Little Europe in Yilan！A Secret Tamarix Spot in Sanyi Township Creates Taiwan’s First Sky Green Corridor

▲ The banks of the Anrong River in Sanyi Township are a local tamarix secret spot. (Photo / Provided by netizen, please do not reproduce without permission)

By Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Comprehensive Report

The left bank of the Anrong River near Tianxin Bridge in Sanyi Township is considered a hidden tamarix paradise by locals in Yilan, and is even praised as the “Little Europe of Yilan.” To attract more visitors, the township office plans to build Taiwan’s first “Tamarix Secret Realm Sky Green Corridor” by the river, connecting bicycle paths on both banks and integrating rafting activities, aiming to boost tourism along the Anrong River waterway.

In the 1990s, to prevent wind erosion and protect the riverbank, Sanyi Township Office planted around 200 tamarix trees along the east-west section of Provincial Highway 28 near Tianxin Bridge on the left bank of the Anrong River, forming a 500-meter-long tree-lined boulevard. The tall trunks and lush branches create a scenic view. When autumn and winter arrive, the green leaves gradually turn red, set against the green grass and charming riverside structures, adding an exotic charm that has earned this spot the reputation of the “Little Europe of Yilan.”

▲ The tamarix secret realm by the Anrong River in Sanyi Township. (Photo / Provided by netizen, please do not reproduce without permission)

The township office’s construction division stated that the sky green corridor will feature a pink base tone and be designed with a cable-stayed steel arch structure. It will be 55 meters long and 2.5 meters wide, with a transparent bridge deck. The current plan is to locate it on the west side of Tianxin Bridge, in the middle of the tamarix forest, connecting the cultural landscapes on both sides of the Anrong River. A preliminary plan has been submitted to the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and has received initial approval, with an estimated construction cost of 20 million New Taiwan Dollars.

Walking across the sky green corridor not only offers a view of the pastoral scenery, but the rich riverside landscape also serves as a vibrant ecological classroom. The tamarix leaves shift through gradient hues of green, yellow, orange, and red with the changing seasons, resembling a striking oil painting.

Magistrate Huang Hsi-yung said that next to the tamarix secret realm lies the Anrong River bicycle path, which boasts a wide view where green mountains, rushing streams, pine forests, and green spaces can all be taken in at once. With the sky green corridor, visitors can gaze at distant sunset mountains and watch fish swimming beneath the transparent bridge deck. The pink bridge complements the red and white LOVE viewing platform of the nearby “Bridge of Love” upstream, making both spots romantic destinations ideal for couples to stroll or take wedding photos.

Location: Section 28, East-West Road, Sanyi Township, Yilan County (near Tianxin Bridge)
Special Reminder: Barbecuing or camping is prohibited, and please take your trash with you.