Jiaosi 礁溪

Take a day trip to this tranquil township
Popular plate: Luodong Night Market is famous for 米粉羹 (vermicelli noodles in hot and sour broth), 一串心 (skewered meat and veggies), and 包心粉圓 (tapioca pearls with sweet red bean paste).

Word to the wise: Advance reservations are needed to visit Turtle Island (open March-November). April to August is the best time to see bottlenose dolphins and whales.
Located 50 minutes from Taipei on the fan-shaped Lanyang Plain, the idyllic seaside village of Jiaosi - once a red light district - is now a tranquil respite, surrounded by emerald rice fields, bubbling hot springs and ample opportunities for hiking and admiring the area’s many species of flora.

Visit Wufengchi Scenic Area for easy hikes with views of the 60m tall Wufengchi Waterfalls, Turtle Island and the coast. The neighbouring township of Luodong is famous for its National Center for Traditional Arts (Wubin Road, +886 3 970 5815), a 24-hectare interactive folk museum.

In the opposite direction of Luodong is Toucheng with the fascinating Lanyang Museum (750 Qingyun Road, +886 3 977 9700) with four floors of Yilan exhibits.

To get here, take the Yilan Line train from Taipei to Jiaosi, or take Capital Bus from Taipei City Hall Bus Station (NTD 90) or Kamalan Bus from opposite Technology Building MRT station (NTD 104).