Bike by Day, Stargaze by Night: Two One-Day Tour Routes in Yilan

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department

The 2018 Yilan Green Expo has entered its 19th year this time, featuring three major thematic areas near Dongshan Railway Station and at Eco-Green Ark, namely “Dreaming Village,” “Hoe Classroom,” and “Eco-Green Ark.” Visitors can arrange a one-day tour in Dongshan Township, enjoying the scenery during the day and watching the starry skies over the Milky Way at the Eco-Green Ark Park at night.

1. Dongshan Railway Station → Yilan’s Boran Boulevard → Fifty-Two-Hectare Wetland → Lizhe Old Street → Dongshan Eco-Green Ark Park

Located in Sanqi Village, Yilan’s version of Boran Boulevard stretches about 2 kilometers in length and 5 meters in width, between Fengzun Temple and Xiesong Road. The road features nine S-shaped curves without a single utility pole. From May to June each year when the rice matures, it resembles a golden dragon lying amid fields of golden grain. Whether on foot or by bike, you can enjoy the scenery of the rice paddies and rural life, and if you venture into the narrow ridges between fields, you can even breathe in the rich scent of rice and earth.

The Fifty-Two-Hectare Wetland lies adjacent to the Dongshan River. With its low-lying terrain and year-round water accumulation, it is a floodplain-type wetland formed from farmland. Following environmental improvements in the wetland area, it has attracted a large number of migratory birds. To date, more than 150 bird species have been recorded here, making it an ideal spot for bird-watching.