Families with kids traveling to Yilan can explore traditional Taiwanese culture at the National Center for Traditional Arts, learn about Yilan’s unique cultural history at the Lanyang Museum, go hiking on the historic Caoling Historic Trail, or visit any number of Yilan’s beautiful rivers for recreation. Luodong Night Market in Southern Yilan is also one of the country’s most popular and best.
📍 Route 1: Northern Yilan
Caoling Historic Trail
The Caoling Historic Trail dates back to the Qing dynasty when it was an important shipping road for goods between Taipei and Yilan. Today, 10 kilometers of the trail have been rebuilt and offers visitors a chance to experience what was once a treacherous journey through Northeastern Taiwan’s remote seaside mountains. Along the way, you will pass by two stone tablets dating back to 1867. They were originally built by the Japanese, who, disappointed with the poor weather encountered on the trail, ordered them built to ward off evil spirits and bad weather. Every year, between September and November, the trail has the added attraction of being enveloped by Taiwan’s ubiquitous and charming silvergrass, which spread throughout Taiwan’s gentler mountain regions and its river valleys.
Yuemeikeng Waterfall
Yuemeikeng Waterfall, which lies slightly off of the beaten track, is one of Yilan’s most beautiful waterfalls. While it can be reached by following herd paths that branch off of the established trail system at the Wufengqi Scenic Area, it is recommended to visit by booking a river tracing tour. River tracing tour groups visit the various branches of Dezikou Creek year-round, although in winter, outdoor enthusiasts should be prepared to wear wet suits to brave the colder water temperatures.
Lanyang Museum
From a distance, the Lanyang Museum resembles a black rock. Its experimental and minimalist architecture was meant to resemble coastal landforms called “cuestas” that occur naturally along the coast of Northern Yilan, and to coexist with the surrounding wetlands environments. The museum celebrates the diverse culture of the Yilan plain and includes exhibits dedicated to mountainous forests, streams, and ocean, all of which are indispensable to life in the Lanyang Plain. Highlights include a full-size sampan (traditional coastal fishing boat) as well as the Archaeological Kid’s Land exhibition, where children can use their six senses to learn about prehistoric society.
📍 Route 2: Central Yilan
National Center for Traditional Arts
The National Center for Traditional Arts is an all-in-one stop for learning about Taiwan’s rich folk culture and local arts. The center itself is designed to mimic the scenery of Taiwan’s many historic districts and even features its own local temple, a theater, a shrine and several plazas. In addition to installation art, the center also features traditional restaurants, glove puppetry, temple fairs and daily performances. The center is meant to be a place where families and children can get hands-on experience with traditional culture and as such, DIY activities include hand-dyeing fabric, attending woodcraft workshops, and making oil-paper umbrellas.
Suao Cold Spring
Cold mineral springs like the Su-ao Cold Spring are unique to Taiwan and Italy. The mineral rich waters here are a cool 22 C, perfect for cooling off in Taiwan’s hot summer, and for challenging (and cultivating) the body’s circulatory system during other seasons. It’s said that everyone shivers during the first five minutes of bathing, after which the body naturally adjusts to the cold temperature. Historically, the potable water from this spring was used to make two of the area’s well-known traditional snacks, sweet red bean jelly and traditional pearl soda.
Kili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Cultural Center
The Kili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Cultural Center is a sure bet for some lighthearted fun for families with kids that just need something to keep them busy for a bit. The center offers DIY bubble tea classes where guests can take on the role of employees in one of Taiwan’s ubiquitous “hand-shaken” tea shops and make their own bubble tea from scratch. Just be careful not to add too much sugar water. There is also an area where visitors can learn about the history of bubble tea and its rise to popularity in Taiwan and throughout the world.
📍 Route 3: Southern Yilan
Guanyin Creek Canyoning
Over the past several years canyoning has grown in popularity in Taiwan and is now a year-round sport. Guanyin Creek is a gentle route suitable for families that aren’t afraid to get wet, but is still quite the adventure with up to four rappels, waterslides, and plenty of boulders to climb over. For those that don’t know about the sport of canyoning, it consists of traversing down a steep river by jumping into deep pools, rappelling down ropes fixed to secure anchors, and climbing down through boulders and rocks. Taiwan’s rivers and creeks are some of the steepest in the world, and canyoning is one of Taiwan’s most quintessential outdoor experiences.
Jiuzhize (Renze) Hot Springs
Jioujhihze Hot Spring is a remote hot spring spa inside the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area just south of Yilan. The spa itself is built on the side of Duowang River, surrounded by dense coniferous and broadleaf forest, making it one of Taiwan’s best hot spas for forest bathing. Named the “spa of the beauties”, the odorless sodium bicarbonate water here leaves the skin feeling refreshingly smooth and slippery. Bathing options here include one large public co-ed pool which is almost deep enough to swim in, private mens and womens spas. Private hot spring suites can also be rented. Adjacent to the parking lot, there is an egg-boiling pool and a short walk across a suspension bridge leads to the Jioujhihze Nature Trail, a 1.1 kilometer long trail that weaves through the forest on the other side of the river.
Luodong Night Market
Luodong Night Market is not only Yilan’s most popular night market, it is also rightly regarded as one of the best night markets in Taiwan. As a result of its popularity and delicious food, a multi-story parking lot was erected just to aid in congestion on the weekends. The street food here is known to be so delicious that people often have trouble deciding what they want. Famous local snacks include Sanxing Spring Onion Buns, made with local Sanxing scallions of course, and Crispy Egg Cakes, but in all likelihood, you won’t be disappointed so matter what you order. If trying to avoid peak crowds, try to arrive before 6PM or after 10PM.
