Navigating NEYC is straightforward, with multiple transport options suited for eco-tourism. Biking is particularly popular, with well-maintained paths allowing visitors to explore at a leisurely pace, enjoy coastal views, and connect with local attractions. For longer distances, local buses operate within the area and cover key tourist sites, making them an efficient and budget-friendly option. Visitors keen on outdoor adventures may also opt for canoe or sailboard rentals to explore the coastline from the water. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available as needed, ideal for flexible travel across NEYC’s diverse landscapes.
North East and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area
Sun, sand and sea are the basics
Why visit North East and Yilan Coast
NEYC is located in the North East of Taiwan that can be easily reached by a 60-100 minutes train ride from Taipei city. The coast length is 102.5 km with geological diverse landscapes and local fishing communities. Besides swimming and surfing, visitors can enjoy sailboarding, canoeing, dolphin-watching, biking, fishing and volcanic island observation.
The International Sand Sculpture Festival and HO-HAI-YAN Rock Music Festival are popular seasonal events to explore. NEYC is an ecotravel destination of various activities and native cultural life!
Destination’s sustainability performance
GOOD TRAVEL BUSINESSES
Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and activities that are committed to sustainability. Their efforts are summarised in a SCORECARD (click on the picture). For the Good Travel Seal, the higher the number of stars or the level (level 3 is the highest), the more aspects of sustainability are checked by an independent auditor.
- Accommodations
- Restaurants
- Activities
- Others
YILAN BUSINESSES
Good Travel Seal Level 2
With a tranquil and comfortable environment rooted in the principles of sustainable travel, we offer a unique island accommodation experience. Our seasonal eco-cultural tours blend local craftsmanship, nature exploration, and cultural heritage, allowing you to immerse yourself in the charm of Penghu. Committed to green hospitality, we implement energy-saving facilities and plastic reduction initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of travel. Whether you seek relaxation, hands-on crafting, or a leisurely stroll along the sea breeze-kissed shores, we invite you to savor the essence of slow travel in Penghu.
Being Outdoors B&B
Good Travel Seal Level 2
Being Outdoors offers the B&B service. The room is wood floor with bed or pad. Beside bed or pad ,you can sit at the wood floor and use more space. We are just near the Fulong station, and walk to the beach in ten minutes. Beside the beach, you can enjoy biking, hiking, etc. you can really involve the nature then back to home stay easy.
Beneficial Microbes Museum
Good Travel Seal Level 2
The Jun Baby Beneficial Microbes Museum aims to help more people understand what “bacteria” are by gradually unveiling the mysterious world of microorganisms. Visitors can explore the evolution and utilization processes of these bacteria through the exhibition hall and audiovisual room, gaining a deeper understanding of the microbial world.
Just Sleep Yilan Jiaoxi
Good Travel Seal Level 2
Just Sleep Yilan Jiaoxi is close to the lively Jiaoxi shopping district. The hotel offers sodium bicarbonate hot spring. The design hotel is a new sign in Jiaoxi district. The tourists can go to the famous sightseeing spot such as Wufongci Designated Scenic Area, Tangwei Brook Park and so on by walking.
K-R Bakery cafe
Good Travel Seal Level 2
K-R Bakery cafe supplies the delicious bread made by kiln & slate pizza & pour over coffee & homemade cookies to everyone.
Lakeshore Hotel Suao
Good Travel Seal Level 2
Lakeshore Hotel Suao is located in the peaceful and laid-back small town of Suao in Yilan. Nearby the Nangfanao Harbor, the hotel offers the world’s top-quality cold spring/hot spring and a breathtakingly beautiful sunrise from the sea. Travelers will meet the natural beauties of the four seasons, experience a very different hot spring hotel with the unique cold/hot springs, sunrise, and ocean view. We welcome you to enjoy the Suao-style luxury you deserve.
Culture & Local Life
Taiwan is a safe country (36th out of 163 countries nominated by Global the Peace Index) and the public transportation network is convenient to reach NEYC. Since 2020 the DMO has put effort into promting sustainability with local business, to reduce waste and protect the whole area. NEYC encourages tour operators to implement sustainable standards to make life in NEYC better and more responsible.
Sustainability In The Day By Day
NEYC started to implement the Green Destinations Program in 2016, and sustainability is the main commitment. The destination management organisation makes efforts to preserve its rich nature and culture heritage, using sustainable policy and building up monitoring systems to minimize the negative impact of tourism, including reduction of pollution, carbon emissions, waste, and saving energy. It started to monitor tourists and locals satisfaction to improve visitor management and conservation from 2019. Now, NEYC ecotravel is working on encouraging business sectors to adopt sustainable actions.
The Mao’ao Smile Bay Ecotourism Project, titled “The Sea Woman’s Dream,” focuses on reviving the local economy, preserving marine life, and enhancing the cultural heritage of Mao’ao Village in Taiwan. This initiative brings together the community, local government, and environmental groups to promote sustainable tourism through activities like the Sea Woman’s experiential tours and gelidium jelly production. By creating new income streams and educating visitors on environmental conservation, the project supports the local elderly community while protecting the fragile ecosystem. This sustainable model balances tourism, culture, and environmental preservation, ensuring Mao’ao remains a vibrant, resilient destination.
Nature & Wildlife
Hike and bike through a historical train tunnel.
Experience geological diversity along the coast.
Enjoying submarine hot spring scenery and wild dolphins along turtle island.
Unexpected pleasure surfing, snorkeling and gourmet seafood awaits you to explore!
Getting there
Reaching NEYC from Taipei is simple and scenic. A direct train journey from Taipei Main Station to NEYC takes between 60 and 100 minutes, offering views of Taiwan’s lush countryside and coastline. Trains are frequent, and the ride is comfortable, making it a great option for day trips or longer stays. For those preferring car travel, NEYC is easily accessible via the Suhua Highway, with well-marked routes. Alternatively, buses from Taipei also connect to the area, with services running regularly. Once there, local taxis are available to explore the various coastal and cultural sites.
Getting around
GOOD TRAVEL TIPS
Historical Old Caoling Loop Bicycle Line
Riding your bike through the Old Caoling Tunnel to Shicheng and connecting to the Northeast Coast bike lanes, and then following the Pacific Ocean coast line, past the Lai Lai erosion platforms, Magang Fishing Village, Mao’ao stone house and Sandiao Cape Lighthouse, you will be standing at the very east point of Taiwan and experience the coastal geology and plant ecology. After that you can tour the Maoao Fishing Village and return via Fulong. The entire journey is about 20 km. Also, Caoling Historic Trail is a branch of Tamsui-Kavalan Historical and Cultural Trails, an extensive network with a long history located across Taipei Basin and Yilan Plain. It allows hikers to see Taiwan’s rich ethnic heritage and beautiful natural landscapes Visitors can start off from Fulong.
Seaweed jelly for hot days!
Seaweed jelly is made with agar, a local specialty water plant of the Northeast Coast. February to April is the time for the harvest in the lunar calendar. Agar must be cooked so that it can turn into jelly for the gelatin that it contains. In fact, agar is rich in water soluble dietary fiber, gelatin and polysaccharide that can be used for food therapy. Fruits and flavorings can be added to the jelly. Seaweed jelly is chewy and smooth – a perfect, cooling dessert for a hot summer day!
Volcano Island with dolphins
The small, solitary Guishan Island is located about 10 km off the coast of Toucheng in Yilan County. It has a volcanic terrain that, from certain angles, looks like a turtle floating in the sea. Among the features of the island are high cliffs, steaming fumaroles, welling underwater hot springs, mountain peaks, sea-eroded caves, a lake, and unique cliff vegetation, as well as rich marine ecological resources. It is a perfect place to study volcanic terrain and the natural ecology. Dolphin-watching is a popular activity for tourists and it is recommend to choose dolphin friendly label tour operators to support responsible tourism. Taiwanese lily is also an attraction and the best season for flower viewing is in March and April.
Crabs on the wok’s edge
Guishan Island is the only active volcano in Taiwan where a new species of hydrothermal crab, Xenograpsus testudinatums – “Crabs on the wok’s edge” survives under such a harsh environment. It is an active volcano with high-temperature hydrothermal vents that spew sulfuric acid and extremely toxic volcanic gases. Steam and sulfur from the ubiquitous hydrothermal vents fill the water. It’s a forbidding environment just like the wasteland resulting from a volcanic eruption. The crab is an endemic species of Taiwan which is toxic and inedible.
Suggested trips and tours
To enjoy the full experience of NEYC ecotravel, you can participate in one of these trips and tours:
- Hitorical Old Caoling Loop Bicycle LINE 20KM.
- Marine and Island Tourism – Experience Turtle Island – Whale Watching or Volcano Island Guishan Island Ecological day tour.
- Fishing Community Tourism – Traditional fish-catching.
Useful information
It’s beneficial to hold on to these important number during your NEYC Ecotravel visit.
Tourism Bureau 24-Hour Toll-Free Travel Information Hotline: 0800-011765.
Emergency numbers: 119. Taiwan’s country code is +886. In case of real emergency, please use 112. This number is the emergency number for fire, police and ambulance throughout Taiwan. For more information-Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area Administration please visit this website or Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
Sustainability Recognitions
NEYC was selected in the Top 100 Stories Competition for four successive years:
2020 – 2024.
NEYC received the Green Destination Gold Award in 2024.
In 2020 NEYC’s Good Practice Story was selected as Best of Asia Pacific
Copyright © Good Travel Guide, 2026
Important Notice: Awards, seals, recognitions, and competition results presented on this website do not constitute certification unless explicitly stated as “GSTC-certified against Green Destinations Standard” following independent third-party conformity assessment.
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