Soak in hot springs, enjoy the scenery, and ride the mountain train — an IG-worthy one-day trip in Yilan

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
 
Holidays are when you just want to get out, enjoy some good food, and snap great photos. Yilan, this hidden paradise, not only has beautiful mountains and waters but is also perfect for photos. Take a ride on the forest train winding through the woods, try the fun and tasty hot spring-cooked eggs, and admire the incredibly picturesque bald cypress riverside with cherry blossoms. Take a holiday and bring your family or partner to explore Yilan!

Start your day early at Yilan’s most beautiful cherry blossom spot, the “Luozhuang Cherry Blossom Trail,” to avoid the crowds. As it nears cherry blossom season, the trail along both sides of the riverbank is lined with a full kilometer of cherry blossom corridors. Every February, these trees bloom in all their glory. Located beside Luodong’s 16th Branch Canal, it is Taiwan’s first flatland riverside cherry blossom viewing spot, with over 1,200 cherry blossom trees planted — truly a feast for the eyes.

When hunger strikes around noon, head to the Qingshui Geothermal Area located on the south side of Qingshui Village in Datong Township. The park covers 2.5 hectares and features a 30-meter-long wild stream where visitors can soak their feet. Guests can cook food and soak their feet in the park, and kids will definitely have a blast. With distant green mountains and wisps of white steam rising from the geothermal vents, it forms a truly charming rural scene.

In the afternoon, visit Taipingshan in Yilan and take a ride on the forest train within the recreational area. The Taipingshan forest train was out of service for six years before being restored. It runs from Taipingshan Station to Maoshing Station, covering a total distance of 3 kilometers, with a one-way trip taking 30 minutes. There are 8 daily services. Travelers can ride in open-sided carts, enjoying the unobstructed forest scenery of Taipingshan and experiencing the nostalgic daily life of timber transport by rail.

Still not done taking beautiful photos? In the afternoon, head to Youjia Farm in Yilan to admire the stunning bald cypress scenery. Youjia Farm is a hidden private plot within Yilan city, featuring a romantic landscape of European-style bald cypress that feels like you're in Europe. The crimson-hued cypress trees reflect beautifully on the water alongside blue skies and white clouds, complemented by distant European-style architecture — simply breathtaking.