Streams as the stage, forests as the backdrop — Yilan Green Expo kicks off this weekend

▲Yilan Green Expo continues its legacy of caring for and coexisting with the Earth. (Photo / fromYilan Green ExpoFacebook page)

By Chen Zi-Yin / Comprehensive report

The Yilan Green Expo will open this weekend (the 28th) at Wulikan in Su'ao. This year, the theme is set as “Green Miracle.” The venue includes five major zones and 30 unique themes, running for almost two months.

The five zones are the Welcome Waterfront, Ocean Forest, Cloudy Sky Grassland, Serene Tribe, and Forest & Farm Secret Realm, continuing the expo’s tradition of preserving and cherishing the land. This year also features several new installations, such as an Atayal traditional house, a water curtain stage, and an Eco Ark. Organizers said the Eco Ark showcases over ten years of records of the Dongshan River in Yilan, reflecting the local attitude toward the natural environment. On the other side of the water, massive logs float in the log storage pond, visually representing a microcosm of past forestry activities — logging, transport, and storage.

In the Welcome Waterfront, the “Water-Wood Stage” uses a stream as the stage and the forest as the backdrop. Percussion performers use pots, pans, cleavers, chopping boards, and even sun-dried quilts as instruments to create music that echoes through natural memories. Beyond percussion, there are also performances including indigenous dance, jazz drumming, tango, and vintage tap dancing — all innovative combinations of music and movement. In the Ocean Forest zone, a seven-meter-long realistic sperm whale model is available for visitors to touch, along with skeletons and models of whales and dolphins, making the experience both educational and fun.

Within the Cloudy Sky Grassland, the “Pure Original Flavor” area reconstructs a century-old traditional Atayal house. Tribal elders helped build the house using wood, bamboo, and stone with traditional methods. Visitors can also participate in cultural experiences guided by elders, such as weaving, mouth harp playing, rattan crafting, and hunting.

Yilan Green Expo
Event dates: March 28 (Sat), 2015 – May 17 (Sun)
Venue: Wulikan Scenic Area
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Ticket information: Regular holiday ticket NT$250, weekday NT$150 (for ages 12 and up, under 65); Concession holiday ticket NT$200, weekday NT$120 (for ages 7–12, height 115cm–150cm, or groups of 30+); Outdoor education ticket NT$120 (for student groups of 20+); Free entry for those under 7, over 65, or holding a disability card.