What to do during the long holiday? Two must-do activities on Yilan’s Guishan Island in April

▲Guishan Island. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

Reporter Cai Wenjun / Comprehensive report

Guishan Island in Yilan has been open to the public for island tours since March. Now that April is here, what are the must-see sights on Guishan Island? The Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration recommends that not only is it now peak season for whale and dolphin watching, but the island’s lilies will also be in full bloom. It suggests visitors come for an ecological tour.

▲Sea of lilies on Guishan Island. (Photo / Provided by the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

The administration stated that due to minimal human interference, the lilies on Guishan Island bloom quite brilliantly every year from April to May. The island mainly features tiger lilies, as well as Taiwan lilies commonly found in northern Taiwan. The difference between them is that Taiwan lilies have wine-red stripes on the outer petals, while tiger lilies are white both inside and out—visitors can use these traits for identification when sightseeing. However, tourists are reminded not to pick the flowers casually, allowing them to pollinate naturally and preserve the sustainable beauty of the ecological experience. In addition to flower viewing, you can also plan a whale and dolphin watching activity into your itinerary, and might even be lucky enough to spot large whales riding the Kuroshio Current.

▲Guishan Island is also entering peak whale and dolphin watching season. (Photo / Provided by the Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration)

For those who enjoy viewing Guishan Island from afar, you can choose to cycle along the “Yilan Coastal Bicycle Trail.” This route stretches from Zhuanxi River Mouth in Toucheng to Dingliao Ecological Park in Su’ao. Along the way, you can observe Guishan Island presenting its turtle head facing either north or south, admiring the unique scenery unique to Yilan. If you wish to experience the magnificent view of “Guishan Sunrise,” considered the premier scenic beauty of Lanyang, it is recommended to stay overnight in Yilan.
 
2017 was designated as the “Ecotourism Year” by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation. The Northeast Coast & Yilan Coast Scenic Area Administration hopes that, in addition to experiencing the “Guishan Island Whale and Dolphin Watching” activity, the public can also understand the importance of preserving ecological resources and sustainable tourism. Starting April 1st, visitors who check in, like, and leave a comment at the Guishan Island Visitor Center, Dali Visitor Center, or any of the four information stations (Jiawai No. 9 Coffee, Eastown Ocean Hot Spring Hotel, Guishan Sunrise Restaurant Complex, and Shanlan Specialty City), will have the chance to win a Little Sun highlighter pen.