Yilan Mini Getaway: Don’t Miss the Fairy Tale Park and Jimmy Square

▲ Don’t forget to catch the sunrise at Turtle Mountain when visiting Yilan during the New Year. (Photo / Reporter Xu Wenbin)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

To celebrate the Lunar New Year, tourist attractions across Taiwan have launched various themed events to welcome the influx of visitors. Yilan, in particular, has seen record-breaking tourist numbers since the opening of the Hsuehshan Tunnel. Aside from its must-visit hot springs, the area is also home to well-received attractions like the Jimmy-themed Square (Jimmy Park), Diudiuang Square, and the National Center for Traditional Arts. New additions such as the Fairy Tale Park and the search for the lost Kavalan culture offer deeper experiences of local heritage.

Fairy Tale Park and Jimmy Square
First, as soon as you exit Yilan Railway Station, you’ll find the Fairy Tale Park, a cultural space created in a repurposed area, featuring works by author Huang Chunming such as “The Short-Trunked Elephant” and “I Am a Cat Too.” Right across from the park is the hugely popular Jimmy Square, which brings to life characters from beloved picture books like “Secrets in the Sky,” “The Underground City,” and “Turn Left, Turn Right,” winning over many visitors.


▲ The newly opened Fairy Tale Park in February features works by Huang Chunming such as “The Short-Trunked Elephant” and “I Am a Cat Too,” creating a cultural space located right across from Jimmy Square. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

National Center for Traditional Arts
During the Spring Festival, the National Center for Traditional Arts by the Dongshan River launched the Year of the Sheep special exhibition “Laughing Sheep New Year.” In addition to seeing scenes from the Laughing Sheep animation recreated, visitors can also experience free stamp printing on Laughing Sheep red envelope bags until March 1, with a daily limit of 150.

Discovering the Lost Kavalan Culture
Additionally, the Dongsen Marine Hot Spring Hotel in Toucheng, Yilan, has also curated an in-depth tour themed “Discovering the Lost Kavalan Culture,” centered on exploring local Yilan culture. Through guided tours at the theme pavilion, visitors can see traditional indigenous crafts like banana fiber weaving, as well as take part in activities such as pounding hemp, making glutinous rice cakes, learning the “Ari Pong Pong” weaving technique, and crafting toys from pandanus leaves. They can also enjoy an authentic “Kavalan-style meal” to experience the traditional indigenous way of life.


▲ The Dongsen Marine Hot Spring Hotel has planned a unique “Discovering the Lost Kavalan Culture” theme activity. (Photo / Provided by Dongsen Marine Hot Spring Hotel)

Lion Museum
In addition to the Kavalan cultural theme tour, the hotel also offers access to Taiwan’s first lion-themed museum, the Lion Museum, and the chance to enjoy the island’s only underwater hot spring—the Golden Spring. Along the way, visitors can admire two of the Eight Scenic Spots of the Lanyang Plain: “Turtle Mountain Sunrise” and “Beiguan Tides.”


▲ Hedongtang Lion Museum (Photo / Provided by Dongsen Marine Hot Spring Hotel)

Since the opening of the Hsuehshan Tunnel, more and more people have been traveling from Taipei to Yilan for leisure, with the New Year’s Day holiday this year setting a new record for traffic congestion. The public is reminded that during the Lunar New Year, travel to Yilan via National Freeway 5 and the Hsuehshan Tunnel as well as the Toucheng Interchange tends to be congested. To encourage the use of public transportation, the Yilan County Governmentis offering free shuttle bus rides to tourist attractions for those with receipts for intercity buses or train tickets from now until March 1. With numerous shuttle routes available, including stops at Jimmy Square and the National Center for Traditional Arts, visitors are encouraged to take advantage of this service.