Toucheng Township
Caoling Historic Trail
The Caoling Historic Trail cuts across Sandiao Cape (Sandiaojiao), starting at Yuanwangkeng, just inland from Fulong, and ending at Dali on the coast. It is the only remaining section (rebuilt by the Tourism Bureau) of the old Ching dynasty trail that was constructed 130 years ago to provide the only land link down the Northeast Coast from Tamsui to Yilan. The present trail is approximately 10 kilometers long and offers a pleasant hike of two to three hours.
Data Source：Tourism Bureau, Republic of China
Wushi Harbor
A dolphin and whale-watching trip starts at the Wushih Harbor, which is 1.5 kilometers away from the downtown of Toucheng Township in Yilan County. Visitors may first take a train from Taipei and get off at the Toucheng Station, take a bus by Kuo-kuang Motor Transport, and get off at the “Wushih Harbor” stop. Please be noted that there are not many buses to the harbor daily, and it is therefore advised to take a taxi when buses don’t come round. Walking is also possible—it takes approximately 30 minutes to arrive at the harbor, but is not a good choice during hot summer days.
Data Source：Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration
Toucheng Old Street
Toucheng Old Street was used to be known as Touwei Street in early times. It was established during the Qing Dynasty rule. The area around the street used to be an important trading district with the booming river and harbor transportation sector, especially the Wushih and Touwei Harbors.
The decline in this area started with the 1878 flood which affected Wushih Harbor. An American ship sank and subsequently blocked the entrance of the harbor in 1883. Although the harbor function was partially moved to Toucheng Harbor, the harbor was also flooded in 1924. With also the completion of highways and railway, especially the opening of Hsuehshan Tunnel, as well as the shifting of business center elsewhere, make this old street lost its fame.
Data Source：Wikipedia
Lanyang Museum
In 1989, local Yilan personnel proposed the establishment of Kailan Museum. In December 1992, Yilan County Government established the Museum Preparatory and Planning Committee and the official name of the museum was chosen to be Lanyang Museum. The construction for the museum began on 2 August 2004 and it began its first stage of opening on 18 May 2010 where only group visits made by advance reservations were accepted. The museum was finally opened officially to public on 16 October 2010.
Data Source：Wikipedia
Jiaoxi Township
Wufengqi Scenic Area
The Wufengqi Falls are one of the eight great scenic spots of the Lanyang Plains, belonging to Jiao River (Jioxi) Township in Yilan County. The Wufengqi Falls are named for the five sharp peaks which stand in a row behind the falls, that look like the five triangular banners that usually hang down the back of the war generals costume in Chinese Opera. Fog and mist drift gracefully around the mountaintop year-long, and torrents of mountain springs continuously flow down its slopes, forming the three layers of cascades that are now the Wufengqi Falls.
Jiaoxi hot spring
The Town of Jiaoxi in Yilan County, Taiwan is known for its hot springs, the main draw to this popular resort town. The reef brook hot spring another characteristic is the native uses the water seepage which this kind is pure may drink, researches and develops the agricultural product, the locality also as worthy of looking at as the hot spring breeding farm, the hot spring paddy rice and the hot spring vegetables planter area, attraction many gluttonous.
Paoma Historic Trail
Paoma Historic Trail is situated at the border of Wulai Township of Taipei County, Toucheng Township and Jiaosi Township of Yilan County. It is one of the branch lines of Yilan Historic Trail. Following the Houtong River valley straight down, you can reach Shihpai Station on Beiyi Highway. Further down the slope is Wufengqi Scenic Area. The total distance of the trail is 7kn, and 3km is within the bordary of government-owned Linbandi.
You can reach Paoma Historic Trail by climbing up from Wufengqi Gateway, or walk down the hill from Shangsin Garden on Beiyi Highway. Along the way, you can gain a panoramic view of Yilan Plain, Turtle Island, and the night scenery of Jiaosi downtown. You will pass a variety of interesting sports including Siaoshan Temple, Orange Orchard, Mining Area, upstream of Houtong River, rock of Paoma Ancient Trail and bamboo trail.
Yilan City
Jimmy Plaza
Jimmy Liao, Chinese name Liao Fu-bin, is also a picture book writer and his whimsical illustrations have inspired TV series, plays and various kinds of popular merchandise bearing his designs. His work is increasingly popular in China, where he may sell up to 500,000 replicas of a single work, compared to 40,000 in Taiwan.
Authorities in Taiwan, particularly the east coast counties of Yilan, Hualien to Taitung, use his illustrations to decorate amusement parks, hotels and merchandise to attract the growing numbers of Chinese visitors to the country.
Yilan Riverside Park
Yilan River consists of Dajiao River, Xiaojiao River, Wushi River, and Dahu River. The domain of the river covers Jiaoxi Township, Yuanshan Township, Yilan City, and Jhuangwei Township. During the reign of Qing dynasty, the river was very broad, but torrential rain usually caused flood or change of watercourses. Scholar Lin Ting-yi wrote a couplet, “The wind attacks Da Zhi Wei and blows eastward and westward; the watercourse at Xia Du Tou was changed southward and northward.” The couplet described the watercourse change of Yilan River. It went through Qi Wu Lan and entered the ocean at Toucheng Township. Because of a later flood, it went through Xia Du Tou to Eastern Harbor at Jhuangwei Township. It flew together with Lanyang River and entered the ocean.
Wujie Township
Luodong Township
Dongshan Township
National Center For Traditional Arts
This new 24-hectare facility is located beside beautiful Dong Mountain (Dongshan) River in Yilan. In addition to organized displays and performances of culture and art, it also provides a stage where performing artists can show off their creative works. The emphasis here is on the continuous propagation, innovation, and renewal of traditional arts. You can stroll casually among artistic creations, listen to elegant music, and enjoy exciting opera performances–and you can even participate in the process of artistic creation yourself. From the Center, you can take a boat and visit the Dong Mountain (Dongshan) River Water Park.
Luodong Night Market
Luodong Night Market is located next to Luodong Park. It is always crowded, and is one of the best places for shopping and dining. The traditional snacks here are popular to both local residents and visitors such as the scallion pancake. Moreover, the night market also covers shops of clothing, shoes, accessories, and utensils of daily life. Situated in the center of Luodong, Luodong Night Marketis a famous tourism spot with many stores. Iced maniocs with red beans stuffing are original invention of Luodong, and the original store is in the night market. Another signature dish is medicine mutton soup; anyone has to wait in a long line in order to get a seat. Besides, rice noodle thick soup is also one of the famous Yilan dishes, and one can have the most traditional taste here. Street food vendors are all gathered around Luodong Park, offer low-price and various night snacks, such as Yilan specialties smoked duck, salty rice noodle, and Yilan Scallion Pancake. Overall, Luodong Night Market is a wonderful place to shop and dine, you should not miss visiting Loudong Night Market during your Taiwan travel!
Luodong Forestry Culture Garden
Luodong Forestry Culture Garden is located in Luodong, Yilan. Before retiring from the timber industry, this was one of the three major timber industrial sites in Taiwan. Now becoming the garden of Luodong, it preserves decades of historical and cultural meanings. The Japanese architectural dorms and storage pool are rare scenery now in Taiwan. Old facilities are now used as exhibition rooms and education centers. With hiking routes around the lake, forest, and natural habitat, the whole park is a great city getaway.
Plum Blossom Lake (Meihua Lake)
Meihua Lake is located in De-an Village of Dongshan Township. It is a quiet and peaceful place that you can visit in Yilan.
This lake was originally named “Dapi (Great Lake)”. In the 1970s, President Chiang Ching Kuo visited the lake, and was impressed by its beautiful surroundings.
Because of the lake’s shape is like the plum flower and with five pedals so he named it “Meihua (plum blossom) Lake”.
Su-ao Township
Wulaokeng Scenic Area
The valley of Wulaokeng River is located in the boundary of Dong Mountain (Dongshan) town and Su-ao Township. Mountains, forests, and streams in this area are weaving into beautiful scenery and make this place well-known as Wulao Forest and Spring. Earlier, it was famous as a good place to play with water, and now, it is one of the New Eight Views of Lanyang. Fishing, catching shrimps, Bar-B-Q, playing with water as well as birds observing are all recommended activities. In this place, different sections including camping area, Bar-B-Q booth are arranged and equipped with good facilities. For example, the camping area is so well-equipped to meet the international standard, and is the largest one in Taiwan, which allows 5,000 campers.
Su-ao Cold Springs
The Suao Cold Spring is a truly rare natural spring with water at temperature at 22 °C below. This kind of unique springs is only in Italy and Taiwan. The water of Suao Cold Spring is odorless, clear and drinkable and contains sodium bicarbonate. The spring is located north of Suao Town, about 300 meters in front of the Suao Train Station, near Chungyuan Road and Nenchuan Road. The water is freezing cold on the first five minutes of dipping, but the body quickly warm up. Since the bubbles keeps popping up from the bottom, bathing in this spring water feels like bathing in sugar-free sodas. During Japanese’s occupation, the Japanese found out the primary function of cold springs. Many have believed that skin diseases can be cured by bathing in this spring water, and Intestinal illnesses can be cured by drinking it. In addition, the marvelous water quality of Suao Cold Spring is good for making food and beverages.
Nanfang’ao
At the southern side of Su’ao Harbor is Nanfang’ao, a major base for coastal fishing. The abundance of the fish catch here has made Nanfang’ao one of the three largest fishing towns on the island. There are actually three fishing harbors and markets at Nanfang’ao, each with its own unique character. The first market is the site of fresh fish auctions, held daily at around 2:00 p.m. by the fishermen’s association. The second market is a retail market for seafood, with the fishermen themselves each selling his fish from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Running along the third fishing harbor is Yugang Road, which is packed with seafood restaurants and stores selling the special products of the area. It is regularly packed with tourists as well.
Tatung Township
Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area
Taipingshan is situated in the northern county of Yilan and is one of Taiwan’s three major national forest recreation areas. With a moist climate and abundant rainfall, it has nurtured an environment rich in ecological resources. The forests that cover the area consist of such valuable trees as Taiwan cypress, Taiwan hemlock, and Japanese cypress. The area is also blessed with geothermal energy at the Renze Hot Springs, the largest alpine lake on the island (Cuifeng Lake), and a variety of other enchanting scenery.
Qilan Forest Recreation Area
The Qilan Forest Recreation Area is located about 38 kilometers up the Northern Cross-Island Highway, at the intersection with the highway’s Li Mountain (Lishan) Branch. This area, surrounded by primeval forest at the 12-kilometer mark of the Qilan Forestry Road, features 51 huge red cypress and Japan cypress trees thousands of years old. Each of the 51 is named after a famous personage from Chinese history, chosen because its age approximates the time when the historical figure lived. One, of course, is named for Confucius, who lived over 2,000 years ago. This linkage with history makes a visit to the Chinese Historic Men Arboretum educational as well as fun.