Taiwan’s “Mount Everest,” Yilan’s Brown Sugar Avenue — 5 Hidden Gems in Yilan

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Yilan’s popular attraction “Pink Bird Forest” attracted many visitors with its endless sea views, but authorities officially banned entry in August due to safety concerns. However, Yilan’s hidden gems aren’t limited to Pink Bird Forest. ETNEWS has compiled a list of five other stunning hidden spots in Yilan. We hope visitors will help preserve the local landscape and take their trash with them.

▲ From Holy Mother Mountain Villa, you can gaze at the undulating grassy slopes of Triangle Mountain, shrouded in a light mist, creating an indescribable beauty. (Photo provided by netizen @brian0810. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Holy Mother Mountain Villa
Fluffy grass waves stand atop the hill, creating a high-altitude landscape unique to such elevations. No need to envy foreign sights — Taiwan has this too. The small hill next to “Holy Mother Mountain Villa” in Jiaoxi, Yilan, is called “Holy Mother Peak,” where you can enjoy the rolling grassy slopes of Triangle Mountain enveloped in a light mist, exuding an indescribable charm. To reach Holy Mother Mountain Villa, you’ll hike the Holy Mother Mountain Villa Trail in the deep mountains of Jiaoxi, Yilan. Hidden within the renowned Wufengqi Waterfall area, this over 10-kilometer trail takes about five hours for a round trip. Along the way, lush greenery, rich biodiversity, and numerous small waterfalls create a tranquil hike as you gradually ascend the slope — a unique kind of “pilgrimage.”

Location: Behind Wufengqi Waterfall Scenic Area, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County

▲ Yilan’s version of Brown Sugar Avenue. (Photo provided by Mr. Little Bug)

Yilan Brown Sugar Avenue
The Sanchi Rice Field area in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, features vast rice paddies and winding paths, with no power poles obstructing the view, earning it the title “Yilan’s Brown Sugar Avenue.” Every year when the rice turns golden, the Dongshan Township Office sets up viewing platforms, allowing visitors to admire the golden waves of rice from above, alongside the blue sky reflected in the fields.

Address: Sanchi Village, Dongshan Township

▲ Lige Pi Lake in Yilan’s Yuanshan is a lesser-known private spot. (Photo provided by netizen 1114phoebe. Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

Lige Pi Lake
Located in Yuanshan, Yilan, there’s a place called “Lige Pi Lake,” named for its shellfish-like shape. However, this beautiful scenery lies within the jurisdiction of the Fuyuan area of Yilan County’s Funeral Management Office. Fuyuan has built a memorial bridge over the lake, and with careful maintenance, it breaks the cold stereotype of cemeteries. Surrounded by burial grounds, the area carries a somewhat serene and desolate atmosphere, so visitors are advised not to make excessive noise.

Address: No. 27, Lige Road, Dong Village, Yuanshan Township, Yilan County

▲ Jiuliao Creek Ecological Reserve. (Photo by reporter Zhou Chen'geng)

Jiuliao Creek
The Jiuliao Creek Natural Ecology Education Park is an ecological stream project promoted and protected by the Datong Township Office and the Xipi Community Development Association, ensuring the creek remains unpolluted and crystal clear, with two waterfalls upstream. The park also features the Jiuliao Creek Trail, which runs alongside the creek and enjoys a warm, humid climate year-round.

Address: Linjia Lane, Xipi Village, Datong Township, Yilan County

Yongzhen Coastal Park
Yongzhen Coastal Park is located behind Yongzhen Temple in Zhuangwei Township, near downtown Yilan. It boasts fine sandy beaches and diverse coastal plants, making it a famous seaside destination in Zhuangwei and a great spot to view Guishan Island — especially stunning at sunrise. Often frequented by photography enthusiasts capturing the sunrise over Guishan Island, it’s also known as the secret spot for “Guishan Sunrise.”

Address: Yongzhen Road, Zhuangwei Township, Yilan County