Day 6: Taiwan Northeast Coast Tour

Hi, this is the sixth out of seven posts about my 7 days trip to Taiwan. You can read about the previous post in the following link:

On day five, I explored Taroko gorge on a group tour, and in the afternoon, I took a train ride from Hualien to Yilan. Why Yilan? Because it’s a great transit to further north, before I explore Toucheng Township, Pingxi district and Shuangxi District which is basically the east Part of the Taiwan, where it displays rugged cliffs, dramatic sea-view hills, or in another word: BEST COAST OF THE TAIWAN!!

On day 2, I explore Taichung and Tainan by using ownrides, a customized tour in which we are able to make our itinerary online before Ownrides seek you a driver and you’re good to go. You can go to the post to read more about Ownrides. As I mentioned on that post, it is suitable if you want to go places where public transportations are scarce, and you have limited time with so many places to visit and with the distance from one place to another is far.

On this sixth day in Taiwan, I also used ownrides. The taxi driver picked me up at Yilan Train Station, brought me on the road along beautiful east & northeast cost of Taiwan and dropped me at Ruifang as per my request. Here’s my itinerary on that day in Google Map.

This museum attracted me immediately when I saw its picture in google image result. This triangle-built museum is unique in its architecture, and its reflection on the pond makes it one of the beautiful buildings in Taiwan. It adopts the original shape of cuestas (a Spanish name for a geological formation in which rock layers gently slope up to an escarpment or a cliff and at this raised point the rock layers are exposed on their edges) commonly seen in Beiguan coast. The museum was established in 2010, and it is a cultural museum, hoping to preserve Yilan cultures. (Source: Lanyang Museum).

I was picked up at 7 am an within less than 20 minutes ride I arrived at Lanyang Museum. Of course, the museum was still close, but that did not matter, since I only plan to play on the outside admiring its architecture. There was only me obviously, alone with the beautiful architecture, only for me to enjoy. How I love the quiet moment over there. I left before the Museum opened.

​There’s a hiking trail up to the lighthouse, but the driver took up straight to the lighthouse. At that time, it was quite gloomy with intermittent drizzle here and there. It was around 8:30 in the morning without a sun. The location did not help as well, as it was located on top of the hill, right on the seaside cliff. So, I wasn’t expecting to get blown by a strong wind. However, I was grateful enough it wasn’t rain at all, just some drizzles. I couldn’t imagine a day out and about in a beautiful landscape, hiking and all accompanied by rain!!

After short viewing in Sandiaojiao lighthouse, I was on a 30 minutes rides (this time with heavy rain) toward Longdong Bay Promontory. The whole east coast of Taiwan is basically a beautiful view. You can stop anywhere and a beautiful view of the seaside and Pacific Ocean are guaranteed. But, it has some of the places built as sea-view park, recreation area, and one of them is Longdong Bay Promontory/cape. It also has hiking trail which I did not take. You can read more about the hiking trail here.

Do be very careful when doing the hike or wander in the east coast, especially on its stone, since it maybe slippery and the pacific wave may also be dangerous to swimmer.

There’s at least one favorite place that you visit in a day that you love so much. For me that place was Bitoujiaou (literally means nose-head cape) Trail. I walked the trail for about 2,5 hours and met the taxi driver at the end of the trail. Bitoujiao trail is a nicely built trail, with all the stair and paved walkway. It starts at Bitou Elementary School, keep ascends and circling the hill, and ends at the fisherman village at the Bitou Main Road. The trail was well marked with directions that anybody can do it themselves. It was a friendly trail.

It passess (very) green hills, with the almost constant view of Pacific Ocean and the cliffs, and the rocks that seems more beautiful as a result of sea abrasion. During half of the trail, you will see the ocean, and the other half when you ascent filled with greenery. If you want, you can hike the trail until reaching the point lookout and then go back the same way that get you to the top. But, I tried to explore that lengthy trail and finished one on the fishing village. But honestly, the half of the trail is the best part. After that, it was a pretty mundane descent with nothing but greens on your left and right and it was getting quieter and quieter. I realized most of the hikers back through the same way so at one point, it was only me in the middle of that jungle. I longer heard the sound of the waves crashing to the cliffs, the path become more and more dense with greenery, getting more humid, and the only sounds that I heard was my footsteps, the birds, and the moves of the trees. I remembered at one point a felt a bit scared it anything attacked me from those trees. Seriously. But soon as I approached the end of the trail, I started hearing the chattering, the traffic sound, and the waves from the fisherman village.

After the trail, my guide brought me to the golden waterfall. The waterfall was located in Ruifang district. The color of the waterfall was almost golden, as a result of regular rainfall and the heavy metal elements that seeps through the old mines and get deposited in the riverbed. And yes, it was toxic.
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The area was actually once a gold mining location during the Japanese occupation in Taiwan. You can still even see the abandoned Mine selection plant.

​Since it was quite rare to find vegetarian restaurant along the street, my guide took me to Jiufen old street where foods were beyond abundance. Jiufen old street was actually not on my itineraries, but since time still allowed, I did not mind at all and I was very happy to be able to wander there. If you happen to visit Ruifang district, this old street is a must visit. There were so many food stalls and souvenirs, all were from locals and delicious. I came with only one purpose: To Eat since I was so starving.

From Jiufen Old Street, I was dropped off at my Airbnb in Ruifang since the next day I would visit the magnificent Shifen Waterfall.

I hope if you still doubt about visiting Taiwan, after you read my posts you go and book ahead your tickets 😉 Cheers, and stay tune for the next post.