Two One-Day Tours in Yilan: Bike Riding by Day and Stargazing under the Milky Way by Night

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Editorial Team

The 2018 Yilan Green Expo has entered its 19th year this year. Three major themed areas—"Dreaming Village," "Hoe Classroom," and "Eco Green Ark"—are set up near Dongshan Railway Station and at Eco Green Ark. Visitors can plan a one-day tour in Dongshan Township, enjoying the scenery during the day and heading to the Eco Green Ark area at night to admire the Milky Way and starry skies.

1. Dongshan Railway Station → Yilan’s Boran Boulevard → 52nd Area Wetland → Lizhe Old Street → Eco Green Ark Area

Located in Sanqi Village, Yilan’s version of Boran Boulevard stretches approximately 2 kilometers in length and 5 meters in width, between Fengzun Temple and Xiesong Road. The route features nine S-shaped curves and not a single power pole. During the rice ripening season from May to June each year, it resembles a golden dragon lying amid fields of ripe grain. Whether you walk or bike along the path, you can enjoy views of the rice paddies and rural scenery. If you venture onto the narrow field ridges, you can even catch the rich scent of rice and earth.

The 52nd Area Wetland is adjacent to the Dongshan River. With low-lying terrain that remains waterlogged year-round, it is a river-flooded agricultural wetland. Following environmental improvements, the wetland has attracted numerous migratory birds, with over 150 bird species recorded to date, making it a great spot for birdwatching.