Yilan City, the only county-governed city in Yilan, is located in the center of the Lanyang Plain and is the administrative center and transport hub of Yilan County. It is also home to many historical buildings, historic sites and century-old traditional handicrafts.
After referring to the 1904 fort map route and comparing it with Qing Dynasty documents, a public-friendly “Historical Route” has been proposed. It starts from Waiao Railway Station and ends at Zhaoying Temple, Zhongshan Road Section 3, at a total length of 18.2 km. Visitors can walk in the footsteps of Wu Sha as he led land reclamation efforts on the Lanyang Plain, as they learn about the deep historical significance and value of Danlan Old Trail.
Zhaoying Temple at the end of the “Historical Route” also marks the end of the Yilan Plain Line. It was built in 1808 and is a county-designated historic site. The temple is dedicated to Mazu, was the first temple built to worship the deity in the Yilan area and is the only Mazu temple in Taiwan that faces a mountain.
Other than the “Historical Route,” there are many attractions worth visiting in Yilan: "Jimmy Square" presents the works of picture book painter Jimmy in the form of installation art, replete with childlike and joyful fun; "Yilan Literature Museum," located in the old city center, is an example of ancient Japanese-style architecture an exudes nostalgia; the "Happiness Station" was renovated from an old Kuo-Kuang Motor Transportation Company Ltd. station, and the amusement area renovated from abandoned vehicles. Visitors can see colorful art works here that provide a sense of impending happiness and good fortune.
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