Just one short drive from Taipei, Yilan feels like another world. The buildings grow lower, the air turns softer, and the landscape opens into wide rice fields, winding rivers, forested hills, and a calm blue coastline facing the Pacific Ocean. Life moves at a gentler rhythm here. People wake with the light, return home with the sound of frogs and ocean winds, and treat time as something to be enjoyed rather than chased.
At the heart of Yilan’s relaxed charm sits Jiaoxi, Taiwan’s best-known hot spring town — a place where travelers soak tired muscles in steamy pools, stroll barefoot through warm foot baths, and end the day with local snacks and quiet streets.
Jiaoxi, Taiwan’s best-known hot spring town.
” Together, Yilan & Jiaoxi create one of northern Taiwan’s most soothing travel escapes: part countryside, part coast, part wellness retreat.”
Whether you come for hot springs, island cruises, art parks, food, forests, or simply fresh air, Yilan welcomes you with open space, open skies, and open hearts.
Why Visit Yilan & Jiaoxi?
Nature, culture, hot springs, and ocean views — all in one easy trip.
Top Reasons Travelers Love This Region
Famous Jiaoxi hot springs with easy public access
Wide rice fields & countryside scenery
Creative parks and cultural villages
Scenic coastline along the Pacific Ocean
Boat trips to Turtle Island (Guishan Island)
Family-friendly attractions and outdoor spaces
Yilan is the perfect place to slow down without going far.
Jiaoxi Hot Springs: Taiwan’s Easiest Wellness Escape
Jiaoxi is one of Taiwan’s most accessible hot spring towns — no winding mountain roads, no remote valleys, just gentle geothermal waters flowing right into the town center. From luxury resorts to casual public pools, Jiaoxi makes hot spring culture comfortable and welcoming for everyone.
What Makes Jiaoxi Special
Neutral sodium bicarbonate spring water — good for skin and relaxation
Easy access by train, bus, or car
Public free hot spring foot baths in town
Hot spring hotels at every budget level
Quiet streets with small cafés and dessert shops
Soaking in warm spring water while listening to rain on the roof or cicadas in the trees is one of Jiaoxi’s simple pleasures — soothing both body and mind.
Guishan (Turtle) Island: Yilan’s Offshore Icon
Rising from the Pacific like a sleeping turtle, Guishan Island (Turtle Island) is one of Yilan’s most iconic natural landmarks. This volcanic island sits just off the coast and is visible from many parts of Yilan on clear days. For travelers, it offers one of the region’s most exciting half-day adventures.
What You Can Do on Turtle Island
Boat cruises around the island
Guided island landing tours (seasonal & limited)
Whale & dolphin watching (April–September)
View underwater volcanic hot spring vents at sea
Explore abandoned military tunnels on guided walks
Why Travelers Love It
Rare chance to see volcanic hot springs bubbling in the ocean
Dramatic coastal cliffs and turquoise waters
Seasonal marine wildlife sightings
A perfect nature contrast to hot springs and farmland
” Turtle Island tours are weather- and season-dependent, making them especially precious when conditions are right.”
Yilan’s Creative & Cultural Parks
Yilan may feel rural, but it’s also one of Taiwan’s most creative counties. Old factories and distilleries have been transformed into living cultural spaces.
National Center for Traditional Arts
A large heritage park dedicated to Taiwan’s traditional culture, including:
Opera & folk performances
Traditional street architecture
Handicraft workshops
Old-style Taiwanese snacks
It’s one of the best places in Taiwan to understand traditional lifestyles in one visit.
Yilan Cultural & Creative Park
Once an old distillery complex, now a hub of:
Art exhibitions
Pop-up markets
Design studios
Coffee shops
Weekend cultural events
A great stop for relaxed walking and creative inspiration.
Kavalan Whisky Distillery
World-class whisky born from Yilan’s pure mountain water.
Yilan is home to one of Taiwan’s greatest global success stories — Kavalan Whisky Distillery, a name now respected among the world’s top whisky producers. Using crystal-clear mountain spring water and Yilan’s humid subtropical climate, Kavalan produces rich, complex single malts that have won countless international awards.
Visitors can walk through the whisky-making process from fermentation to barrel aging, explore the exhibition hall, and enjoy tasting sessions in the modern visitor center.
Yilan Animal Farms
A joyful countryside experience for families and nature lovers.
Yilan is one of the best places in Taiwan to enjoy interactive animal farms, where children and adults can get close to friendly farm animals in open, natural environments. These farms are gentle, cheerful places filled with laughter, fresh air, and rural charm.
What You Can Experience
Feeding sheep, goats, alpacas, and rabbits
Walking through flower fields and garden paths
Farm cafés with countryside views
Hands-on rural education for children
Seasonal fruit and vegetable picking
These farms are especially popular with families, but couples and photographers also love the relaxed pace and cute animal encounters.
Sanxing Green Onion Fields & Scallion Pastry DIY
Sanxing is the home of Taiwan’s most famous green onions, known for their fragrance and sweetness. Visitors can join a hands-on scallion pastry DIY experience, making their own crispy pastries from fresh local ingredients — a fun, interactive activity that’s also perfect as a team-building exercise for corporate groups, schools, and incentive travel.
Countryside Yilan: Rice Fields, Rivers & Slow Roads
Yilan’s countryside is open, green, and deeply calming. This is where Taiwan’s agricultural soul still thrives.
Top Rural Experiences
Cycling along Dongshan River
Walking through wide rice paddies
Visiting small farming villages
Seasonal fruit picking & farm tours
Watching egrets glide above irrigation canals
This is the Yilan that photographers, families, and slow travelers fall in love with.
Yilan’s Food Culture: Fresh, Clean & Comforting
Surrounded by ocean and farmland, Yilan naturally excels at fresh, seasonal food.
Must-Try Local Flavors
Yilan Scallion Pancakes (蔥油餅) – crispy outside, fragrant inside
Fresh seafood – squid, shrimp, fish, clams
Duck specialties – smoked duck, duck hot pot
Hot spring vegetables & corn in Jiaoxi
Traditional desserts & shaved ice
Yilan’s cooking feels honest and light — never heavy, always comforting.
Luodong Night Market
Yilan’s most famous street food playground.
If Yilan has one must-visit night market, it’s Luodong Night Market. Lively, busy, and packed with local flavors, this is where Yilan truly comes alive after dark. Locals, students, families, and travelers all gather here for snacks, games, shopping, and late-night treats.
Must-Try Luodong Snacks
Scallion pancakes (蔥油餅)
Dragon beard candy
Fresh grilled squid
Herbal tea & papaya milk
Taiwanese fried chicken & oyster omelets
Compared to Taipei’s night markets, Luodong feels more local, more relaxed, and just as delicious.
Rainy Days, Clear Days & Coastal Mood
One unique charm of Yilan is its relationship with rain. Cloudy skies, gentle drizzle, and mist over the fields often make the scenery even more poetic. On clear days, the ocean sparkles. On rainy days, the hot springs feel warmer.
Yilan doesn’t fight the weather — it lives with it.
Best Time to Visit Yilan & Jiaoxi
Spring (Mar–May): Green fields, pleasant weather
Summer (Jun–Sep): Best season for Turtle Island & whale watching
Autumn (Oct–Nov): Clear ocean views, perfect cycling weather
Winter (Dec–Feb): Best season for hot springs
Why Travelers Fall in Love With Yilan
Yilan doesn’t compete with big cities — it complements them. It offers space where Taipei feels crowded, silence where urban noise dominates, and fresh air where glass and concrete once stood. It invites you to wake slowly, eat simply, soak deeply, and sleep soundly.
It is not a place for rushing.
It is a place for breathing.
How to Get to Yilan & Jiaoxi
From Taipei
Train (TRA) – 1–1.5 hours
Bus – Easy highway access
Private car – Fast, flexible, scenic
With Justaiwantour Private Tour
Door-to-door pickup
Flexible timing
Easy combination of countryside + hot springs + Turtle Island
English-speaking guide
Family & senior-friendly pacing
Suggested Yilan & Jiaoxi Itineraries
1-Day Relaxing Escape
Dongshan River
Jiaoxi hot spring soak
Street food dinner
1-Day Ocean Adventure
Turtle Island boat tour
Coastal viewpoints
Fresh seafood lunch
Return to Jiaoxi for hot springs
2-Day Yilan Travel
Day 1: Yilan countryside + cultural parks
Day 2: Turtle Island (if in season) + Jiaoxi soak
At Justaiwantour, we design Yilan journeys for travelers who value comfort, nature, and calm. Whether you want to cruise around Turtle Island, soak in Jiaoxi’s soothing waters, pedal through rice fields, or explore traditional crafts, we’ll tailor your trip to your pace and preferences.
Why Travel With Us
Flexible start times
Turtle Island seasonal booking support
Hot spring hotel coordination
Family-, couple-, and senior-friendly planning
From ocean breezes to hot spring warmth, Yilan & Jiaoxi offer a balance that few places can match — and we’re here to help you experience every peaceful moment of it.
Yilan Itineraries
We specialize in custom Taiwan travel packages made just for you. From culture to nature, we’ll guide you through top Taiwan things to do, tailored to your interests.