Yilan

Day Trips

Arrive at Yilan Railway Station and drop your luggage at a boutique inn. Savor traditional rice noodle soup and soy milk at a bustling breakfast stall. Then wander along the winding pathways of Taiping River Walk, dotted with public art and bamboo groves.

Head to the Yilan Distillery Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum to sample locally brewed spirits. Cycle along the scenic lanes leading to the Dongshan River Eco-Park and take in panoramic views of lush rice paddies. Stop at a riverside café for hand-crafted tea and watch fishing boats drift by.

As dusk falls, wander through Dongmen Night Market, sampling Yilan waffles, deep-fried surprises, and freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. Let the sizzling sounds and aromatic steam guide you from stall to stall. Conclude with an herbal tea at a roadside stand, absorbing the lively local ambiance.

Visit Luodong Forestry Culture Park, wandering among preserved camphor workshops and century-old timber displays. Participate in a hands-on woodworking workshop to carve your own tea whisk. Stroll along shaded trails as sunlight filters through towering trees.

Head to Dongshan River Water Park for kayaking past lush wetlands and mangroves. Bike along the riverside pathway, enjoying panoramic views of emerald fields framed by distant mountains. Pause at a floating café for a refreshing fruit smoothie and idle conversation with friendly locals.

As twilight descends, explore the food stalls of Luodong Night Market, one of Taiwan’s most famous street food meccas. Indulge in buttery scallion pancakes, savory mutton soup, and fragrant oyster omelets. End the night with a cold craft beer at a bustling bar tucked into a narrow alley.

Rise early and join a guided birdwatching tour at Dongshan River National Scenic Area. Scan the reeds for elegant egret flocks and elusive herons gliding across the morning mist. Return to the visitor center to learn about conservation efforts protecting this vital wetland.

Venture into a nearby Hakka village known for its rice terrace landscapes and tile-roofed homes. Try your hand at traditional rice planting or harvesting and savor a farm-to-table bento under a sprawling banyan tree. Engage with local artisans as they weave straw crafts and spin cotton into colorful fabrics.

Seek out a riverside teahouse perched on stilts over the water. Sip fragrant oolong tea as lanterns are lit, reflecting like stars on the gentle current. Let tranquil melodies of bamboo flutes accompany the slow flow of the river before retreating to your countryside homestay.

Set off for the steaming mud springs of Jiaoxi and begin with a foot-soaking ritual along the bubbling creekside. Embrace the therapeutic warmth as silky thermal waters trickle through sculpted pools fringed by verdant ferns. Treat yourself to a gentle reflexology session under the shade of evergreen pines.

Book a full-body soak at a luxury onsen-style spa, complete with herbal baths infused with sakura petals. Drift in the mineral-rich water while gazing at the azure sky through open-air pavilions. Follow it up with a cup of local spring tea and a drizzle of mountain honey.

Slip into a traditional ryokan and savor a multi-course kaiseki dinner curated with local Yilan produce—fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and fragrant rice. Savor each bite by candlelight, letting refined flavors dance on your palate. End the evening with a slow stroll along the lantern-lit riverbanks before returning to your tatami room.

Immerse yourself in Taiwanese folk heritage at the National Center for Traditional Arts, wandering through replicas of old-street scenes brimming with craft studios. Watch master potters mold clay into exquisite bowls and try your hand at woodblock printing under expert guidance. The air buzzes with the hiss of bamboo workshop furnaces.

Cross to the Lanyang Museum’s dramatic architecture, set against the backdrop of Guishan Island and a sweeping coastline. Explore exhibits tracing Lanyang’s geological history, indigenous culture, and maritime trade through interactive displays. Pause by the glass facade to capture the interplay of light, sea, and mountain.

Return to Jiaoxi for a serene evening along the river promenade, where wooden footbridges arch over gentle currents. Warm your hands around a cup of locally roasted winter melon tea while watching paper lanterns drift into the night sky. Conclude with a nighttime dip in open-air spring pools illuminated by soft LED lanterns.

Hike along forested trails to the majestic Wufengci Waterfall, where multiple cascades tumble into a serene basin. The sound of thundering water mingles with birdsong as mist rises from rocky ferns, creating a sensory symphony. Find a mossy perch to linger and absorb the cool spray before continuing upstream.

Head east to the Kavalan Whisky Distillery, Taiwan’s premier single malt producer. Wander through gleaming copper stills and oak-laced casks while learning distillation secrets that give Kavalan its velvety character. In a candlelit tasting room, savor signature drams and limited-edition barrels, comparing smoky notes, honeyed sweetness, and peat complexity.

Dine at the distillery’s bistro, where farm-fresh Yilan ingredients are paired with whisky-infused marinades and reductions. Take a twilight stroll around ancient camphor groves nestled within the grounds. Finish with a nightcap in the bespoke whisky bar, surrounded by quietly maturing barrels.

Depart early for Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, once the hub of Taiwan’s logging industry. Board a quaint forest railway car through stands of towering cypress and Taiwan red pine. Feel the rhythmic clickety-clack of rails as you climb into mist-laden mountains.

Disembark at scenic trailheads in Mingchi or Qingtiangang for a leisurely hike amid giant tree roots, stone pagodas, and hidden aboriginal shrines. Hear the muffled hoot of owls and the rustle of muntjac deer in the undergrowth. Pause in sunlit clearings to picnic beneath a cathedral of ancient timber.

Return to your mountain lodge for a drink by a crackling fireplace, listening as evening mists coil around pine-scented valleys. Join fellow travelers in swapping wildlife tales over local mountain honey tea. Drift to sleep in hand-stitched quilts, cocooned by wooden beams echoing the night croak of cicadas.

Begin the day at Nanfang’ao Fishing Harbor, where brightly painted trawlers bob against the quay. Bargain with fishermen for fresh sashimi-grade fish straight off the nets, then watch harbor workers untangle crab traps by the sea breeze. Snap photos of silver lantern fish darting beneath the hulls.

Head inland to the surreal, steaming terrain of Qingshui Geothermal Park. Walk along bone-white boardwalks, inhaling mineral-laden vapors as hot springs bubble through volcanic vents. Dip your fingertips into cobalt pools that feel electrifyingly warm and absorb the otherworldly setting.

Find a cozy seaside restaurant near the harbor, ordering sea urchin and abalone caught that same morning. Gaze out at the moonlit water as silver reflections dance across swaying nets. Conclude with sunset sake at a rooftop perch, letting the mingled aromas of salt air and nori drift through the night.

Travel to Su’ao Cold Springs, one of only four places globally with natural carbonated cold springs. Ease into the invigorating effervescence, scrub away travel fatigue, and marvel at the minty tingle on your skin. Surrounding pavilions offer scenic views of lush hills beyond.

Drive along the Guanshan Coastal Road to Beiguan Tidal Park, famous for its hexagonal basalt columns sculpted by the sea. Trek across intertidal pools, peering down into hidden crabs and sea anemones clinging to the rocks. Let the pounding waves carve a peaceful meditative soundtrack.

Dine on farm-fresh cold spring vegetables, lightly blanched to preserve their natural crunch and flavor. Gather at a cliffside barbecue stand, grilling squid and razor clams over charcoal. Watch the horizon’s glow as the sun sinks into the East China Sea, turning clouds into molten copper.

Rise before dawn to catch the vibrant sunrise at Wai’ao Beach, famed for its dark volcanic sand and roaring surf. Join local surfers as they carve waves in the soft morning light or try your hand with a fresh board rental. Let golden rays stretch across the water and illuminate distant mountains in pastel hues.

Relish a beachfront brunch of seafood-topped green onion pancakes while soaking in salty sea breezes. Stroll through the nearby Aodi artisan village, browsing handcrafted ocean-inspired trinkets and roasted squid snacks. Return to Yilan City for final souvenir shopping at the wholesale jade and tea markets.

Enjoy a farewell dinner of Yilan’s signature spring onion fried rice and hearty seafood chowder at a family-run diner. Toast the past ten days with a cup of handmade mead infused with locally grown lychee blossoms. As you pack, let the lingering sounds of rolling waves and cicada songs echo the immersive spirit of Yilan.