Yilan

Understand

Yilan has long been shaped by its relative geographic isolation from Taiwan’s west coast. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the Pacific Ocean to the east, the region historically developed more slowly than cities such as Taipei. This isolation contributed to the preservation of local traditions, dialects, and performing arts, including Taiwanese opera (gezaixi), which remains an important part of Yilan’s cultural identity. The county is known for its natural environment, with abundant rainfall, fertile plains, and convenient access to both mountains and the sea. These conditions support agriculture, fishing, and hot spring tourism, making Yilan a popular weekend destination for residents of northern Taiwan. The climate is humid and rainy year-round, with especially heavy rainfall during the monsoon season and typhoons in summer and early autumn. Improved transportation links—most notably the Xueshan Tunnel— connect Yilan closely with Taipei. This has contributed to increased tourism while the area continues to maintain a slower, more relaxed atmosphere than Taiwan’s major urban centers.

Getting there

Rail, bus, and taxi are good options for traveling from Yilan to Taipei. The Xueshan tunnel facilitates travel between Yilan and Taipei, shortening the trip to roughly 1½ hr.

By train

1 Yilan station (宜蘭車站). The station is on the Yilan line. (updated Nov 2019)

Getting around

Scooters, cars and bicycles are the main transport around Yilan City (the county seat of Yilan county). There are taxi stands and scooter rental options near the train station. Travel around the county (to destinations such as to Luodong, Suao, and Jiaosi) is easily accomplished by inexpensive rail (US$4). Bus and taxi drivers at this time do not speak English. Other European languages are not spoken at all.

By scooter The most convenient way to get around Yilan is by scooter. You can start from Yilan train station and rent one there, but you should first go to the tourist information center and get a map.

By bicycle You can rent one at Yilan train station. A nice 12-km route may start by riding to Yuan Suan Park (員山公園) which takes about 1 hour. Then you can ride along the riverbank to Jung Shan Bridge (員山橋) before heading back.

See

Yilan Train Station

The first Yilan Train Station (宜蘭火車站) was constructed in 1919. The original building was destroyed in 1962 by typhoon Opal and rebuilt in the same year. The plaza in front was built in 1997. There are many historical buildings nearby, described below.

Yilan Railway Station Old Warehousing Facilities (台鐵宜蘭車站舊倉庫群). There were 9 warehouses built in 1919, providing numerous businesses with a place to store their goods. It is used for selling famous products from Yilan. It is on the right hand side of Yilan train station. Exiting the train station, turn to the right. The building is on the right hand side. (updated Nov 2019) Former Office, Taiwan Railway Administration, Yilan Transportation Section (台鐵宜蘭運務段舊辦公室). This building was constructed in 1959. The building served as a transportation office for the Taiwan Railway Administration. It is now a Visitor Center where you can get information. Turn left when leaving the train station. The building is on the left hand side. (updated Nov 2019) Former Rice Inspection Bureau Yilan Branch Office (舊米穀檢查所宜蘭出張所). It was constructed in 1930 for use in the process of inspection, evaluation, and distribution of local rice. The characteristics of the building include an arched entrance, rectangular windows, British style brick walls, and a Japanese-style roof. From the train station, go straight and you will find it to your left. (updated Nov 2019) Former Official Residence of the Magistrate of Yilan (宜蘭設治紀念館), No. 3, Lishing 3rd Lane, Jiocheng S. Rd. It was built as the official residence for Japanese magistrates in 1911. There is huge camphor tree inside the premises of the building that has been there for at least 100 years. It was reconstructed for tourists to visit in 1997. (updated Nov 2019) Former Yilan Yi Police Station (宜蘭警察局), No.167, Sec.2, Jhongshan Rd.. It was constructed during the Japanese occupation in 1945. (updated Nov 2019)

History and culture

1 Former Yilan Prison (舊宜蘭監獄門廳), No. 117, Section 2, Shennong Road, ☏ +886 3 932 2440. The prison was founded in 1898 with the name Yilan Branch Institute of Taipei Punishment Institute. (updated Nov 2019) 2 Memorial Hall of Founding of Yilan Administration (宜蘭設治紀念館), ☏ +886 3 932 6664. 09:00-17:00. A memorial hall dedicated to the founding of Yilan County Government. The memorial hall building was built in 1900 where it used to be the official residence of magistrates. The building was later converted into a memorial hall and was inaugurated in 1997. (updated Nov 2019) 3 Yilan Brick Kiln (宜蘭磚窯), ☏ +886 937 535 180. A former brick

Do

Religious festivals There are various religious festivals and parades of different sizes throughout Yilan, so you may cross one at any moment during weekends. According to believers, the purpose of the parades is to represent that the gods are patrolling the street to see how people doing and to protect people from harm. In order to welcome the gods, the people in charge of the parade set off firecrackers as an announcement that the gods are coming and cast a lot of "ghost money" on the street. Temple workers carry sedans with religious images. You may see traditional musical orchestras. Usually, the parades are performed by many teams, People can tell which teams a participant belongs to by looking at their t-shirts. The parades consist of different groups of people and each of them are in charge of representing different characters. The characters may vary according to the different festivals. Some of them may do folk dances. There are about 63 temples, most of them Taoist, and eleven western churches in Yilan County. Historically, there has been freedom in Yilan to practice any religion. Taiwanese celebrate many important traditional festivals. In Yilan the most important celebrations are Cheng-Huang's (城隍) birthday on February 8th of the lunar calendar and Dong-Yue's birthday (東嶽大帝) on March 28th of the lunar calendar. During the festival of Cheng-Huang's birthday, many people from all walks of life usually follow the parade and go around Yilan city and we can see that some people play the characters Chi-ye and Ba-ye (七爺八爺), a traditional Taiwanese myth about friendship. Yilan is the birthplace of Taiwanese opera (歌仔戲), so people can listen to traditional musical instruments during Taiwanese religious festivals. During these religious parades, visitors can join the festival and take photos, but people should be respectful and observe some taboos. For example, expectant mothers should not join the parade and people should not cross from one side of the parade to the other. For temple workers there are further prohibitions, such as not eating meat before the parade. Parades should not be confused with Chinese funeral, where family members will wear black clothes and there are no images of gods. There are two temples in Yilan that have regular large-scale festivals. The first is Yilan Cheng-Huang Temple (宜蘭城隍廟) at No.10 Chenghuang St. (城隍街) that holds their major parade every February 8 of the lunar calendar. The temple was established in 1813, and in Chinese culture, Cheng Huang is the Patron saint of cities. The other major temple is Yilan Dong-Yu T

Buy

Books

Eslite, B1 of Yoai Department store, Jiucheng East Road, ☏ +886 3 936-2770. A large range of English and Chinese books. Caves, 220 Zhongshan Road, ☏ +886 3 932-3259. Sec. 3. A huge range of English textbooks and novels. Local specialities

One of the local specialties is a delicate cookie referred to as the "Cow Tongue Cookie." This name comes from the shape of the cookie (an oblong, roughly 20 cm or 10 inches long), rather than ingredients. The cookie comes in many flavors, such as coffee, green tea, berry, and sesame. Shopping malls

Yoai Department Store (友愛百貨), No.50, Jiucheng E. Rd, ☏ +886 3-936-9936. From Yilan Train Station: Go straight and turn right on Jiucheng E. Rd. Walk for three blocks and look for the tall building. Luna Plaza (新月廣場), No.6, Ln. 38, Sec. 2, Minquan Rd., ☏ +886 3-932-3300. From Yilan Train Station: go straight and turn left on Jiucheng S. Rd. Then turn left on Sec. 2, Shennong Rd.

Eat

1 Dark ice cream shop (黑店冰店), No. 63, Sec. 1, Shennong Rd (on the same street as Luna Plaza). A famous small ice cream shop located near Luna Plaza. The shop offers only five flavors, but is well known for using high-quality ingredients, attracting both locals and visitors. (updated Dec 2025) 2 Dongmen night market (東門夜市), Shenghou Street. 17:00-00:00. The Dongmen night market attracts many tourists since the local media regularly does reports about it. At the very front, there is a yakitori shop called Liang Dai Pon (梁大胖), where some of the products are only NT$10 each. The first booth on the left side is green onion pancake (蔥油餅). It is always full of customers because they use the high quality green onion from local producers. The second booth on the left side is an ice cream store; they are famous for their almond curd (杏仁豆腐). The third booth is a beverage store; their bubble tea is different others because they use their handmade white bubble. On the right hand side, there is a roasted chicken cutlet booth. It costs NT$50 for a cutlet that is bigger than your face. The last booth sells "coffin bread", a Taiwanese dish of seafood inside a toast, but this store creates offers original flavors such as ice cream instead of seafood. (updated Nov 2019) 3 Garlic meat broth (蒜味肉羹), No. 141, Jiucheng North Rd (near Yilan Train Station; cross the street to Jiucheng East Rd., turn right onto Jiucheng North Rd), ☏ +886 3-932-4293. A local specialty shop known for garlic-flavored thick pork broth, a famous dish in Yilan. (updated Dec 2025) 4 Pasta Kitchen, No. 47, Sec. 1, Jiankang Rd (near the center of Yilan City on Jiankang Road), ☏ +886 3 936-3939. Casual Italian eatery known locally as Pasta Kitchen, serving pasta and other Western-style dishes. 5 Everyday Smells Great (每日香), No. 60, Chongsheng St. (from Yilan Train Station: go two blocks east, and then turn north on Chongsheng St. Walk for 2½ blocks along this road), ☏ +886 3 933-0993. M-Sa 09:30 - 13:00; M-F 15:30 - 18:30. This is a traditional lunch shop aimed at local workers. Expect it to be very busy around 11:00. You can pick from probably over 30 fresh vegetables, as well as meat and fish. Customers can also drink soup inside for free. The cashier is very friendly and talkative, and is quite likely give you compliments on your looks. NT$40-80. (updated Mar 2017) 6 Rakuzan Ramen (樂山溫泉拉麵), No. 20, Gongyuan Rd (near Jiaoxi hot spring area, close to Gongyuan Road). A popular Japanese ramen restaurant in Jiaoxi, well known for its rich broth and location near the hot spring district. NT$200–400. (updated

Drink & nightlife

Blue Bar, 319 Taishan Road, ☏ +886 3 931-3367. Small, clean and cheap.

Sleep

Budget Fukun Motel (福岡商務汽車旅館), No.259, Sec. 5, Zhongshan Rd, ☏ +886 3 928-8060. It is near the train station. It offers free internet connection, air conditioning, spa and free breakfast. Small doubles start at NT$880.

Mid-range England Motel (英格蘭汽車旅館), No.6, Ln. 127, Sec. 5, Zhongshan Rd, ☏ +886 3 928-2288. It offers breakfast, afternoon tea, bicycles, and spa. The room rate starts at NT$3,040. Azure Sky B&B (蘭天民宿), No.3-33, Jinshi Rd, ☏ +886 3 931-1260. It is near the National Yilan University (國立宜蘭大學). They offer a farm lifestyle experience. Small doubles start at NT$2,000.

Quality Dubai Motel (杜拜時尚戀館), ☏ +886 3 928-7700, [email protected]. No.70, Sec. 2, Dafu Rd., It takes around 5 minutes by car from Yilan train station. It offers swimming pool, steam bath, milk bath and spa. The classical villa room starts at NT$4,280. Silks Place Yilan (晶英酒店), 36, Minquan Rd., Sec. 2, Yilan City, ☏ +886 3-935-1000. It's on one side of Luna Plaza (mall). From Yilan Train Station: Go straight and turn left on Jiucheng S. Rd. Then turn left on Sec. 2, Shennong Rd. Yoai Hotel (友愛大飯店), 11-16F., No.50, Jiucheng E. Rd, ☏ +886 3-936-3456. Go straight after leaving Yilan Train Station, turn right on Jiucheng E. Rd., and walk for three blocks. Grand Boss Hotel (伯斯飯店), No.366, Sec. 1, Yixing Rd, ☏ +886 3-9312-999. Turn right after exiting the station and go straight You will see it your right hand side.