溪, also spelled Jiaohsi or Chiao Hsi). This hot spring village has some of the most kid-friendly hot springs in Taiwan, plus some great waterfall trails.

After Jiaoxi is Yilan City (宜蘭市). This is the capital and largest population center in Yilan, with just under 100,000 people. For travelers, it has some of the best hotels in Yilan but fewer things to do.

The furthest town is Luodong (羅東). Here you’ll find the best night market in Yilan (read my Luodong Night Market guide ) and some great minsus (guesthouses). It is also close to some of the best family activities in Yilan, so it makes a good base.

Most of Yilan is actually mountainous and not easily accessible. Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area is the top attraction. Visitors flock here for hiking, to ride the cute Bong Bong Train, and on rare occasion, to see snow in winter. Mingchi National Forest Recreation is also popular among locals, but smaller than Taipingshan and less visited by foreign tourists

Getting to Yilan

Driving from Taipei to Yilan through Xueshan Tunnel (Highway 5) can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic. Note that there are minimum passengers numbers for this route at certain hours – read my Taiwan driving guide for details.

The same thing goes for buses to Yilan . Under normal conditions, they are faster than the train. But if you get stuck in rush hour, they can be slower than the train (and don’t have toilets!) The seats are very comfortable, though, and they are never crowded like the train.

Buses depart regularly from Taipei Bus Station, Taipei City Hall Bus Station, Technology Building MRT Station, and Banqiao ( New Taipei City ). You can usually just show up and buy a ticket for the next bus. You may have to wait a while at busier times.  

Expect (on average) about 1 hour 15 minutes to Jiaoxi and 1.5 hours to Yilan City , and 1 hour 45 min to Luodong . You can book a ticket online here , but you’ll still have to wait in the line when you get there.

Taking the train to Yilan is more reliable, because there is a schedule, but usually a bit slower than the bus. But local trains can get uncomfortable crowded at peak times. On the plus side, they have toilets. Search the train times and find out how to book your train tickets online .

From Taipei Main Station, traveling time by train will be anywhere from 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on the train type and where you’re going in Yilan.

The fastest trains are the Puyuma Express , Taroko Express , and Tze Chiang Limited Express 3000 , but these require seat reservations. They are almost always sold out because they are the most popular way for getting from Taipei to Hualien quickly.

Tze Chiang Limited Express (any of them except for 3000) and Chu Kuang take seat reservations, but you can also just show up and buy a standing ticket or swipe your EasyCard . Local trains are the slowest, and seat reservations are not possible – just buy a ticket at the station or swipe your EasyCard.

For traveling between Yilan and Hualien, take the train, as there’s no bus. Book tickets early (up to 28 days) as Taipei to Hualien is a very popular route.

Taipingshan is one of the more difficult places to get to in Yilan. There’s only one bus per day ( bus 1750 ) in each direction. It departs Yilan Station at 7:40 AM and Luodong Station at 8 AM, arriving at Taipingshan at 10:30.

Going back, the bus departs Taipingshan at 2:30 PM, arriving at Luodong at 5:30 and Yilan Station at 5:50.

Renting a Car/Hiring a Driver

Yilan’s attractions are quite spread out. What’s more, buses there are slow/infrequent and don’t go to some of the attractions. Taxis are also very limited, except in the Yilan city center. Therefore, many visitors, especially families, decide to rent a car or hiring a driver in Yilan.

If you rent a car , you can start at Taoyuan Airport or in Taipei. But people who are not used to driving in Taiwan will often take public transportation to Yilan, then start their car rental there. I recommend that you rent a car here on Klook .

If you’re going to Taroko Gorge, it’s a beautiful drive along the coast from Su’ao in Yilan to Hualien , called the Suhua Highway (蘇花公路). On rare occasion, this highway can be affected by landslides, which happened during the April 2024 earthquake. See the latest updates here .

By car, you can also drive the slow and winding (but very scenic) Northern Cross-Island Highway (Highway 7) to Taoyuan . Expect to spend a whole day on the road with stops.

Or you can drive Highway 7甲, Highway 8, and Highway 14甲 through Taichung and all the way to Hehuanshan , Cingjing Farm or Sun Moon Lake in Nantou , with possible stops like Wuling Farm, Lishan, Hehuanshan, and Wuling Pass on the way. See my guide to getting to Hehuanshan and Cingjing Farm for more info.

These are very slow, winding, high altitude roads, so make sure to check their current conditions, drive carefully, time it well, and bring carsickness medication if needed.

If you hire a driver , you can visit multiple places in Yilan without worrying about the logistics. Popular stops that people include are Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm, this DIY green onion experience, Lucky Art Crayon Factory, National Center for Traditional Arts, Dancewoods Japanese Garden, KIli Bay Peark Milk Tea Center, and Jiaoxi Hot Springs.

Hiring a driver is very useful for Taipingshan , since there’s only one bus per day. With a driver you can also make stops at Cuifeng Lake and Jiuzhize Hot Spring, which wouldn’t be possible if you took the bus. It’s also best for Mingchi, which has no bus.

You can also rent a scooter outside any of the train stations in Yilan. They’ll want to see a Taiwanese motorcycle license or an IDP. With an IDP, they may also ask to see a motorcycle license from your home country. You can get to Taipingshan by scooter.

Where to Stay in Yilan

Before you choose a hotel in Yilan, you’ll need to decide which city you’re staying in.

Choose Jiaoxi if you want to stay in a hot spring hotel. Jiaoxi is also a suitable place to base yourself for exploring Yilan by car.

Art Spa Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda ), Chuan Tang Spa 1 (see on Booking / Agoda ), and Chuan Tang Spa 2 (see on Booking / Agoda ) are my three most recommended hot spring hotels for families (or anyone really) in Jiaoxi. They all have excellent hot spring facilities, including children’s water play areas kids. You can visit these spas without staying in the hotel.  

On the edge of Jiaoxi, Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi (see on Booking / Agoda ) is the most famous hot spring hotel in Jiaoxi. It’s not cheap, but it’’s great for families.

North of Jiaoxi, Toucheng Leisure Farm (see on Booking / Agoda ) is a popular place for families to spend the night.

Yilan City is the largest but has fewer attractions. Usually when people stay in Yilan city it’s because they want to stay at Silks Place (see on Booking / Agoda ), which is one of Taiwan’s top luxury hotels .

The hotel features rooftop pool, movie theater, kids playrooms, and hot springs. Red Lantern restaurant in the hotel has what some say is the best Peking duck in all of Taiwan.

Luodong is especially known for its family-friendly minsus (local guesthouses). There are hundreds of them, mostly just outside the city.

Try The House of Water (see on Booking / Agoda ), Cabin de Kite (see on Booking / Agoda ), North Zart (see on Booking / Agoda ), 星晏親子民宿 (see on Booking / Agoda ), 宜蘭綠之庭民宿 (see on Booking / Agoda ), or Yun Tien Feng Chuan (see on Booking ).

A little further out of town, Moment Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda ) is another great choice with family rooms. It is connected to National Center for Traditional Arts, which has lots of children’s activities.

If you want to be close to Luodong Night Market , I had a good stay at this budget hotel . For a nicer stay, try Cuncyue Hot Spring Resort (see on Booking / Agoda ), a hot spring hotel.

If you want to spend the night at Taipingshan, there’s an official accommodation at Taipingshan and another at Cuifeng Lake . You can book them online here , but make sure read all the instructions and book as soon as the rooms become available if you want a chance to get one.

Mingchi Village (see on Booking / Agoda ) is especially popular among local tour groups when visitng Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area. We enjoyed our stay in a cabin at Locasu (see on Booking / Agoda ), which is on the way to Taipingshan.

Top Things to Do in Yilan

I’ll separate the below into Jiaoxi & Northern Yilan, Yilan City, Luodong & Southern Yilan, and Mountain Areas.

Jiaoxi & Northern Yilan

In Jiaoxi town center, it’s all about hot springs. You can soak your feet or let fish nibble the dead skin off them in Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園).

Art Spa Hotel has a colored/scented hot springs and steamrooms, lots of massage jets, kids water play area, and a tall hot water slide (minimum height requirement). You don’t need to be a guest to go for a soak.

Chuan Tang (2 locations here and here ) is another great spa, with even more colored/scented pools than Art Spa, massage jets, feet nibbling fish pool, and children’s play area.

Just outside of Jiaoxi, the hike to Wufengqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布) is easy enough for kids. Get there by taxi from Jiaoxi town center. The hike to Yuemeikeng Waterfall (月眉坑瀑布) starts at the same spot but is longer and more difficult.

Northeast of Jiaoxi on the coast, Lanyang Museum (蘭陽博物館) is a beautifully designed, meant to mimic the a coastal ridge. It covers local history and culture.

Wai’ao Beach (外澳沙灘) is the best surfing beach in Northern Taiwan, also good for swimming. Get there by taking the local train from Taipei. It’s my favorite beach within day tripping distance of Taipei. You can also do horse riding on the beach .

Dolphin/whale watching boat tours to Turtle Island set sail from Wushi Harbor next to Wai’ao. Turtle Island (龜山島 or Guishan Dao ) is a distinctive island 10 km off the coast that is visible from much of the Yilan coast. Read more about it in my guide to the islands of Taiwan .

North of Wai’ao, Toucheng has the popular Toucheng Old Street (頭城老街), while Toucheng Leisure Farm (頭城農場) is a popular place for families to spend a night or just do a half-day farm experience .

Caoling Historical Trail (草嶺古道) is a popular day hike to coastal bluffs. It starts at Fulong Beach in New Taipei City and ends at Dali Station (main hike) or Daxi Station (if you do a longer add-on) in Yilan. The hike is especially popular when the silvergrass blooms in November.

Yilan City is the capital and largest urban center in Yilan. A few sights in town include Jimmy Park (宜蘭幾米公園) at the train station, which has some cute sculptures, Yilan Distillery Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum (甲子蘭酒文物館), and the LEGO-inspired Brick Ark Museum (積木博物館) in the south of the city.

The very popular Kavalan Distillery (金車噶瑪蘭威士忌酒廠) is west of Yilan City in Yuanshan district. This is Taiwan’s most famous and award-winning whiskey distillery. It is owned by the same company that as Mr. Brown Coffee, so those cafés usually have some whiskey-based drinks.

You can just show up and join the next tour (Mandarin only), which includes a small tasting at the end. For an English tour or to blend your own bottle of whiskey, you’ll need to book it online in advance. Some Yilan tours include a stop there (see “Best Yilan tours” section below).

Just down the road from Kavalan, Jim & Dad’s Brewing Company (吉姆老爹啤酒工場) is an excellent Yilan brewery that also runs a taphouse in Taipei. They use local Yilan ingredients in their beers.

If you need to add something for the kids that doesn’t involve booze, try Up Leisure Farm (可達休閒羊場). Artemis Garden (香草菲菲), a beautiful greenhouse, is also nearby.

Luodong & Southern Yilan

The main highlight of Luodong city center is Luodong Night Market (羅東夜市), one of the best night markets in Taiwan. The Luodong Forestry Culture Park (羅東林業文化園區) is also popular.

Some of the best family-friendly activities in Yilan are around Luodong. These include National Center for Traditional Arts (宜蘭傳藝園區), Kili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Museum (奇麗灣珍奶文化館), and Lucky Art Crayon Factory (蜡藝蜡筆城堡).

Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm (張美阿嬤農場) is a super popular leisure farm, while this DIY green onion cake experience is close to it. Dancewoods Japanese Garden (綠舞日式主題園區) is a Japanese themed leisure farm where you can rent kimonos and have Japanese tea ceremony.

One fun outdoors activity in Yilan is cycling on Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue (宜蘭三奇美徑), which is Yilan’s version of the famous Brown Boulevard in Chishang , Taitung . Another is kayaking in the rice paddies.

Dongshan River Water Park (冬山河親水公園) hosts many events (see final section below) and has a children’s waterpark in summer.

Southwest of Luodong, Meihua Lake (梅花湖 or Plum Blossom Lake) is a small, pretty lake with a walking and cycling path around it.

South of Luodong, Su’ao (蘇澳) is famous for its cold springs, best visited in summer. At the start of the coastal highway to Hualien, Nanfangao (南方澳) is a very large fishing harbor (see the “What to Eat in Yilan” section below).

Even further south, Dong’ao has a cold spring in a more remote and natural setting than Su’ao. Sea kayaking is also popular in the area.

Mountain Areas

Driving west from the Yilan plain on Highway 7, stop in Sanxing (三星) for green onion cakes . A side road leads up to Water Geothermal Square (清水地熱公園), where you can soak your feet or cook hot spring eggs. There are also wild hot springs here .

You can also cook hot spring eggs or take a full soak at Jiuzhize Hot Spring (鳩之澤溫泉), which is on the long and winding drive up to Taipingshan (太平山). There’s also a short but lovely nature trail (鳩之澤自然步道) with a suspension bridge beside the hot spring. See the “Yilan tours” section for tour options to get here.

Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area (太平山國家森林遊樂區) is one of Taiwan’s most popular. You can see colorful maple trees here in autumn and even snow once in a while in winter. If it does snow, expect it to be super busy.

At the main tourist area, there is a collection of hiking trails, café, temple, and the popular Bong Bong Train (蹦蹦車), a small, old logging train. The 20-minute ride goes to a walking trail. See the train details here . The train is not covered, so dress warm, especially in winter!

Even further up the mountain, and not accessible by bus, is a pretty alpine lake called Cuifeng Lake (翠峰湖), with a walking trail most of the way around it.

There’s a small entrance fee (200 weekends/holidays, 150 weekdays, 100 age 6-12, free under 6) for enter Taipingshan. Parking is 100. If you buy it on Klook , it’s always 150 and free parking is included.

Up Highway 7, the Northern Cross Island Highway, Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area (明池國家森林遊樂區) is another popular spot, especially among locals. It’s closer to Yilan’s cities but less accessible because there’s no bus.

Mingchi is smaller than Taipingshan. Mainly it consists of one lake, but a very pretty one, and an easy walking trail around it.

Best Yilan Tours

There are quite a few good day tours which make Yilan more accessible.

This Yilan day tour from Taipei includes Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm and Lanyang Museum . This one includes Kavalan and some spots on the coast.

For Taipinghan , this day tour from Taipei or Yilan includes the Bong Bong Train, cooking eggs at Jiuzhize, and the option to add Cuifeng Lake.

This one focuses mainly on Taipingshan, with more time for hiking. On this tour , you’ll have time to actually take a bath in the hot springs.

And here is a two-day Taipingshan tour if you want to spend the night on the mountain.

This is a popular dolphin and whale watching boat tour to Turtle Island . The boat tour starts at Wushi Harbor (烏石港) in northern Yilan. It’s very common to see dolphins but not so common to see whales. The tour includes a stop on the island, where you can hike to its tallest point. This tour is most popular in late spring and summer, and may not run at other times of the year.

Here’s a half-day tour to Meihua Lake .

This four day tour of the East Coast includes stops in Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung.

To make your own customized tour in Yilan, I recommend renting a car or hiring a driver .

How to Plan Your Yilan Itinerary

Yilan is most commonly visited as a day trip from Taipei , 2-3 night getaway from Taipei , or on the way to Hualien .

Because Yilan has SO MANY attractions and they are quite spread out, you really need to start by making a shortlist of the places you want to visit . This will help you determine how much time you need there and also which town to stay in.

As a day trip from Taipei , visit Jiaoxi for hot springs and hiking or Wai’ao for the beach. For Zhang Mei Ama, travel to Luodong then take a taxi from there. If you want to visit many spots in Yilan in one day, hire a driver for the day .

It’s not possible to do a day trip to Taipingshan from Taipei by public transportation . The Taipingshan bus leaves before the first train gets there. You’ll have to do a Taipingshan tour or spend the night in Yilan first.

For two days in Yilan , consider to spend one day touring your shortlisted attractions and one day for visiting Taipingshan.

Spend the night in Jiaoxi for the best hot springs, in Yilan City if you have room in your budget for Silks Place, or Luodong if you care most about the night market.

The driving time between Jiaoxi, Yilan, and Luodong is not too far. So no matter which one you choose, you can easily visit the others by taxi, train, or bus.

What to Eat in Yilan

Yilan is most famous for its green onion cakes (蔥油餅). Compared the regular kind in Taiwan, these ones usually deep fried (including the optional egg), so they are greasier. They are made with local green onions are a super delish.

The small village of Sanxing (三星) is expecially famous for its green onion cakes, and you’ll see green onion cake stalls with this name throughout Yilan and even in other parts of Taiwan. This vendor is especially famous, while this one does them like a wrap.

You’ll also see two other unique variations of green onion cake. One is the spiral version (宜蘭蔥餅), which has in inner layer of green onions. Another is green onion pie (蔥餡餅), which is round and is stuffed with even more green onions and sometimes meat. You’ll see them all over Yilan.

In Jiaoxi, I recommend going for hot spring ramen & sushi , where you can soak your feet while you eat. There are two locations of the same shop, here and here .

Locals love getting whole roasted chicken (烤雞) when driving to/from Jiaoxi. Here is a popular spot on the road into town, but there are several other similar ones around it.

In Yilan City, Red Lantern restaurant at Silks Place is said to have the best Peking duck in Taiwan, as well as some unique duck nigiri .

Whiskey lovers shouldn’t miss Kavalan , and the same goes for beer at Jim & Dad’s .

You can also find an older Yilan craft beer called Mai Tian Fresh Brewed Beer (麥田現釀啤酒), which includes a green beer made with spirulina, in a few restaurants in Jiaoxi (see my Jiaoxi guide for details).

At Jiuzhize, makesure to try making your own hot spring eggs (溫泉蛋). Because of the lower cooking temperature, then turn out deliciously soft inside. They provide little packets of salt and pepper.

In Luodong, it’s all about Luodong Night Market . The night market’s specialties are green onion cakes (heads up to vegetarians in Taiwan – some of them contain meat or lard) and angelica mutton herbal soup (for vegetarian-friendly stalls in the night market, see my vegetarian night market guide ).

So find your way through this popular night market, see my Luodong Night Market guide .

Yilan Events

Dongshan Riverside Park east of Luodong is usually the venue for Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival races in Yilan. Also visit this park in summer, when the open up the large children’s water park.

Yilan Green Expo (宜蘭綠色博覽會) is an environment focused event, with flower displays and other activities. It also takes place at Dongshan Riverside Park, usually in May.

Yet another event at the same park is the annual Yilan Hot Air Balloon Carnival in June. It’s a smaller version of the more famous Taitung International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Luye, Taitung.

The Luodong Fringe Festival (羅東藝穗節) usually happens in August, with a focus on local arts and music.

If you want to see autumn foliage at Taipingshan , go there in November. It’s rare to see snow at Taipinghan, so you’ll need to be lucky. It only happens once every few years or so, and when it does, masses of locals try to visit all at once.

A Travel Guide to Taitung, Taiwan’s Rice Basket County

What is the currency of taiwan, 14 thoughts on “a travel guide to yilan, taiwan’s family-friendly county”.

Hi! You so have many useful information! Thank you very much!

I am wondering whether you know how much it costs to hire a driver for a day in Yilan? My family and I (3 adults and 2 children) are going to stay in Luodong in 2 week’s time, and we are trying to figure out the costs of our stay there.

Any information would be really helpful. Thank you!!!

The cost of hiring a driver for the day ranges from around 3500 to 6500 per day in Taiwan, depending on size of vehicle and mileage. Take a look at my article on how to find a driver in Taiwan in the transportation section of this site for my recommended drivers.

This is super helpful! 🙂 thanks a lot for sharing such useful information!

Hi, is it possible to do a day trip from Taipei To taipingshan (take the Bongbong train), then head to Zhang amei farm then back to Taipei? Is the road up winding and carsick inducing?

It’s not possible by public transportation. Because there is only 1 bus per day from Yilan city to Taipingshan, departing 7:40AM, which is too early to reach from Taipei. If you drive a car and start your day very early, then yes, it’s doable, including stop at Zhang Mei Ama. The road up Taipingshan is very winding for about 1 hour.

we plan to rent a scooter to get around yilan, is it possible with a 4 years old kid? we have few destination as such: zhang amei farm, ji mi park & Water Geothermal Square.

As long as the driver has the license to rent the scooter, then it’s fine to take a passenger and/or kid. The shop will most likely require an IDP and may additionally require that is has the A stamp for riding motorcycles. Some shops don’t have children’s helmets, though. When I rented scooters with my kids in Taiwan, I sometimes brought their children’s helmets from home with me.

This is really helpful!

Noticed a general theme of hiring a car/ scooter in a few places. How much can I expect to pay to hire one/ gasoline and do they usually take a deposit/ passport?

You’ll need an international driver’s permit (IDP) from your home country to rent a car in Taiwan. For a scooter, you’ll need the same, plus they may require that it has an A stamp (meaning your are additionally licenses to drive motorcycles in your country). Gas is about USD 1 per liter (you can fill a scooter for days of driving for less than TWD 100) so that’s very cheap. Scooters go for around 300 to 500 per 24 hours, while cars are in the 1200-2000 range.

wow, this article is amazing.

it is super lengthy yet not tiring to read- which is an amazing feat.

very informative, thoughtful and well-sorted out.

thank you so much!

Great website! If I am traveling (total 4 adults) from Hsinchu to Yilan (2 nts) to Hualien (2 nts) before going back to Taipei, would it make more sense to rent a car or to take the train?

Honestly the train will probably be faster and easier for these routes. Choose a car if you want to make more of road trip out of it, stopping and many small stops along the way. If you just want to get to your destination faster and have more time there, then go for train.

Thanks for the wonderful post! It’s really informative and helpful, especially the kids friendly activities that can be done in Yilan.

I’m planning a trip this June with a rough itinerary of Taipei > Taichung > Cingjing > Yilan > Taipei.

Am worried about the travel distance from Cingjing to Yilan though, as we will be bringing along 4 elderly (physically fit) and 3 kids. Instead of doing a direct journey, will it make more sense to return to Taipei from Cingjing before traveling out to Yilan? Thank you!

That depends if you are driving or not. If you are driving, then yes, you can drive from Cingjing Farm to Yilan, but that is a long, winding, full day drive. It is very beautiful and has many scenic stops you could make on the way, especially around Hehuanshan, Lishan, Fushoushan, and possible detour to Mingchi or Taipingshan. Only choose this way if you are keen to do a big, long, full day drive on a very winding high mountain road. There’s no public transportation going this way. If you want that, then yes, Cinging back to Taichung, to Taipei, and onward to Yilan.

Leave a Comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Top Things to Do in Yilan, Taiwan

Things to do in yilan, explore popular experiences, ways to tour yilan.

• 9 Hour Northeast Coast Bay View Tour in Yilan

• Full-Day Private Custom Yilan Tour from Taipei

5-day Taiwan Family Fun Private Tour

Private 7 Day Tour in East Taiwan

• Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery

• Hualien Taroko Day Tour From Ximending

Yilan 1-Day Private Tour to Kavalan Whisky & Cultural Gems

Private Yilan Green Expo Day Tour from Taipei

Northern Taiwan (Taipei, New Taipei City, Yilan County) 3-Day Tour

• Taipei Northeast Corner Private Day Tour

Private Sightseeing Tours

Top Attractions in Yilan

Multi-day Tours

Cultural Tours

Tours & sightseeing, what travellers are saying.

• Aohua Waterfall
• Guangsing Farm
• Yi Lan King Car Toucheng Afforestation Park
• Jiaosi Hot Spring
• Wufengchi Waterfall
• Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area
• Meihua Lake
• Tangweigou Jiaosi Hot Spring Park
• Lanyang Museum
• Yilan Luodong Forestry Culture Park
• National Center for Traditional Arts

Yilan 1 Day Tour

Known as the backyard of Taipei city, Yilan will provide you a good blend of culture and nature, mountains and sea.

• Child safety seat available
• English service available
• Private tour, flexible pick-up time
• Up to 8 guests per vehicle only. More than 8 guests require 2 or more vehicles.
• Pick up at Taipei City

Hotel, BnB or any place within the city

Luodong Forestry Culture Park is a great place to learn about the old timber industry in Taiwan. The culture and history of Taiwan can be relived through this amazingly well-preserved garden. It is also a beautiful nature reserve.

Everything about Mr Brown Castle Cafe is magnificent - from the European-style manor, which houses the cafe, to the fantastic, panoramic views from the cafe itself. A beautiful place for an afternoon coffee break.

Get drawn to the natural underground hot spring here, as well as the Wufenqi waterfalls and wild honey

A cute place with various art installations. Great place for pictures!

Dongshan River Water Park is great for families with young kids, or for the young at heart. A great place to relax by the river and have some fun with water.

• Drop off at Taipei City

Wanna make changes to the itinerary?

Cancellation policy.

Cancel 7 days before the trip and get a full refund.

• $5040 TWD per group
• Book You won't be charged yet
• Available tomorrow
• Confirmation within 24 hours

You might also like...

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Destinations

• Plan Your Trip

Yilan Starts Here

Until very recently, I was mostly oblivious to why so many people loved Yilan. I dismissed the county as a lackluster destination, a place where Taipei residents (Taiwanese ones) went on the weekend, but where foreigners were neither welcome nor had anything to gain by visiting.

How wrong I was! In addition to the fact that many Yilan attractions are absolutely incredible, this is a place where foreigners are not only welcome, but can really cover a lot of ground (particularly those with just a week in Taiwan or less!). You might say Yilan is a microcosm of Taiwan more broadly.

I hope you’ll continue reading my Yilan travel guide, whether you need motivation to head to Taiwan’s underrated northeast, or if you’ve already decided, and simply seek information about where to go in Yilan . The forests of Taipingshan, the food stalls of Luodong Night Market and the milky waters of Turtle Island await!

Where to Stay in Yilan

Before I dig more deeply into things to do in Yilan, let’s talk about where you should stay. In general, I’d recommend sleeping in the central part of the county, in Yilan city itself, or in Jiaoxi. However, if you do decide to stay in Jiaoxi, I’d recommend setting your expectations low. Although it’s reputed to be one of Taiwan’s premier hot springs getaways, it doesn’t hold a candle to even mediocre onsen towns in Japan (for example).

In particular, if you can’t splurge on high-end hot spring hotels in Jiaoxi such as Evergreen Resort Hotel or Yamagata Kaku Hotel & Spa , you’re better off choosing a more urban property. In particular I’m thinking of Yilan hotels like Hangkhau Hotel , or potentially even Kavalan Hotel in Luodong, which puts you within walking distance of the night market’s culinary delights—more on those in a moment!

What to Do in Yilan

Visit taiwan’s most famous instagram spots.

When it comes to interesting museums in Taiwan, the Lanyang Museum at Wushi Harbor near Waiao Beach must be near the top of the list, at least when it comes to its architecture. Another Insta-worthy spot in Yilan Count y is Wufengci in Jiaoxi . In addition to being home to a three-tiered waterfall, Wufengci hosts a Catholic church with a decidedly Chinese design.

Cool off at Taipingshan

One of my favorite things to do in Yilan, broadly speaking, is hiking. While there are plenty of places to do this, I especially like Taipingshan National Forest . Located hundreds of meters up in the sky, the forest features enchanting evergreens and mesmerizing moss, in stark contrast to the bamboo, betel palm and banana trees that define the landscape at sea level. I especially love hiking through the Chinese Hemlock Forest !

Eat your way through Luodong Night Market

What is there to eat in Yilan? A lot, but the focus on many local dishes are the green onions that are famously grown here. One of my favorites are the 無骨雞腿串 ( Wúgǔ jītuǐ chuàn ) chicken thigh skewers served in Luodong Night Market , which is about 15 minutes by foot from Ludong Station. Another Yilan specialty served here is 吳記花生捲冰淇淋 ( Wú jì huāshēng juǎn bīngqílín ), an ice cream wrap served with fresh-ground peanuts and cilantro.

Don’t miss magnificent Nanfangao

Many people include the cold springs of Su’ao on their list of things to do in Yilan, but few continue southward to Nanfangao —this is a pity. Whether you enjoy views of the harbor through the dragons and phoenixes of Nantian Temple , or ascend to Nanfangao Lookout and admire its so-called Tofu Rocks from far above, Nanfangao is probably the most picturesque place in Yilan.

Take a boat to Turtle Island

The bad news? A Turtle Island day trip is not really something you can do on a whim, as you need a guided tour booked in advance to visit the island . The good news? It’s easy to sneak out ahead of the group as you hike to the lookout point of Guishan Dao , especially if you don’t speak Chinese or can pretend you don’t understand. Trust me: It’s worth being the first one to the top!

How Many Days Should You Spend in Yilan?

As far as how many days in Yilan you should spend, that depends in part on how you plan to get around—more on that in a second. As a general rule, travelers who use public transportation (i.e. trains and buses) will need longer, while those who rent a car aren’t as dependent on transport schedules, and can consolidate their sightseeing into fewer days.

When it comes to specific things to do in Yilan, I’d say you need at least a full day for Taipingshan, due to its far distance, and may a day each in the north (Waiao and Toucheng) and south (Su’ao and Nanfangao); you can mix central destinations like Jiaoxi and Yilan (where you are likely to base yourself) into these days. Overall, most travelers will need 3-5 days in Yilan, with drivers needing fewer than train and bus riders.

Other FAQ About Yilan

How far is yilan from taipei.

Traveling from Taipei to Yilan takes 1-2 hours, depending on how you go. Most eastbound trains from Taipei travel to Yilan county, but faster express trains only stop at major stations—Yilan and Luodong, but maybe not Jiaoxi or Wai’ao. Buses from Taipei to Yilan can be faster, but only go to specific locations, such as Wushi Harbor.

How do you get around Yilan?

Local trains are an easy way to get around Yilan, but not very efficient. For example, while it takes around 20 minutes to travel from Jiaoxi to Luodong, trains (and Yilan buses) only run 1-2 times per hour. If you only have a day or two in Yilan and want to cover a lot of ground, I’d recommend renting a car .

Is Yilan worth visiting?

Yilan is absolutely worth visiting, once you realize it’s something of a microcosm of Taiwan. As I mentioned in the intro this piece, it was never really a priority for me to visit Yilan until I dug in and learned what a diverse destination it is.

The Bottom Line

Whether you came here explicitly search for an Yilan travel guide, or just motivation to visit in the first place, I hope you’ve found what you need. Yilan is a misunderstood, underrated destination in Taiwan , certainly among foreigners in the country. Some travelers will stay a long week, exploring the country from Lanyang Museum and Turtle Island in the north, to the picturesque Nanfangao Harbor in the south. Others will simply venture from Taipei to Yilan for a day, for example in order to cool off with a hike in Taipingshan during the scorching summer months. No matter which camp you fall into, I hope you’ll consider hiring me to plan your trip to Taiwan .

Plan Your Taiwan Trip

Subscribe to email updates!

Words, images and design ©2020-2024 Robert Schrader, All rights reserved. Read Privacy Policy or view sitemap .

Yilan Taiwan guide: Yilan City, Yuanshan, Jiaoxi, Toucheng

By: Author Jaclynn Seah

Posted on Published: August 18, 2020  - Last updated: January 14, 2024

Categories Taiwan

Most people only focus on Taipei when they visit Taiwan but for those who are seeking out somewhere more relaxing, I usually recommend nearby Yilan County as an alternative. Just an hour away from Taipei on the northeastern end of Taiwan, it’s great for a day trip from Taipei, but you can easily spend much more time there. Here’s a guide to Yilan Taiwan that I put together about my favourite things to do in Yilan’s northern half: Yilan City, Toucheng, Jiaoxi and Yuanshan for your next Taiwan trip.

My Yilan Guide was so massive I had to break it up into two parts: Check out my Yilan southern half guide that covers Luodong, Wujie, Dongshan and Su’ao.

Where is Yilan, Taiwan?

Yilan can refer to Yilan County 宜蘭 that covers the larger northeastern region in Taiwan, but it can also refer to Yilan City 宜蘭市 which is one of the main hubs in the northern half of Yilan County, which is divided by the Lanyang River. This guide focuses on the towns in that northern half.

How to get from Taipei to Yilan City?

Yilan is about 50 minutes away from Taipei City by express coach or car thanks to Highway 5 and the Xueshan tunnel that cuts through the mountains. I usually take a comfortable coach from the Taipei Main Bus Station direct to Yilan City – a 1-way ticket costs 140 NTD (~S$6.30) .

• Kamalan Bus #1916 from Taipei Main Bus Station to Yilan City Bus Station
• Kamalan Bus #1915 from Taipei Main Bus Station to Jiaoxi Bus Station
• Kuokuang Bus #1878 from Taipei Yuanshan Bus Station to Yilan City Bus Station
• Kuokuang Bus #1877 from Taipei Yuanshan Bus Station to Wushigang Harbour (Toucheng)
• Capital Star #1571 from Taipei City Hall Bus Station to Yilan City Bus Station

I usually prefer taking trains over buses, but it actually takes longer and costs more to take a train from Taipei to Luodong. You can take a Ziqiang or Puyuma Express from Taipei Main Station to Yilan Train Station that will take around 60-75 mins and cost about 238 NTD (~S$11.25) .

Transport in Yilan

Trains and buses connect Yilan to Taipei, Keelung up north or Hualien along the Eastern Coastline, and a highway cuts through the mountains in the central region and links to Taichung and Nantou.

In Yilan itself, you can take public buses to get to major sights, but if you can I highly suggest you rent a car or a scooter to get around as it will make exploring that much easier. Because Yilan is less crowded, bus frequencies are not as high so you might end up waiting quite long for the bus if you miss it.

You can flag down a taxi which is not too expensive in Taiwan overall – these are easy to find at the main train/bus station or popular tourist spots, but you may need to call or get someone to call a taxi for you if you are going somewhere more remote. You can also consider Tripool Taxi which works like Uber or Grab.

Yilan City 宜蘭市

Yilan City is the transport hub of northern Yilan and the most convenient jump-off point for most things in Yilan.

All things Jimmy Liao 幾米

Jimmy Liao is a Taiwanese artist and writer famous for his whimsical illustration style and stories – the most well known book being Turn Left, Turn Right 向左走, 向右走 which became a film in 2003 starring Takeshi Kaneshiro and Gigi Leung. I actually have several of his books in my shelves, having first been introduced to his works by my friends in secondary school. I was captivated by his poetic writing and fantastical illustrations, so I was pretty stoked to finally visit Yilan City which pays major tribute to his works with life-size dioramas and recreations of his most popular characters and scenes around the city.

Jimmy’s works are front and center the moment you step out of the Yilan Train Station in Jimmy Plaza 幾米廣場 – this stretch south of the train station used to be the old railway dormitory and now has many large statues of his works.

Across the road from the station is the Diudiudang Forest 丟丟噹森林 , a large plaza with a green roof and the train from one of his books Starry Starry Night suspended above.

Turn left from the station and head south and you’ll come across the Happy Station 幸福轉運站 , featuring a whimsical elephant and giraffe playground structures as well as his works from Kiss and Goodbye.

How to get there: Everything is within 5 mins walk from Yilan Train Station.

Dongmen Night Market 東門夜市

Most people in Yilan will head to the more famous Luodong Night Market , but if you prefer somewhere a little less crowded, Yilan City’s Dongmen Night Market is conveniently located close to the Yilan train station, somewhat tucked under the Donggang Bridge flyover. Most of the food stalls are located on Shenghou Street while the shopping and sundry is along Hemu Road .

This night market is definitely a lot smaller than Luodong’s, but here are some of the stalls that were drawing crowds that you can check out:

• Peng Cong You Bing 彭蔥油餅 : Crispy freshly fried pancake with Scallions with the options to add an egg
• Dongshan Laodian Ya Tou 老店東山鴨頭: For those of you guys daring enough to eat duck head, tongue and other spare parts, pick what you want and it’s deep fried for you on the spot to snack on
• Yaoyao Bing 搖搖冰 : this old-school shaved iced dessert stall has just a few selections (green bean, milk, lemon, passionfruit) but was super popular, but it’s a great way to cool down quickly
• Duhaoshao 嘟好燒: this stall has quite a long history and sells duhaoshao, a stick of fried donut balls stuffed with taro and red bean
• 30-year old store LongFengTui 30年老店龍鳳腿: Another long-time local favourite, this stall basically sells chicken and longfengtui (translates to Dragon-Phoenix leg, it’s really pork and cabbage stuffed into intestines) skewers as well as spring rolls.

How to get there: Dongmen Night Market is located at Shenghou Street . It’s a 5-min walk from the Yilan Train Station and open from 5pm-12am daily.

Yilan Distillery 宜蘭酒廠 / Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum 甲子蘭酒文物館

The Yilan Distillery is the oldest wine distillery in all of Taiwan dating back to 1909. This distillery focused on producing an award winning red rice wine made from red yeast. It is also known as the Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum – Chia Chi Lan being one of the old names for Yilan back in the day.

Currently it’s been converted into a museum cum market of sorts were you can buy the red rice wine and lots of other red-yeast infused products – I got myself some unusual sweets with the red yeast flavour as well as other souvenirs, but other than that there’s not much else to do here, so I wouldn’t plan on spending too much time here.

How to get there: The Yilan Distillery is located at 3 Jiucheng West Road . It’s about 15mins walk westward along Wuying Street from Yilan Train Station. Alternatively, take a longer path along the Jiucheng South Road past Zhongshan Park and the Memorial Hall of Founding of Yilan Administration for a more scenic route. Open daily 8am – 5pm.

Yuanshan 員山

The main reason to visit this rather rural part of western Yilan is for the Whisky Distillery.

Kavalan Whisky Distillery 金車噶瑪蘭蘭威士忌酒廠

Whisky might not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to Yilan, but the pristine water from the adjacent Snow Mountain (Xueshan) has apparently contributed to the high quality whisky that is made here in Kavalan Whisky Distiller y and has been winning international awards in recent years.

You can visit the museum part of the distillery which shows you the machines and walks you through how whisky is made – free tours in English and Chinese are available, but the part most people are excited about is the free whisky tasting session that happens ever hour on the hour. This is where all the tour groups converge so it can get pretty hectic. No one is quite paying attention to the person talking and are mostly focused on sampling what they have on their table.

If you prefer something a little more exclusive, pay to do a smaller private tasting where you can choose some of the more premium options. I did a paid workshop where I got to make my own blend of whisky from 3 different whiskies, which I thought was quite fun!

I last visited in 2019, but in 2020 they launched the fancy looking Kavalan Whisky Bar which I hope to visit soon! The selection of whisky-based cocktails looks really nice. If you’re curious about the name Kavalan, that’s an old name for Yilan County derived from the indigenous people.

How to get there:   No. 326, Section 2, Yuanshan Road, Yuanshan . It is a little bit out of the way amidst agricultural land – I rode there on a scooter but if you are taking public transport, you can take the E-Lan Bus #752 from Yilan Transfer Station and stop at Yuanshan Farmers’ Alliance Cheng Kung Branch 員山農會成功分部.

Read my original post about bottling my own customised whisky bottle at Kavalan Whisky Distillery

Jim and Dad’s Brewing Company 吉姆老爹啤酒工場

If you prefer craft beer over whisky, just further down the road from the whisky distillery is Jim and Dad’s Brewing Company which is worth checking out since you are all the way out in this rather rural spot already. It looks like a large mansion with a 5-storey rotunda viewing tower. It’s mostly a place where you can eat and drink craft beers – the main hall has lofty ceilings and a warm wooden finishing, but you can book a brewery tour beforehand if you have a large enough group.

If you’re on your own and driving yourself, you can pick up a few bottles to enjoy at your own leisure back at your accommodation which is what I did – J&D sell their beers all around Taiwan as well.

How to get there:   No. 411, Section 2, Yuanshan Road, Yuanshan . I rode there on a scooter but if you are taking public transport, you can take the E-Lan Bus #752 from Yilan Transfer Station and stop at Xiashengou (Fengcaiguan)下深溝 (蜂采館).

Jiaoxi 礁溪

Two words describe Jiaoxi: Hot Springs.

Hot Springs

I headed to Jiaoxi on a rather cool evening to check out the hot springs that they had to offer. This town is famous for its sodium bicarbonate hot spring waters which have made it into quite a touristy hot spot. Everywhere you turn is a hot spring hotel in this town!

I was looking for a bit more privacy than the public hot springs at Tangweigou Hot Spring Park 湯圍溝溫泉公園, so I found this cute hot spring facility on Klook [affiliate link] called Hot Spring Onion 蔥澡 . Unlike your traditional hot spring bath facilities which tend to be very dark and grey stone-based, this one was youthful and hip, and I enjoyed my hour or so soaking in this lovely bath.

How to get there: No. 77, Section 5, Jiaoxi Road, Jiaoxi Township . Hot Spring Onion is a short 5-minute walk from the Jiaoxi train station. I rode on a scooter so I simply found the nearest parking and walked over.

Soaking in hot springs gets you really hungry, so the rest of the town is dedicated to feeding the hungry. I wandered down a nearby street and found myself at Yu Jen Babao Bean Thread 玉仁八寶冬粉 – which really translates into Yu Jen 8 Treasure glass noodles, the star dish in this little eatery. The hot bowl of noodle soup packed with 8 different yummy ingredients was the perfect end to a rainy night and a good hot soak.

How to get there:   No. 131, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County . Near the junction with Deyang Street and very close to the Jiaoxi Train Station.

Read about Hot Spring Onion and more about my favourite Hot Springs in Taiwan . I’d recommend checking out Su’ao Cold Springs in the southern bit of Yilan as well.

The northernmost county of Yilan

Lanyang Museum 蘭陽博物館

One of the places I definitely wanted to visit in Yilan is this rather unusual building that houses the Lanyang Museum . Lanyang is a name that refers to the plains of Yilan and its people, and this museum was built to look like the mountains that surrounded the area.

Inside the building are several floors of exhibitions that show you the history and geography of Yilan which I found very interesting – mountains, oceans and the land come together in a unique natural combinations here in Yilan. There are English translations as well, so if you felt a bit lost while exploring spots like Su’ao or Turtle Island, the museum does a great job of explaining their origins and history in interesting ways.

How to get there:   No. 750, Section 3, Qingyun Road, Toucheng Township, Yilan County . Take the train to Toucheng Station and either take a 20min walk or local buses 1766, 1767, 1877 or GR18. The museum is located right next to the Wushi Harbour and Wushi Harbour Bus Interchange.

Wai’ao Beach 外澳沙灘

Wai’ao Beach is a stretch of black sand beach located just north of Wushi Harbour and the Lanyang Museum. This is a popular spot for surfers, though when I visited in November it was pretty rainy and kinda choppy, so no surfers and swimming happening while I was there. I imagine during the warmer summer days, this would be a nice spot to chill out.

This is the furthest north I got in Yilan so far though – I was on an electric scooter and a bit concerned about running out of electricity if I went too far. Also, it got dark quickly in winter. I would like to see some of the other smaller towns along this stretch some day.

How to get there:  No. 6, Section 2, Binhai Road, Toucheng Township. You can walk over from the Lanyang Museum / Wushi Harbour or take a train that stops you at Wai’ao Train Station on the northern end of this long stretch of beach.

Guishandao / Turtle Island

One of Taiwan’s offshore islands, Guishandao actually does look like a turtle and makes for an interesting day trip with several activities like cruising through undersea sulphur hot springs that change the colour of the water, exploring an abandoned village, or climbing up the 401 Peak. If you love nature and up for something quite local, I highly recommend visiting Turtle Island.

NOTE: you need to apply for a permit/tour to visit the island, but it’s really not difficult to get, especially now that you can book directly through services like Klook [affiliate link] – this wasn’t available when I visited, so my guesthouse owner made the calls for me. If you go to the visitor centre at Wushi Harbour they can help you too, but you might need to prebook during peak holiday periods to guarantee a spot.

The island which is usually only open from March to November and most people like to combine it with a dolphin or whale watching tour and typically takes about 4 hours. I did something a little different and signed up for the 401 Peak tour which saw me climb up over 1,600 steps to the 401m high peak of Turtle Island – read more about that experience .

How to get there: Head to Wushi Harbour in Toucheng. You can book a tour at the harbour or prebook online via Klook [affiliate link] to take the boat to Turtle Island.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to visit Guishandao or Turtle Island as well as more on the Lanyang Museum

Other things to do

There’s still a lot of Yilan left to see! Here’s a list of things that I have yet to check out – tell me whether I should go see them or not:

• Toucheng north of Wai’ao: there looks like lots of scenic hiking spots around Dali and Beiguan. I’m just curious to see this quieter coastal stretch of Yilan
• Wufengqi scenic area: I didn’t have time to visit these natural spots around Jiaoxi, like the Linmei Shipan trail and Wufengqi waterfall
• Toucheng seaside forest park: there’s an interesting 8-sided tower people like to take pictures with here

Best time to visit Yilan

When it comes to the best seasons to travel in Taiwan, Spring (April-May) and Autumn (October-November) are usually a little cooler and less wet – check out this article I wrote for Skyscanner about the best times to visit Taiwan . For Yilan though, you have to be prepared for rain at anytime because of its coastal valley surroundings which makes the weather a bit more unpredictable.

Also another note about Yilan’s coastline: be very careful on the beaches at all times, particularly during the monsoon periods around mid June to September as Yilan has experienced some extreme weather and rogue waves sweeping people away in recent years. I’ve been warned by locals about keeping an eye out even just walking along the beach.

Yilan Festivals

If you want to experience some of Taiwan’s culture and Yilan customs, here are some unique Yilan festivals worth considering braving the crowds for:

• Qianggu 搶孤 [July/August]: On the last day of the seventh month on the Lunar Calendar (usually July or August), Toucheng hosts a festival called Qianggu of the Ghost Grappling Festival, a unique tradition that sees people compete to climb up giant greasy poles, all in the name of scaring away the wandering spirits during the “ghost month”. It sounds like an incredible bizarre sight to see but also gets immensely crowded.
• Jiaoxi Hot Spring Festival [December]: Hot spring town Jiaoxi has a month full of hot spring promotions and packages, perfect when it gets chilly

See the full calendar on the Yilan Tourism website .

Where to stay in Yilan City?

Yilan City is of course the most convenient option in this part of Yilan because of connectivity with the train and bus stations. Jiaoxi which is a little further north is also quite well connected as it is a popular hot spring spot and has many hot spring hotels.

I’ve mostly stayed in Luodong to date, but recently found a cute hotel in Yilan City that I adore:

Hotel/Hostel in Yilan City: Hangkhau Hotel 行口文旅

This boutique hotel has a perfect hipster cafe lobby and dining area, and also has an excellent location right next to the train station in Yilan City, as well as the quieter Dongmen Night Market. There are private rooms, but I stayed in a shared 10-bed dormitory which had spacious bunk beds with curtains and individual plugs. No. 14, Kangle Road, Yilan City, Yilan 260宜蘭縣宜蘭市康樂路14號 [ Google Maps ]

Su’ao Cold Springs 蘇澳冷泉 – Soak in Taiwan’s coolest spot

Taipei outdoor activities to experience nature up close

Taiwan Tales Day 3 – A grey welcome to Hualien City

Thursday 22nd of December 2022

Thank you ms seah. you information provided about yilan is most helpful for our next travel. we will stay in the hostel you recommend. thank you very much again. mei mei

Jaclynn Seah

Friday 23rd of December 2022

have a great trip!

• Taiwan FAQ 常見問題
• Blog Index 部落格指南
• Contact Us 聯絡我們
• Global Expat Travel Blog

Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in  our Taiwan hotels guide  or search for the  best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Follow us on social media:

4-Day Scenic Tour To Yilan and Hualien

The melody of nature.

You will experience the relaxation of famous local hot springs, rustic paths for walking and getting lost. And the tribal culture here offers an extra diverse travel experience.

Suggested Itinerary

Yilan, one of Taipei's most breathtaking spots, is situated in the back yard of Taipei City, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. During our tour of Yilan, you will experience first hand the relaxation of famous local hot springs, creative farms, rustic paths for walking and getting lost, and of course, a healthy dose of folk culture.

LinMei ShihPan Forest Trail - The Linmei Shihpan Trail is located in Yilan County's Jiaosi Township. The trail is wide, even and passes through a lushly wooded terrain with the river and waterfall.

BaJia Fish Farm - Why not have your lunch at Bajia Fish Farm? The natural spring water in the farm cultivates sweetfish that tastes extraordinarily tender and flavorful.

A World Top Rated Hot Spring Site-Jiaosi Hot Spring - Odor-less (not the sulfur kind), and extraordinarily rich in naturally occurring minerals, hot spring water in the Jiaosi Township is praised for its ability to nourish and fortify irritated skin.

Lo-don Night Market - The native cuisines including salty rice macaroni, smoked ducks, meat thick soups ,longfeng legs, tofurolls ,thick rice noodles, sausage stuffed pork and sweet potato powder, sausage stuffed tofu, oyster omelet…etc.

Accommodation: B&B/guest house in Yilan

National Center for Traditional Arts - The National Center for Traditional Arts was built to showcase how a traditional Taiwanese village works, and show how it can integrate into modern life in Taiwan.

Traditional kiln roast chicken - Kiln-roasted chicken is a traditional and scrumptious Taiwanese dish.

Lo-don Forest District - The Luodong Forest District is located in the northeastern region of Taiwan and comprises 9 % of the total forest area of Taiwan.

Cycling around Plum Blossom Lake (Meihua Lake) - Meihua Lake occupies a wide expanse of land and is bordered by verdant mountains on 3 sides, featuring outstanding scenery. Circling the lake is a trail allowing visitors to stroll tranquilly around while enjoying the picturesque scenery.

Accommodation: B&B/guest house in Hualien

Hualien is a region rich with natural resources, and is a bustling hub of activity for tourists. It is famous for its rift valley plain that lies just besides a mountainous range, a rocky seashore overlooking Pacific Ocean sunrises.The tribal culture here offers an extra diverse travel experience. The countryside in Hualien has the one of the best natural environments in Taiwan.

Taroko National Park - Taroko became a national park in 1986. Tourists can appreciate the natural beauty along the tour track. Swallows nest on the cliff, chirping and flying back forth.

Aboriginal specialty - Aboriginal specialty includes dishes that utilize the mountain vegetables and fresh seafood of the region. Learn about the many aboriginal cultures that comprise nearly one third of Hualien County's population.

Shakadang Trail - Shakagang Trail, also known as "mysterious valley trail", is built along a river cliff. Travelers can easily observe the folds in rocks and the natural ecosystem beside the river shore.

Qingshui Cliff - Qingshui Cliff is one of the most spectacular sights on Taiwan's Pacific coast. The cliff is more than 1,000 meters high and drops almost vertically into the sea.

Pine Garden - Built in 1943, Pine Garden was formerly inside of a pine forest and used as the military department's office of Hualien Port. Pine Garden offers a wonderful view overlooking the mouth of Meilun River, Hualien Port, and the Pacific Ocean.

Immigration from Japan - Chinghsiu Temple

Following traditional Japanese architectural features, Chinghsiu Temple is a wood-framed construction. Chinghsiu Temple serves as the function of auditorium and worship. Since this is a rather serious and religious place, the surroundings are serene and peaceful.

Liyu Lake - The Liyu Lake was known for being rich n carp. The area is 104 hectares. It is the largest inland freshwater lake in Hualien. In addition, the Liyu Lake is also famous for its beautiful scenery, attracting many tourists.

Qixingtan (Seven Star Bay) - At the northeast of Hualien City, the moon-shaped Seven Star Bay has a pebble beach that extends along the shore for several kilometers.

A hotel of the same star rating may be used, e.g. in the event of unavailability.

Our Service Includes:

• One-to-one consultancy with our travel expert
• Versatile and knowledgeable local guides
• Your own chauffeur and comfortable vehicle
• Hand-picked hotels to suit your preferences
• Hotel buffet breakfasts and local restaurant lunches
• Entry to all attractions on the itinerary
• The booking of internal transportation per your preferences
• A 24/7 helpline while you are traveling

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family 's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Your 1:1 travel consultant will reply within 1 working day.

Number in your group

Adults number (age ≥ 18 years old)

Children number

10-17 yrs old

3-9 yrs old

0-2 yrs old

What's your hotel choice?

I prefer to be contacted via:

• 11-Day China Family Tour
• 2-Week China Essence and Panda Tour
• 18-day Classic China Tour with Yunnan
• 2-Week Riches of China
• How to Plan a 10-Day Itinerary in China (Best 5 Options)
• 8 Days in China: Top 15 Tours and Itineraries (2024/2025)
• 2-Week China Itineraries: Where to Go & Routes (2024)
• How to Plan a 3-Week Itinerary in China: Best 3 Options (2024)
• China Weather in January 2024: Enjoy Less-Crowded Traveling
• China Weather in February 2024: Places to Go, Costs, and Crowds
• China Weather in March 2024: Destinations, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in April 2024: Where to Go (Smart Pre-Season Pick)
• China Weather in May 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in June 2024: How to Benefit from the Rainy Season
• China Weather in July 2024: How to Avoid Heat and Crowds
• China Weather in August 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in September 2024: Weather Tips & Where to Go
• China Weather in October 2024: Where to Go, Crowds, and Costs
• China Weather in November 2024: Places to Go & Crowds
• China Weather in December 2024: Places to Go and Crowds

Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries

More travel ideas and inspiration, sign up to our newsletter.

Be the first to receive exciting updates, exclusive promotions, and valuable travel tips from our team of experts.

Why China Highlights

Where can we take you today.

• Southeast Asia
• Japan, South Korea
• India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri lanka
• Central Asia
• Middle East
• African Safari
• Travel Agents
• Loyalty & Referral Program
• Privacy Policy

Address: Building 6, Chuangyi Business Park, 70 Qilidian Road, Guilin, Guangxi, 541004, China

• Experiences
• Tripadvisor
• Car Charter/Rental
• Traveling Planning Tool
• Food/Restaurant
• Pc FamiMart

• Taiwan Travel Guide | 12-day Taipei-Yilan tour (Product No: PC230715009)

Product Number: PC230715009

※The following is a "self-guided tour" itinerary, and the schedule and itinerary can be adjusted according to personal preferences.

※Refund conditions depend on the regulations of each attraction.

※You can click on the link to make an online reservation or 【Add to My Journey】.

※【Add to My Journey】 allows you to see the distance and travel time between points, and provides navigation to get there.

※If you are a group traveler and require accommodation and chartering services for 3 or more rooms, please contact Pc TOUR's dedicated travel planner to enjoy group discount prices.

※Individual travel (1-2 rooms) can directly book itinerary and accommodation by clicking the link.

※Please note that if the itinerary's attractions (those not part of pre-booked activities) are undergoing maintenance or unopen, it falls outside the responsibility of our company. Prior to departure, please confirm the availability of the attractions on your own. Thank you.

※Passengers must confirm the pick-up time for the following day with the driver the day before. If there are any issues on the previous day, please contact PC TOUR customer service as soon as possible.

Introduction

第1天 - 11/30 (四): 機場接機( 立即預約 )，入住西門町Hostel 

• 旅客晚上入境台灣桃園國際機場(TPE)

第2天 - 12/01 (五)，入住西門町Hostel

第3天 - 12/02 (六) ，入住西門町Hostel

第4天 - 12/03(日)，不包車，旅客自行從台北前往宜蘭，入住天使星夢渡假村

• 00:00~09:00｜早餐： 飯店內 +早上9點退房前往 蘭楊蟹莊
• 09:00~10:00｜交通：飯店前往蘭楊蟹莊
• 10:10~13:00｜景點：蘭楊蟹莊+午餐： 蘭楊船菜 蘭楊船菜在蘭楊蟹莊對面，是同一位老闆經營
• 13:10~13:25｜交通：蘭楊蟹莊前往 本事農創
• 13:35~14:35｜景點：本事農創(採草莓)
• 14:45~14:55｜交通：本事農創前往春水笈溫泉湯屋
• 15:05~16:35｜景點： 春水笈溫泉湯屋
• 16:45~16:50｜交通：春水笈溫泉湯屋前往樂山溫泉拉麵
• 17:00~18:00｜晚餐： 樂山溫泉拉麵
• 18:10~18:40｜交通：樂山溫泉拉麵前往天使星夢渡假村
• 18:50~19:10｜住宿：飯店check-in
• 19:20~00:00｜住宿：飯店內休息

第5天 - 12/04(一) ，不包車，入住天使星夢渡假村

• 00:00~09:30｜早餐：飯店內+早上9點30分出發前往綠舞日式主題園區
• 09:30~09:50｜交通：飯店前往綠舞日式主題園區
• 10:00~11:30｜景點：綠舞日式主題園區
• 11:40~12:00｜交通：綠舞日式主題園區前往蘭波或當代鐵板燒餐坊
• 12:10~13:40｜午餐：蘭波或 當代鐵板燒餐坊
• 13:50~13:55｜交通：蘭波或當代鐵板燒餐坊前往幾米公園
• 14:05~14:35｜景點：幾米公園
• 14:45~14:50｜交通：幾米公園前往新月廣場
• 15:00~17:00｜景點：新月廣場
• 17:10~17:30｜交通：新月廣場前往羅東觀光夜市
• 17:40~19:10｜景點：羅東觀光夜市
• 19:20~19:30｜交通：羅東觀光夜市前往民宿
• 19:40~00:00｜住宿：民宿內休息

第6天 - 12/05(二) 包車8小時(立即預約)，入住天使星夢渡假村

• 00:00~08:50｜早餐：用完早餐後，早上8點50分出發前往奇麗灣珍奶博物館
• 08:50~09:20｜交通：民宿前往奇麗灣珍奶博物館
• 09:30~10:30｜景點：奇麗灣珍奶博物館(旅客參加早上09:30場次)
• 10:40~10:50｜交通：奇麗灣珍奶博物館前往番割田甕缸雞
• 11:00~12:00｜午餐：番割田甕缸雞
• 12:10~12:25｜交通：番割田甕缸雞前往笑ㄟ咖啡
• 12:35~13:25｜景點：笑ㄟ咖啡
• 13:35~13:50｜交通：笑ㄟ咖啡前往蜡藝蜡筆城堡
• 14:00~16:00｜景點：蜡藝蜡筆城堡(旅客參加下午2點場次)
• 16:10~16:35｜交通：蜡藝蜡筆城堡前往天使星夢渡假村
• 16:45~00:00｜住宿：民宿內休息
• 10:40~10:50｜交通：奇麗灣珍奶博物館前往歪歪球或計程車博物館
• 11:00~11:35｜景點：歪歪球或計程車博物館(二選一)
• 11:45~11:50｜交通：歪歪球或計程車博物館前往蜡藝蜡筆城堡
• 12:00~14:00｜景點：蜡藝蜡筆城堡(旅客參加中午12點場次)
• 14:10~14:25｜交通：蜡藝蜡筆城堡前往笑ㄟ咖啡
• 14:35~16:00｜景點：笑ㄟ咖啡
• 16:10~16:50｜交通：笑ㄟ咖啡前往天使星夢渡假村
• 17:00~00:00｜住宿：民宿內休息
• 11:00~11:35｜景點：歪歪球或計程車博物館
• 14:10~14:15｜交通：蜡藝蜡筆城堡前往番割田甕缸雞
• 14:25~15:25｜午餐：番割田甕缸雞
• 15:35~15:55｜交通：番割田甕缸雞前往笑ㄟ咖啡
• 16:05~16:55｜景點：笑ㄟ咖啡
• 17:05~17:50｜交通：笑ㄟ咖啡前往天使星夢渡假村
• 18:00~00:00｜住宿：民宿內休息

第7天 - 12/06(三) 包車8小時(立即預約)，回台北民宿

• 00:00~09:30｜早餐：早餐結束後+早上9點30分出發前往清水地熱
• 09:30~10:10｜交通：天使星夢渡假村前往清水地熱
• 10:20~11:20｜景點：清水地熱+午餐：園區內
• 11:30~11:50｜交通：清水地熱前往把度休閒果園
• 12:00~12:55｜景點：把度休閒果園 - 採芭樂
• 13:05~13:30｜交通：把度休閒果園前往香草菲菲
• 13:40~14:40｜景點： 香草菲菲
• 14:50~15:20｜交通：香草菲菲前往礁溪市區買伴手禮(像是：奕順軒、諾貝爾奶凍捲、焿爸子-國宴肉捲)
• 15:30~16:30｜景點：礁溪市區買伴手禮
• 16:40~17:30｜交通：礁溪市區前往台北民宿(地址：中華路一段與萬華區峨嵋街5號路口)
• 00:00~07:00｜早餐：早餐結束後+早上7點00分出發前往太平山國家森林遊樂區
• 07:00~07:50｜交通：民宿前往太平山國家森林遊樂區
• 08:00~12:20｜景點：太平山國家森林遊樂區 - 體驗蹦蹦車(不保證能搭到)、鳩之澤溫泉煮蛋、鳩之澤溫泉泡湯
• 12:30~15:00｜交通：太平山國家森林遊樂區回台北民宿(地址：中華路一段與萬華區峨嵋街5號路口)

第8天 - 12/07(四)

第9天 - 12/08(五) 包車10小時06:50~16:50：台北苗栗台北一日遊

• 00:00~06:50｜早餐：早餐結束後，早上6點50分前往苗栗舊山線鐵道自行車(導航:勝興車站)
• 06:50~08:40｜交通：飯店前往苗栗舊山線鐵道自行車(導航:勝興車站)
• 09:20~10:30｜景點：苗栗舊山線鐵道自行車(A路線: 勝興車站-->南斷橋秘境) (報到地點:勝興車站取票搭乘)
• 10:40~11:25｜景點：勝興老街(拍照+吃美食小吃)
• 11:35~12:10｜交通：勝興車站前往大湖草莓-巧合草莓園
• 12:20~13:20｜景點：大湖採草莓-巧合草莓園
• 13:30~13:40｜交通：大湖採草莓-巧合草莓園前往洗水坑豆腐街
• 13:50~14:50｜景點：洗水坑豆腐街
• 15:00~16:50｜交通：洗水坑豆腐街前往台北住宿(No. 5, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei 108, Taiwan)

第10天 - 12/09(六)

第11天 - 12/10(日)

第12天 - 12/11(一): 機場送機(立即預約)

• 旅客搭乘早上9點班機出境

【Regarding All-Inclusive Payment Methods】

• 《Deposit》 ▲ Accommodations: 50% (full payment required for certain renowned hotels). ▲ Chauffeur service: 30%. ▲ Other tickets and experiential activities: Payment is made together with the final installment.  
• 《Final Installment》 ▲ Final payment is due 14 days before departure, including weekends and holidays. For the "all-inclusive payment method," we offer international bank transfer and online credit card payment services. Please note that once we receive the deposit, we will proceed to book accommodations and arrange chauffeur services for you. Note: No accommodations or chauffeur services have been booked until the deposit is paid. We kindly ask for your understanding and cooperation regarding this matter.  
• If you can accept the above payment methods, we would be more than happy to continue discussing your itinerary. Once again, we sincerely appreciate your cooperation and support!

【Regarding Car Charter Service】

• The overtime fee is NT$500 per hour. If there is any overtime, please make the payment directly to the driver on-site for the overtime charges.
• The duration of the charter service may exceed the estimated time due to traffic congestion or extended stops at attractions. In the event of overtime, please settle the overtime charges with the driver on-site based on the rate of NT$500 per hour.

【Accommodation Refund Policy】

According to the regulations of the Taiwan Tourism Act, the refund policy for accommodation providers (where "Party A" refers to individual guests and "Party B" refers to the accommodation provider) is as follows:

• If Party A cancels the reservation 14 days or more prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a full refund of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation between 10 and 13 days prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a refund of 70% of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation between 7 and 9 days prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a refund of 50% of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation between 4 and 6 days prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a refund of 40% of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation between 2 and 3 days prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a refund of 30% of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation 1 day prior to the scheduled check-in date, Party A may request a refund of 20% of the paid.
• If Party A cancels the reservation on the same day as the scheduled check-in date or fails to provide a cancellation notice, Party B is not obligated to refund any portion of the paid by Party A.
• If Party A cancels the reservation from the scheduled check-in day to the thirteenth day, Pc TOUR will charge a 3% processing fee.
• In case of any uncontrollable factors, according to the regulations of Taiwan's tourism law, a full refund will be provided.

The website uses Cookies and other relevant technologies to optimize services. To provide you with a better experience, if you continue to use our site, you are consenting with our use of Cookies. The website can also find scenic spots for users. To activate and utilize this AI-based service, please allow the site to acquire your location first.

Tourism Administration, Republic of China (Taiwan)-Taiwan Tourism Administration's Taiwan Tourism Information Website

• Copyright Notice
• Tourism Administration
• Bahasa Melayu
• Bahasa Indonesia
• Scenic Spot Search
• Northern Taiwan

Yilan County

• Accessible Travel
• Scenic Spots
• Hot Springs
• Night markets & old streets
• Historic Sites
• Recreational Areas
• Senior Travel
• Central Taiwan
• Southern Taiwan
• Eastern Taiwan
• Offshore Islands

• Decrease font size
• Increase font size

The city of Yilan is located in the central and most favored part of the Lanyang Plain. Streams and rivers provide a constant source of replenishment for the nutrients in the soil here, making Yilan a breadbasket county.

Yilan looks out to the sea on Taiwan's Northeast Coast, with mountains on the three other sides forming a unique geography that has nurtured an equally distinctive cultural landscape and human warmth. The county is home to Asia's second longest highway tunnel, the Hsuehshan Tunnel, which has reduced the driving time between Yilan and Taipei to less than 50 minutes. From natural environments and cold and hot springs to a wealth of ocean recreation resources and verdant country scenes, Yilan offers the perfect setting to slow down and enjoy nature at its best.

The Land of Sacred Trees Among Yilan's diverse arboreal attractions, the Qilan Sacred Trees Garden is one of the most unique. The garden is home to a hundred indigenous trees over a millennium old, including Formosan red false cypresses and Taiwan hinoki false cypresses. Each tree is named after a famous person contemporary with the birth year of the tree, adding a note of historic interest for visitors.

Whale and Dolphin Watching Surrounded by submarine hot springs that emit steam all year round, Guishan Island is a rare sight in the Pacific. The sea area here is a favorite haunt for whales and dolphins. The dolphins can often be seen jumping and spinning above the water in groups like ballet dancers, presenting a spectacle far different from what one sees at marine parks.

Night Market Snacking Taiwan has a plethora of popular snacks, from soy-marinated foods and stuffed starch ball desserts to oyster omelets and Chinese angelica mutton soup. All of these tasty dishes and more can be enjoyed at the Luodong Night Market and Yilan Night Market. There are also plenty of shops here selling inexpensive clothes and shoes.

Cold and Hot Springs For a relaxing hot spring soak, visitors to Yilan County can choose between the lowland hot springs of Jiaoxi Township and the carbonic acid cold springs in Su'ao Township, one of only two cold springs in Southeast Asia. The clear and tasteless spring water pampers your skin and embraces you, body and mind, in a world of relaxation

Yilan: A Natural Paradise with a Human Touch Yilan offers a welcome escape from the urban bustle with the tranquility of rustic B&Bs and the down-to-earth hospitality of farmer hosts.

Recommended sites

Views: 217426

Views: 203064

Views: 187261

Views: 171928

Views: 146784

Views: 138105

Views: 134577

Views: 131344

Views: 131323

Views: 130951

Views: 112688

Views: 109157

Views: 90121

Views: 87322

Views: 82233

Views: 81068

Views: 79077

Views: 72602

Views: 71786

Views: 67450

Views: 66953

Views: 49153

Views: 46131

Views: 44848

Views: 39363

Views: 39310

Views: 26873

Views: 18086

Views: 17036

Views: 16647

Views: 6525

Views: 4204

Views: 1250

Last update time：

Beach Guides , Outdoor Guides , Taiwan · July 21, 2022

Turtle Island: Visiting Guishan Island in Yilan, Taiwan (2024 Guide)

Turtle Island, also known as Guishan Island, is hands down one of Taiwan’s most beautiful offshore islands .

Located just 10 km off the coast of Toucheng in northeastern Taiwan, Turtle Island is a charming little gem floating in the Pacific Ocean with a lot going for it! While visiting Turtle Island is one of the top things to do in Yilan , the island can also easily be visited as a  side trip from Taipei  with some planning.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about visiting Taiwan’s only active volcano! Read along to find out how to visit Turtle Island and what to expect on your day tour.

Disclaimer: This post probably contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through one of these links, I might receive a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Tips for Visiting Turtle Island, Taiwan

• Book a tour well in advance . Only a limited number of people can visit Turtle Island daily, and it’s best to book a tour well in advance. Klook has several day tour packages ranging in price and duration. If you want to visit the island, read the fine print carefully. The cheapest option only includes sailing around the island. I booked the 4.5-hour tour, which included whale watching and visiting the island. It was quite pricey (TWD 1400) but worth every penny! Another thing to note, is that the tour is only available in Chinese . But don’t let that stop you from visiting! 
• Bring your ID and cash.  Upon check-in at the harbor, you’ll need to present some form of identification, so don’t forget to bring your ARC, ID, or passport. If you’re also visiting the island, you’ll need to pay an additional TWD 100 entry fee before boarding the ferry.  
• Essentials to bring on your trip.  Whether you’re just cruising around the island or exploring it, make sure to bring a good SPF sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, bug spray, and ample water and snacks. A tiny shop in the Visitors Center sells a small selection of drinks and snacks too.
• Take seasickness medication.  If you suffer from seasickness, it’s best to take medication at least 30-60 minutes before the boat trip. You can buy seasickness tablets at any pharmacy, but Watsons in Yilan also stocks them. 

When to Visit Turtle Island

Turtle Island is only open to the public  from March to November  every day of the week except Wednesdays, when visiting is reserved for educational groups. If you can, come on a weekday. That way, you’ll skip the crazy weekend crowds.  

Because the island is an ecological park, only 1800 people can visit it daily , with only 100 people allowed to hike to its summit each day. Since visiting Turtle Island requires a permit (applied for up to 20 days in advance), it’s best to book an organized tour that takes care of that for you . 

How to get to Turtle Island, Taiwan

All tours to Turtle Island depart from Wushi Harbor just outside Toucheng in Yilan County.

The easiest way to get to the harbor is to take a train to Toucheng Station and then hop in a taxi . (Uber is not available in Yilan).

Make sure to download the Taiwan Railways App ( IOS ) to easily check train schedules and delays. It’s one of the most useful Taiwan travel apps to have on your phone. It’s also a good idea to have the harbor’s address in Chinese handy to show the driver. The ride from Toucheng Station to the harbor costs roughly TWD 140.

If you have a valid local license or an IDP for a scooter, another option is to hire a scooter for your trip. This will give you the freedom to work in a few other stops along the way.

Insider tip:  There weren’t any taxis at the harbor when I finished my tour. If this happens to you too, you can catch bus #GR18  or  #1766 back to Toucheng Station at the  Wushigangzhuanyun Station . The bus stop is right in front of the Lanyang Museum. 

Guishan Island’s History

Despite its name, Turtle Island is not home to a bunch of turtles. Instead, the island gained its name (龜山島, literally Turtle Mountain Island) from its shape, which resembles a turtle floating in the ocean.

Turtle Island was once home to about 700 residents, but getting food and supplies from the mainland was often hard, especially during typhoons. In fact, in the early 1970s, the residents were cut off from the mainland for about two weeks due to torrential rains and almost ran out of food. As a result, local talks began to resettle the community on the main island. By 1977, all the residents had moved to Daxi in Toucheng.

Afterward, Guishan Island was declared a restricted military zone, and the island was closed off to the public for 23 years. In 2000, the island was reopened, and today, visitors can catch a glimpse into the rich ecological resources and natural scenery that makes Turtle Island so unique.

Turtle Island Day Tour Highlights: What to See & Do

The milky sea.

The biggest highlight on any day tour to Turtle Island is seeing the Milky Sea up close.

The Milky Sea is quite a unique phenomenon, and its caused by cold seawater mixing with the hot spring water that emerges through the seabed’s crevices. The result? The most beautiful turquoise water imaginable! Just be ready for the smell of rotten eggs – it’s quite intense!

The best place to spot the Milky Sea is right in front of the 239m high Turtle’s Head, but you’ll already be able to see (and smell) it as you cruise along the island’s eastern side. The massive yellow-brown cliff, known as the Turtle’s Head, contrasts starkly with the light blue sea water and is truly something special to witness. Also, keep an eye out for bubbles surging to the surface and steamy sulfur smoke released from the water. 

Just so you know, a   part of the turtle’s head collapsed during a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the east coast of Taiwan on April 3, 2024, so expect the head to look a little different from the images in this post. 

Spot Whales and Dolphins

If you’ve booked a whale-watching tour , you might be lucky enough to spot whales and pods of dolphins playing in the sea. 

From May to October , Guishan Island attracts large numbers of migrating marine life. This is due to the Kuroshio Current’s warm waters that flow through here. There are more than ten species of whales and dolphins around the island. However, some of the most common species include bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, and false killer whales.

Insider tip:  Whale and dolphin sightings aren’t guaranteed, so don’t expect a refund if you don’t see any on your trip. 

Sea Caves and the Turtle’s Glasses

The island’s southern side is home to a whole host of sea caves formed by constant crashing waves.

The most peculiar cave and one of the eight scenic highlights on the island is the “Spectacle of Glass Hole.” The cave consists of pyroclastic rocks and resembles a pair of glasses.

Turtle Wags Its Tail

It’s hard to miss the peculiar pebble beach with its smooth round rocks resembling turtle eggs right next to the North Coast Wharf as you disembark the boat.

The beach is about 1km long and is mostly formed by weathered rocks that have fallen away from the southern edge’s cliff and carried to the Turtle’s Tail by typhoons.

Unfortunately, you can’t walk on the beach. However, you can get a good view of the little beach from the crossover bridge when entering the island. Another great photo spot is on the rock wall opposite the Visitor’s Center . There’s a small rock stairway that’ll take you to the top. Don’t walk around on the ledge, though, because it’s a restricted area.

Putuoyan Temple

Putuo Rock Temple is the only temple on the island, and while it’s relatively small compared to other temples in Taiwan, it’s got a fascinating history.

Formerly known as Gonglan Temple, Putuoyan Temple was built in 1890 and later reconstructed in 1952. It was originally dedicated to Mazu, a popular deity worshipped among fishermen. But later, when all the residents moved away, Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy became the main deity.

Remains of the Old Settlement

Moving away from the temple, you’ll spot the remnants of the original settlement – a couple of derelict buildings made mostly of pebbles gathered from the surroundings. Since most roofs were made of thatch or tiles, most of them have collapsed, but it’s still interesting to catch a glimpse into the bygone days as you wander along the path.

Today the Guishan Island Elementary School is the most well-preserved building on the island. It was originally founded in 1949 but was later rebuilt to serve as barracks for the soldiers stationed on the island.

The Military Tunnel

The Military Tunnel on Turtle Island is 800m long with a height of 3.5m and a width of 3m.

The trail takes about 40 minutes to walk, but visitors can only access a small part of it today. The tunnel is well lit, but there are some signs at its entrance warning of poisonous snakes. So keep your eyes peeled and don’t wander away from your guide!

Inside the tunnel, you can get a close-up look at a huge shore gun which still points out at sea. It weighs a whopping 8000 kg!

Lakeshore Trail & the Statue of Guanyin

The Lakeshore Trail is a lovely 650m long low-key trail. It runs all along Turtle’s Tail Lake (a beautiful natural lagoon with green water) and offers stunning views over the forest and glistening lake along the way.

While the trail is super easy to follow, there are quite a few stairs to climb, which could be a problem if you visit with the elderly. As you make your way around the lake, there are lots to take in – butterflies fluttering about, rare plant life, and fish swimming in the water.

There’s also a huge statue of Guanyin riding a dragon. And right behind her is an excellent example of the island’s volcanic rock formations. Another highlight further along the trail is the cold spring well – once a source of fresh water for the locals.

401 Highland Trail

If you want the best views over the entire island, you’ll need to book a special tour that includes a hike to the island’s summit. The island’s highest peak is actually only 398m high, but it’s known as the 401 Highland because the observation deck stands 3m tall.

The trail is 1400m long, and it takes about 3 hours to get to the top and back. Mentally prepare yourself to climb 1706 steps to the top, though!

Besides the epic views, you can also spot a diverse range of flora and fauna and an ancient tomb dating back to the Qing Dynasty along the way.

Don’t forget; you need to book this tour well in advance as tickets are limited.

What to do Near Turtle Island

If you’ve booked a morning tour to Turtle Island and still have some time to explore the surrounding area, there are a couple of places worth checking out near Wushi Harbour.

For beach lovers,  Waiao Beach  is a stunning black sand beach just north of the harbor and one of the most popular beaches in Taiwan . There are many cozy cafes along the beach where you can sit back and admire the view of Turtle Island in the distance. And if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can even learn how to surf or go paragliding.

If you’re into culture and history, the Lanyang Museum is just steps from the harbor and a cool place to learn a little more about Yilan. The museum features many interactive exhibitions about Yilan’s history, culture, landscape, and natural beauty. While there is a lot to learn inside the museum, its striking architecture and unique design are just as fascinating.

For those who simply want to kick back and soak up the views, MSWH ( 滿山望海 ) is a super Instagrammable Cafe just south of the harbor. It features large comfy sofas and a breezy deck with outdoor seating perfect for enjoying a light meal or something sweet. Reserve a table in advance because this is a hot spot!

Where to Stay in Yilan

If your sole purpose for visiting Taiwan’s northeast coast is to go to Turtle Island, it’s best to base yourself near the harbor. 

• OA Hotel is a stunning contemporary hotel with bright interiors, beautiful rooms, and a fantastic rooftop hot spring pool where you can enjoy some epic ocean views. The best part? The hotel is mere steps from the harbor. [ Check rates and availability ].
• Kailan Hotel is another good base, just 5 minutes drive from the harbor. The 4-star property features large clean rooms with amazing views over the ocean. [ Check rates and availability ].

If you’d rather stay in Toucheng , Hotel Lounge is centrally located and within walking distance to many shops, eateries, and the train station. [ Check rates and availability ].

For those planning to explore the rest of Yilan County, Yilan City, Jiaoxi, or Luodong all make excellent bases. Here are some of the best accommodation options: 

• Yilan City: Hangkhau Hotel | Lakeshore Hotel Yilan | Silks Place Yilan
• Jiaoxi: Just Sleep Jiaoxi | Evergreen Resort | MU Jiao Xi Hotel  
• Luodong: Artch Inn | Check inn Hive | Kavalan Hotel

And, if you’d rather stay in Taipei, here’s my detailed guide on the best places to stay in Taipei . 

Turtle Island Taiwan in Conclusion

With its rich history, beautiful scenery, and multifaceted ecosystem Turtle Island is undoubtedly one of the top places to visit in Taiwan . I hope this guide helps you plan your adventure to Taiwan’s Guishan Island!

Well, that’s all I have on Turtle Island. If you think I’ve missed anything, let me know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this Guishan Island guide, please pin it to your favorite Taiwan travel board!

join the club

You’ll also love.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Dawulun Beach: Keelung’s Stunning Golden Beach

Trending now.

Follow @ Hoponworld

Travel guides

• Travel Guides
• Itineraries
• City Guides
• Beach Guides
• Outdoor Guides
• Tips & Inspo

Get exclusive access to detailed travel guides & tips!

Work with me

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Hoponworld · Theme by 17th Avenue

updated on April 3, 2024

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

What we did in Yilan with kids: 4D3N itinerary

Almost one month after my last post on Taipei Roader’s Plus Hotel , it’s time to update our trip from Day 1! It’s our first trip since COVID and Cdd’s first-ever overseas trip, so we were really looking forward to our adventure.

Day 1 > Check in Scoot Flight > Full Go Roast Chicken of Stone Kiln > Check in Candy Homestay > Luodong Night Market

For our SIN-TPE trip, I booked Scoot as the arrival time is 11.45am, giving us plenty of time to travel to Yilan and still enjoy the day. Most of the flights on EVA Air and Singapore Airlines arrive in the late afternoon, so this was the best timing for us (early morning = easier to KO on the flight = no fussiness!) Our TPE-SIN flight was SQ879 departing at 5.55pm. And as there was no inflight entertainment on Scoot, I prepped a few activity books such as these to entertain them and it worked!

Money matters

For this trip, we didn’t exchange lots of cash and we used our Trust Bank atm card for cash withdrawal. There’s a Mega Bank atm (pic below) right at the airport arrivals, before we cleared customs. So once we got off the plane, we withdrew cash at the atm, cleared customs, picked up our baggage, and our driver was ready to drive us to Candy Homestay!

Read this post to find out how to withdraw money from Taiwan ATMs at no foreign transaction fees (if you have a Trust bank savings account from Singapore). Use my referral code D1ZTJ2N1 to get $10 Fairprice vouchers.

I love my pretty pastel yellow luggage, from here !

Accommodation

The journey by car from Taoyuan Airport to Candy Homestay at Yilan is around 1.5-2 hours. To communicate with the owners, I downloaded Line app. You can also use Facebook messenger. We got the Strawberry room for NT$5300 per night, which works out to be around SG$235. It’s higher than regular Taiwan hotels, but the experience and happiness for the kids can’t be beat. I paid an NT$1000 deposit via paypal and paid the rest by cash on the day of check in.

But I have to relate three episodes that didn’t make feel great. Maybe I’m just being judgey like I usually am but I still have to say ok. The first was my bestie’s experience – she initially enquired about a smaller room for 3 nights as she was 2A1C and later asked if she could bring the date forward one day. She was told that only a big room was available on that new day and was quoted NT$6400 (SG$283). When she informed that in that case she would just book 2 nights instead of 3 for the small room, suddenly within seconds “someone” cancelled and now the small room was available on her preferred date too.

Second episode was during check in when I felt pressured to leave a google review and check in on Facebook in return for toys or fancy kids toothbrushes right there and then. Maybe I’m also easily pressured! Haha. But I think it’s better to ask for reviews or etc. at the end of the stay.

Third episode was when there was no food and drinks available on the 3rd day. I casually mentioned that our driver was taking us out for breakfast and the male owner said it’s ok, we will just prepare a smaller portion. The lady owner then said oh then no need for food as you will be too full then! End up next day morning there was nobody around, no food never mind but there wasn’t even drinks or coffee, which I didn’t expect. No aircon no lights nobody was there. We then realised that we were the only guests staying the previous night so if no need to prep breakfast for us can save them all the trouble. Probably a miscommunication, but I have to relate this if not I don’t feel like I’m honest about my experience. I’m also at fault – I shouldn’t have assumed there will be other families they were preparing breakfast for and we would still be able to still have coffee at least or small bites for the kids!

But all these said, the kids LOVED Candy Homestay and will remember it for years to come. And at the end of the day, it’s all that matters right? The Homestay was spacious and clean and super fun, there’s a swing, slide and ball pit in our room, complete with a truckload of toys. There’s a large ball pit in the lobby, with scooters and bikes for kids of all ages, and even a lego building corner for older kids. It’s really kids paradise and it’s a great contingency plan in case it rains!

The toilet was spacious with anti-slip flooring and bath toys! Standing shower with shampoo, shower gel and toothbrushes & toothpaste provided.

Breakfast was quite tasty – we loved the corn soup. And the kids were happy with the mini pancakes, fruits and pudding too.

Before checking in to Candy Homestay we went for lunch at 福哥石窯雞 Full Go Roast Chicken of Stone Kiln, famous stone kiln chicken but it was not really memorable for us so I shall not blog about it. The taste was like roast chicken but the vegetables were tasty. Dinner was at Luodong Night Market with the usual night market offerings.

Day 2: Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area > Bong Bong Train – Maosing Remiscent Old Trail > Elf Village > Pony riding > Red Lantern Restaurant

We set off for Taipingshan today! There are many “kids-friendly” activities in Yilan, but we don’t really want to go to places like crayon factory / museum cos Yilan has soooo many beautiful views that you can’t experience in SG. Depends on what you all like to do, that’s why I almost never send my itinerary wholesale to people and instead share my experiences at each location. Then you all can research and decide whether it’s your thing or not. No meaning if I send you an itinerary for you to follow when we have different interests, right?

The drive to Taipingshan took around 2 hours. Park entrance tickets were NT$180 for adults and NT$120 for kids. With this ticket, you can visit many attractions  on Taipingshan. We went straight for the Bong Bong Train 太平山蹦蹦車 (train tickets still have to pay) which included a stopover at the Maosing Station, where we did a small hike around the surrounding Maosing Reminisent Trail 茂興懷舊步道 . So basically buy tickets at the Visitor Centre, get on the Bong Bong Train, stopover at Maosing Station for about an hour, then hop back on the train at the same station at the stipulated time on your ticket.

We wanted to go to 翠峰湖 and 天送埤車站 but the kids were getting too whiny from the hiking so we diverted to Chung Pi Lake Spirit Village 長埤湖精靈村 to feed animals. And instantly their mood changed 180 degrees!! Talk about 善變!!!!!!!  We reached around 4+ and there were not much people and the cafe was starting to close. We did manage to get some coffee and ice cream though. You can check out their website for other possible things to do here. This was the kids’ first farm experience in Taiwan (Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm was the next day) and they did have fun, although they arrowed their dad to do the feeding as the animals kept on following whoever had the carrot sticks!

Next we went for an impromptu pony feeding and riding experience as it was still early before our 7.30pm dinner seating at Red Lantern. Sorry I don’t know where this is! Haha.

We ended the day snack-shopping at Carrefour next to Silks Palace Yilan, a 5-star hotel where we had our dinner at Red Lantern Restaurant . I’ve heard so much about the Cherry Valley roasted duck – one duck served five ways in various courses. THE DUCK NIGIRI WAS SENSATIONAL. Read about our dinner at Red Lantern 紅樓 here .

Day 3: Fuxing Road Noodles 復興路炸醬麵 > Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm 張美阿嬤農場 > Sinbow Sansing Spring Onion Leisure Farm星寶蔥體驗農場 > Produck 甲鳥園

We went for the most amazing breakfast at 復興路炸醬麵 . Address: 260宜蘭縣宜蘭市復興路二段65號 / No. 65, Section 2, Fuxing Rd, Yilan City, Yilan County, Taiwan 260. We ordered 炸醬麵 (jajang – black bean? noodles), 麻醬麵 (sesame paste noodles) and 排骨面 (pork rib noodles), plus a bowl of mixed wanton and meatball soup and it was the best meal ever for less than SG$10. The sesame paste noodles were simply unforgettable. I don’t think I can find another 麻醬麵 as good as theirs. Go try it!

Then we set off for Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm ! This is hands down the best farm we have ever experienced, if you only have time for one farm, go for this! The farm is clean and not overly crowded (heard they implement crowd control by limiting ticket sales, but we didn’t have a problem getting tickets on the spot), and the deers and alpacas were certainly the highlights of our day! It was like walking among a bunch of cuddly soft toys. Cdd was a bit scared initially, but he warmed up soon enough!

Next stop was Sinbow Sansing Spring Onion Leisure Farm 星寶蔥體驗農場 just a short drive away. Surprisingly Cbb voted this as her favourite farm throughout our Taiwan trip! We harvested spring onions and made our own diy spring onion pies which were then fried on the spot. Each diy piece is marked with a number so you can be sure you’ll be eating your very own creation. They were so delicious! We got to wear boots and go down to the spring onion fields and it was super fun, muddy and wet but we were well protected. Warning: do not wear long dresses or you WILL get mud all over!

Next we went to a duck farm Produck 甲鳥園 ! The kids got to see ducklings and Peking ducks and we did spend a NT$180 each on two “sure-win” claw machine loots for the kids so they used up their claw machine quota for the day haha. NT$180 sure win is cheaper than attempts at night markets for sure!

We ended our night at Dongmen night market. For us I think this night market can go can don’t go. It’s quite small and were not really their thing and they were getting quite bored of Chinese food at every meal. Our solution was 7-11 mac & cheese + crème brûlée + milk tea … and it made their day!

Day 4: We left Yilan for Miaoli and Taichung …

… but not before having some yummy soup dumplings xiaolongbao at 正常鮮肉小籠包店 (Address: 宜蘭縣羅東鎮南門路7號 / No. 7, Nanmen Rd, Luodong Township). We wanted to go to 正好鮮肉小籠包 but our driver brought us to this place instead (I dunno he read wrongly or what haha), also another popular local joint. The xiaolongbao were tasty but not the best I have eaten, but I’m a fan of the soya milk with a unique charcoal taste. We ordered 20 xiaolongbaos and a bowl of hot and sour soup. The kids finished everything and started goofing around. Closed on Mondays, opened until 1pm.

So that’s it for our adventures in Yilan! We were blessed with good weather and this was the leg I enjoyed the most. Look out for my next post on Miaoli and Taichung.. soon! Follow my Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Oh and some of you ask me what’s the wristband that my kids are wearing. Cbb has motion sickness and often throws up in vehicles so I let her wear a sea band every time we go on long car rides. Here’s the one they’re wearing . Novomin helps her too, plus I always prep a change of clothes and towel and make her carry a plastic bag-lined vomit box on her lap in the car!

—————————–

Don’t miss my blog posts about our Taiwan trip 2023:

What we did in Taipei with kids: Day 3 & 4 – Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, Danshui, Kura Sushi | Read the post

What we did in Taipei with kids: Day 2 – Indoor Playground, Ximending, King Food Hotpot, Carrefour | Read the post

What we did in Taipei with kids: Day 1 – Greenworld Ecological Farm, Roader’s Plus Hotel, Shilin Night Market | Read the post

皇家帝國麻辣火鍋吃到飽 Taipei King Food Spicy Hot Pot review | Read the post

What we did in Taichung and Miaoli with kids: 3D2N itinerary |  Read the post

How to withdraw money from Taiwan ATMs at no foreign transaction fees  |  Read the post

Red Lantern Yilan 紅樓: Sensational Roasted Duck Nigiri! | Read the post

Roaders Plus Hotel Taipei review: a playground for the kids! | Read the post