Yilan

Yilan City is the administrative seat of Yilan County, a compact and easygoing city on the Lanyang Plain in northeastern Taiwan. Surrounded by mountains and close to the Pacific coast, it serves as a practical gateway to the county's hot springs, rice paddies and scenic countryside while keeping a relaxed, small-city pace of its own.

The city developed from an early settlement on the Lanyang Plain and grew into an important local centre during the Japanese colonial period, when a grid street layout and public buildings shaped the downtown. Today, landmarks such as the Yilan Distillery Chia Chi Lan Wine Museum, the Yilan Museum of Literature and Jimmy Park near Yilan Railway Station blend local history with contemporary creative culture.

Around the railway station, Jimmy Park's whimsical installations drawn from the work of illustrator Jimmy Liao make the area one of the city's most photographed spots. Dongmen Night Market is the main evening food hub, while the riverside park offers a quieter green space. Beyond the city, Jiaoxi hot springs, Luodong Night Market, the National Center for Traditional Arts and the Lanyang Museum extend the visit into the wider county.

Yilan's economy is rooted in agriculture, food processing and tourism, with Sanxing scallions, rice and local distillery products among its best-known specialities. The county also hosts major events such as the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival, and its creative spaces and craft traditions give the area a distinct cultural identity.

For leisure travellers, Yilan offers hot springs, night markets, cycling and countryside scenery within easy reach of Taipei; for business visitors, it is a compact county seat with practical transport links, hotels and venues for meetings and events.