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Taiwan's Aboriginal Culture
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Showing posts with label Yilan (宜蘭). Show all posts

September 3, 2022

Yilan Travel: Dongshan River Ecological Park

By Żaneta Hsu September 03, 2022 // No comments

2022/08/23-25

My husband got the new job, and we had only one month to move to North. We decided to store our belongings at parents-in-law's place as it was closer, and then we drove from Miaoli to Yunlin to move the most important items first. We had a few days left before my husband started his new job, so he wanted to take a trip to the east of Taiwan. However, I was not feeling well and didn't have the mood and energy to travel. A few days later, I found out that I had contracted COVID-19...

During our trip to Hualien, we made a short stop at Dongshan River Ecological Park in Yilan. After exploring a while, we drove to Hualien, where we stayed for two days. We met up with my husband's friend and went out together a few times. The highlight of the trip was visiting Liushidanshan to see the blooming daylilies. His friend took us for an ATV ride on the beach in Hualien, which was fun, although I didn't enjoy getting covered in sand and dust.

On the morning of the third day, we visited Jian Shrine and then continued driving South. We stayed one night in Taitung to rest before heading back home. By the morning, I was feeling more tired and didn't have the energy to continue. We only made a short stop at Zhiben Waterfall in Taitung before driving back.

As we drove, my fatigue worsened. My husband thought I was dehydrated because the weather was hot during those days, and he suspected I had heatstroke. We made a stop in Yunlin at my parents-in-law's place to pick up some things and then drove to Miaoli. I sat on the sofa feeling half-dead and eagerly waited to go home.

The next morning, I woke up with body pain. I still managed to do the laundry (which was extremely difficult as I could barely move). I didn't have apetite and couldn't stand up, so I decided to take a COVID-19 test, which came back positive.

It finally explained why I didn't enjoy the trip to the east of Taiwan, which had always been my favorite thing to do. I honestly can't remember many things from the trip; I only know that everything bothered me those days, and the food didn't taste as good as it used to.

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The plan is to drive around Taiwan, with a focus on the east. Although it's closer for us to visit Yilan after moving to Toufen, we only made a short stop there and continued driving to Hualien. First, we stopped in the city to find some food, and then we drove further south and stopped at Dongshan River Park. It's a nice place to walk around or have a picnic, with plenty of grass and a beautiful river view.

Dongshan River Ecological Green Boat (冬山河生態綠舟)

Dongshan River Ecological Green Boat, formerly known as Dongshan River Forest Park, is managed by the Yilan County Government Industry and Commerce Office. The park covers a total area of about 18 hectares, showcasing the epitome of Yilan's landscape, human history, and natural ecology. From the riverside space, water surface, and river embankment to the mountains, forests, plants, creatures, and even recreational activities, ecological education, agricultural affairs, and farming, everything can be explored, learned, and experienced here. Visitors can take a boat ride along the river, and the drive also passes by a cave, which can be reached on foot as well. It's a popular spot for taking pictures.

Dongshan River Ecological Green Boat is a forest park that underwent a 20-year renovation before reopening. Since the renovation project in 1997, it was officially opened to the public in 2016. Over the past 20 years, the park has been dedicated to protecting plants and insect habitats, and it is currently actively restoring the firefly population. If the plan is successful, visitors will be able to enjoy the romantic view of fireflies during night tours in the future. The park is located near Dongshan Railway Station, making it easily accessible, and it covers a vast area. In addition to the spacious green space and scenic Dongshan River, the park is home to a rich insect ecology and adorable small animals, making it very suitable for family travel with children. Spend a day here, get up close to trains, take a boat ride through mysterious waterways, and find a shady spot for a picnic!

-> Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 (lights are turned off at 18:00 for ecological conservation), no admission after 22:00

-> Car parking price: 50NT

-> Ticket price (park):

Full ticket: 30NT

Free of charge for Yilan citizens

-> Ticket price (boat):

Full ticket: 75NT

Half ticket: 35NT (for seniors over 65 years old or children over 3 years old but under 12 years old)

Free of charge for children under 2 years old and persons with a disability handbook and their accompanying person

-> Boat ride duration: about 15-20 minutes

Address:

269宜蘭縣冬山鄉冬山路二段172號

Yilan & Hualien Travel: Good bye Yilan! Time to go to Hualien

By Żaneta Hsu August 08, 2020 // No comments

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

Our almost one-week-long holiday took us to the eastern part of Taiwan, exploring Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. We started our journey by heading north from Tainan and made a stop at Fulong Beach in New Taipei to experience the Sand Sculpture Festival. The drive took us approximately 4 hours. From there, we continued to Yilan, where we visited various attractions such as Toucheng Town, Brick Kiln, Wine Museum, Confucius Temple, night markets, and the Nanfangao Lookout. We spent two enjoyable days exploring Yilan before moving on to Hualien.

During our visit to Hualien, we had the opportunity to experience the breathtaking Taroko National Park for the first time. The scooter ride along the winding roads next to the tall cliffs felt a bit thrilling but was absolutely worth it for the stunning views. We also explored some of the Japanese remains in Hualien, including the Manor House and Pine Garden. Although I personally feel that Hualien may be slightly less captivating than Yilan or Taitung, we still enjoyed our time there.

On our way to Taitung, we made a stop at a beautiful waterfall and also visited Luye Highlands. As we typically visit Taitung more frequently, we didn't plan to stay there this time and decided to drive back to Tainan. However, as it coincided with the beginning of a long weekend, accommodations were fully booked, and traffic started to get heavier. If you're interested, I have many posts introducing other attractions in these three counties, so feel free to check them out. The eastern part of Taiwan is truly a beautiful region to explore.

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Being in Yilan two years ago, we also took a boat to see Guishan Island (Turtle Island). However, this time we only observed it from the land. We also decided to skip visiting the most famous beach, Waiao Beach.

Luodong Night Market (羅東夜市)

One of the attractions in Taiwan that we always enjoy are the night markets. The previous night, we visited Luodong Night Market, which is the largest night market in Yilan.

Nanfangao Lookout (南方澳觀景臺)

Before driving to Hualien, we made a few stops in the mountains, including Nanfangao Lookout. The view of the small town and the beach from there was breathtaking. We also visited a memorial park and Dongao Bay. The bay was incredibly beautiful and surprisingly secluded. It provided a perfect place for us to relax for a while.

Suhua Highway Monument (蘇花公路安魂碑)

The Suhua Highway Monument, also known as the "Suhua Highway Ancestral Soul Monument" or "Suhua Highway Ancestral Spirit Monument" (蘇花公路安魂碑), is a significant landmark situated along the scenic Suhua Highway, which is a major coastal road connecting the cities of Su'ao in Yilan County and Hualien in Hualien County on the eastern coast of Taiwan.

The Suhua Highway is renowned for its breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and steep, rugged cliffs on the other. However, it's also notorious for its challenging terrain, making it prone to landslides and other natural disasters, especially during typhoon season. Tragically, this scenic highway has witnessed numerous accidents and lost lives throughout the years due to its treacherous conditions.

The Suhua Highway Monument serves as a memorial and a reminder of the sacrifices made during the construction and maintenance of this crucial roadway. It honors the memories of the workers who lost their lives while building and maintaining the highway, as well as those who perished in accidents along its winding path.

Suhua Highway Monument 蘇花公路安魂碑, Yilan, Taiwan

Dongao Bay (東澳灣)

Dongao Bay, a charming and picturesque bay located on the northeastern coast of Taiwan - in Yilan County.

Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖)

Another highlight of our journey was Qingshui Cliff. It spans 21 kilometers along the coast, with cliffs reaching an average height of 800 meters above sea level in Xiulin Township, Hualien. The tallest peak, Qingshui Mountain, stands 2408 meters above the Pacific Ocean. The cliff is located in the southern part of the Suhua Highway, which connects Yilan and Hualien counties. It is the highest coastal cliff in Taiwan and is situated within Taroko National Park.

Address:

1. Luodong Night Market: 265宜蘭縣羅東鎮興東路與民權路口羅東觀光夜市
2. Nanfangao lookout: 270宜蘭縣蘇澳鎮蘇花路五段南方澳觀景臺
3. Suhua Highway Monument: 270宜蘭縣蘇澳鎮蘇花公路114號蘇花公路安魂碑
4. Dongao Bay: 270宜蘭縣蘇澳鎮東澳路161號東澳灣
5. Qingshui Cliff: 972花蓮縣秀林鄉大清水遊憩區清水斷崖景觀台

Yilan Travel: Yilan Confucius Temple

By Żaneta Hsu August 02, 2020 // No comments

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

Yilan Confucius Temple (宜蘭孔廟)

The Confucius Temple in Yilan is located in Xiaolianli and was originally built in 1865. The old temple resembled the Confucius Temple in Tainan. However, it was moved to its current site in 1953, resulting in the demolition of the old temple.

The temple covers an area of about 1,000 pings (approximately 300 m2). Initially, only the Panchi Lake and the Huangmen Gate were completed due to a shortage of funds during the temple's construction. In 1868, Yang Shifang, a resident of the Yi Dynasty, along with a few others, decided to contribute to the construction of the temple. The project began on August 15th, 1869. Chen Weiying, the mayor of Yangshan Academy, imitated the style of the Confucius Temple in Tainan, and it took ten years to complete the construction.

In 1875, when the Karmaland Hall was transformed into Yilan County, Confucianism was established in this temple. That same year, Minglun Hall was completed. In 1878, additional parts of the temple, including the Menmen, Wancheng Palace Wall, Qingyun Bridge, and an archway, were completed.

During the Japanese occupation, the Confucius Temple was converted into a garrison hospital and was renovated in 1905. It was bombed during World War II by the Allied forces due to the presence of a grain storage warehouse. By the postwar period, the main building had suffered extensive damage. In March 1949, Chen Jiangliu, the mayor of Yuanshan Township, proposed to the mayor of Yilan City to move the Confucian Temple to the Yilan Shrine. However, the temple was ultimately relocated to the Xiaolianli area, resulting in public protests.

During the relocation process, only the lying steles were found from the stone monuments of the Confucius Temple. The original Xia Ma monument from the Qing Dynasty, as well as the inscriptions on the construction of the Kamalanyi Temple and the restoration of the Confucius Temple during the Japanese occupation period, could not be found. The foundation stones were settled in Zhongshan Park of Yilan City as rest benches for citizens. The inauguration ceremony for the new temple took place on January 29, 1955. Under the county magistrate Chen Jindong, the renovation of the temple's left and right halls was completed in 1967.

During the tenure of County President Li Fengming, various projects including the Wancheng Palace Wall, Limen, Yilu, Panchi, Qingyun Bridge, Liku, Leku, Dongxiu, Dongxixiang, and others were completed in the autumn of 1977. Finally, in the spring of 1980, the Laixing gate was completed, signifying the full restoration of the entire Confucius Temple.

Address:

260宜蘭縣宜蘭市新興路170號宜蘭孔子廟

Yilan Travel: Visiting Yilan Distillery - Jiazilan Wine Relics Museum

By Żaneta Hsu July 29, 2020 // No comments

Travel Date: 2020/06/20~06/25

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We're continuing our second day of East Taiwan Travel.

Yilan Distillery Jiazilan Wine Museum (甲子蘭酒文物館)

The Jiazilan Wine Relics Museum, also known as Yilan Distillery, was established in 1910. Yilan was formerly known as Jiazilan and Karmaland, hence the name Jiazilan Wine when the distillery was founded.

The museum is housed in a rebuilt old warehouse building, carrying a long history. A unique urn wall made from decades-old wine urns can be found in the museum. The second floor is dedicated to exhibition rooms, showcasing the history of the Yilan winery, the wine brewing process, and the culture surrounding it. After visiting the exhibition rooms on the second floor, visitors can proceed to the first floor to purchase a variety of products, including wine-flavored food such as wine popsicles, wine jelly, wine eggs, as well as a selection of fine wines to taste.

The winery's history dates back to 1909, making it the oldest winery in Taiwan. It is also the only winery that still exists in the city center and has transitioned from a winery to a local representative establishment. During the Japanese rule in Taiwan, Yilan Liquor Company was founded by Lin Qingyun, a prominent figure in Yilan, who invested in the winemaking industry. Subsequently, nearby manufacturers were merged to form the Yilan Wine Company to manage taxes. In 1920, the Yilan Brewing Company was reorganized as Yilan Brewing Co., Ltd., becoming the first developed business in Yilan at that time. A dedicated stone lamp holder was even placed in Yilan Shrine to commemorate its significance.

Originally, the monopoly agency in the Yilan area was known as the "Monopoly Bureau Yilan Office," established in June 1920. After the war, the Taiwanese Government Monopoly Bureau was restructured into the "Taiwan Provincial Monopoly Bureau," leading to several changes and reforms within the wine company. In 1957, it was named the Yilan Distillery under the Tobacco and Wine Sales Bureau of Taiwan Province. In 1998, the Yilan Distillery underwent reform and was transformed into a winemaking and tourism destination, giving birth to the Jiazilan Wine Heritage Museum, which is now open to the public.