Yilan Tour: Culture and Nature Encounter

Taking a break from the bustling city life to a scenic countryside is incomparable.

All those magnificent landscapes are priceless remedy to a weary soul. By coming to Yilan and having a close encounter with nature, I have temporarily escaped the fast-paced life and kept my sanity intact. 😆 Its a humble countryside destination where one can seek refuge into lush greenery, see its grandeur, feel its serenity and discover its rich history.



On my first day in Taiwan I travelled to Jiaoxi in the afternoon to spend 2 nights. We arranged a private tour around Yilan, which is popular among tourists due to its ground-level hot spring aside from its cultural scenery and natural landscape. Our guide picked us up in our minsu at 9am. And so our tour began!...

Beiguan Tidal Park

Our first destination was the Beiguan Tidal Park, an attraction along the North Coast Highway. I caught a glimpse of this park while on board the train heading to Jiaoxi the day before. From its sea-viewing pavilion, we got a panoramic view of the Guishan Island. The park also features ancient artifacts, cultural relics and scenic trails.

We decided to have our breakfast here since there are food stalls; nothing fancy but good enough to fill our tummy. I was still in "sleepy mood" and the sun was unforgiving, so I showed a little interest in the spot... but what piqued my interest was the railway behind it where we saw trains roaring past. 😍

Mr. Brown Cafe at Castle I

I needed something to wake up my senses... nope not coffee but something else. We drove off while I continued observing the surrounding then suddenly my heart leapt for joy as we were heading to the mountain. Slowly as we ascend, we had a spectacular view of the town and coast. 😍

My jaw dropped when we parked in what seemed to be a "castle." 😮 Is it for real!?

As we walked closer towards its entrance, we realised something... It's not a museum nor a hotel. It's actually a coffee place called Mr. Brown's Cafe. Such a unique architectural structure situated on top of a mountain overlooking the Pacific ocean. Yup, a coffee shop 2,000 metres above sea level.

Built in 2009, this coffee shop boasts a European ambience with its castle-like structure and a windmill beside the parking area. It features two levels of dining area with huge windows, perfect for sipping coffee while enjoying a delightful scenery. We climbed to the rooftop where we savoured a wider view of surrounding.

In the middle of the rooftop, there lies a "pyramid" looking framework covered with glass, giving the castle's interior natural light.

  

I couldn't leave the place without checking out the windmill. Ha! It's fully functional!

We headed back to the car and drove off. I thought we'll already descend but our guide took us to another castle. 😮

Mr. Brown at Castle II

It's actually the same coffee shop but in a newer structure. The Castle II was built in 2013 with equally the same exquisite ambiance.

Unlike in the Castle I, this place was less crowded so we got a good spot to chill with our favourite drinks. Love the place so much!

Wai'ao Scenic Area

Our next destination was the Wai'ao Scenic Area, which of course, the Wai'ao beach can be found. Yes I was excited to dip my feet in the water! 😁

Less known for being the most picturesque, the clean beach makes an ideal stop for those who want to enjoy the sun and play among the constant waves for free. Yup, it's a great spot for surfers... and we've seen quite of them during our visit.

What's more interesting is the beautiful black, fine sand on the beach... so soft to step one, I even buried my foot. 😍 It was low tide when we got there, so the part where the water couldn't reach had hot sand. Ahhh

From the beach, the Guishan Island can be seen from a distance as well.

Bored with playing in the water and sand? Go on a thrilling, extreme activity like paragliding! On our way to the Castle, we saw some people doing this activity. The starting point is on top of the mountain (just behind the beach) and will land on the Wai'ao beach. I'll admit, I was soo jealous! I wanted to try it but I was already on a budget constraint (on day 2!) 🤣 Next time.....

We just took a stroll on the beach, listened to the crashing of the waves, observed the paragliders floating above, admired the surfers (wish I can do this) and relishing the slow pace.

Walking along the beach, I could see our next destination.... and I was extremely excited for this.

Lanyang Museum

When I looked up on things to check out in Yilan, the Lanyang Museum snatched my attention. Yes its architectural structure ignited my curiosity. I must see it. 🤓

Standing outside or from a far, its distinctive characteristic that sets it apart was visible. The museum is housed in a building which appeared slanted on the ground with an unparalleled seaside view. Its shape resembled the cuestas which are commonly seen along the coast of Beiguan.

With the building's main structure resting on the northwest side of the ruins in Wushigang Harbour, it is able to preserve the natural resources in the wetland. Its unique exterior design made it a famous landmark in Yilan.

As we entered the building, a glass wall with overlooking view of the sea and stone walls that separate the actual museum and the lobby welcomed us. It looked so surreal. 😲

We used our EasyCard to purchase the entrance tickets which cost NT$100 for general admission.

There are 4 levels inside the museum; each representing different exhibition motifs. Some sections depicted the history of Yilan, geography, culture, diverse natural resources, livelihood, way of living and other important aspects of the county.

The replicas were meticulously crafted, imparting a realistic feel to the visitors.

Walking aisle to aisle, I gained some insights of their culture which somewhat appears similar to ours.

In the ocean-themed section of the museum, there was a huge screen where we can showcased our drawing - just draw and upload .... and so we did. Can you spot which one came from us? 🤣

Is it time to go??? 😭 Noooooo... After spending almost 2 hours in the museum, we had to depart for our next destination. Yikes, it was past 2pm and we didn't have lunch yet.

Toucheng Old Street

Our guide dropped us "somewhere".... I wondered why, I thought we consumed much of our time at the museum so our tour time was over.. 🤣 I didn't have the slightest idea that we were at the Old Street.

Marked by red walls and black tiles, the Toucheng Old Street is considered as the oldest in the township of Toucheng.

There, we sauntered without having to squeeze through crowds of tourists. At that time, the place was all ours. 🤣 The Street is surrounded by old streets with varied interesting styles and features a Fude Temple on each end.

The buildings on the Old Street are a mixture of Western-style houses dating back to the Qing dynasty or from the Japanese colonial period. The signs of wear and tear on the walls of these buildings that were once glorious attest to the rich history of the bygone era.

We were so engrossed in admiring the rich historical and cultural atmosphere in the Old Street, that we overlooked the time. It was almost 3pm....and no lunch yet! 😵

Good thing there are dainty food stalls concealed in the alleys, so we explored to find a food shop where we can try local dishes, but it started to drizzle then poured. Yikes, we ended up eating Western dishes. 🤣



Then it was time to leave. Our guide picked us up near the food shop. After the meal, I thought we were heading back to the minsu; I already felt tired.... but my spirit was reinvigorated after seeing a lush green surrounding..

Wufengchi Scenic Area

I found out we will go on a short hike - destination "unknown." I was super excited! 🤩 Such a perfect way to help digest the food we had.

Unlike most visitors who have a planned destination, either the Wufengchi waterfall or the Sanctuary of Our Lady of WuFongCi, we didn't have. 🤣 We just go wherever our feet lead us to.

It was still slightly drizzling when we started our short hike. We followed a paved road next to a small stream, oh my the sound of the waters was calming. A few minutes walk led us to a dam. We saw people on their floaters enjoying the water while others were fishing.

We continued walking, seeing signs that showed the trail to the waterfall. While doing this activity, I felt joy. The experience was heartwarming, hearing the sound of nature and filling our lungs with fresh air. It was something I haven't done in a long time.

Continuing on, the trail followed a stream uphill and we soon crossed a small bridge. A few minutes later, we reached a waterfall. We opted not to get closer as there were a few people playing with the waters and taking photos. The trail continues to the top where another waterfall can be found, but we decided to take the other trail going to the church - perhaps around 20-30 mins walk. But we felt light rain so we opted to go back... back to the car...back to the minsu.

And our tour ended, leaving us a satisfied heart...and tired body so we needed to soak in hot spring. 🤣

Jiaoxi Township

Day three in Taiwan and it was time to bid goodbye to this beautiful and humble town. I will miss the fresh air and modesty of life in Jiaoxi.

Until we meet again! Hasta la vista!

Next up Jiufen.

****

Video snippet of a paraglider at Wai'ao beach.

Special thanks to someone who've been ever supportive and understanding especially on my moody moments. 😇

7 July 2019