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.
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
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.
GOOD BUSINESSES
Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions that are commited to responsible development
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
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!
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.
Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area (NEYC) submitted a Good Practice Story in 2021. It was about a small and aged fishing village in Taiwan responds to over tourism through awareness and education.
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
- Activities
- Restaurants
- Others
Being Outdoors B&B
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.
Yamagata Kaku Hotel & Spa
Escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life into a hidden paradise deep in the Lanyang Plain. Sit peacefully while enjoying the views from Yamagata Kaku Hotel & Spa and experience the history and culture of the Kavalan lands; lose yourself in time and space and feel as if you’re enjoying the rural countryside
The Easy Space B&B
The Easy Space, a space to ease your pace. The Easy Space B&B was established since 2015 and soon became the top rated B&B in Northeast Coast National Scenic Area of Taiwan. We’re next to the San Diego Cape which is located on the easternmost point of Taiwan, and we’re only 6 min driving distance from Fulong Train Station which is easy to reach from Taipei.
Fullon Hotel Fulong
Fullon Hotel Fulong, situated on the north east side of Taiwan offers villa and hotel accommodation. The azure sky, the golden blazing sun, and a beach that stretches beyond where the eyes can see – are all in front of a picuresque backdrop surrounded by mountains and a sailboat dotted ocean. The brand new hotel has 174 exquisite rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, hot springs, Chinese and Western restaurants, outdoor BBQ banquet, as well as a sauna, gym, spa, children’s playground and so much more.
Historical Hardware Cottage B&B
The historic small hardware store, which used to be the laundry place of this mine, is now a historical residence in Jinguashi, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Most interestingly, this house is probably one of the smallest houses currently available for rent; although it is a historic house, it has been renovated with modern interiors. The house has a mini kitchen, living room, large bathroom and bedroom. The house turned into a totally surprising tiny house. Passengers can easily arrive by low-carbon means of transportation, and the house stays and maintains an environmentally sustainable strategy.
Gang-Kou Community Association
Gang-Kou Community is located in the coast of Yilan, the northeast corner of Taiwan. Agriculture and fishery are the main industry of local. To promote and preserve the century-old local fishery cultural tradition-Qiangu. Gang-Kou welcome everyone to explore the community and experience “Qiangu Activities”.
Our community is just next to the surfing destination of Wushi Fishing Harbor, tourists can also enjoy the seaside scenery and plan a whale watching to turtle island in the trip.
Be sure to reserve before your visit.
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
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 RECOGNITION
NEYC was selected as one of Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories for three successive years:
2020 – 2023.
In 2024 NEYC achieved the Green Destination Gold Award.
In 2020 NEYC’s Good Practice Story was selected as Best of Asia Pacific
What does it mean?
- They have shown at least 60% compliance with the Green Destinations Core Criteria.
- They have submitted a story that was selected to the list for its innovative, effective and / or transferable good management practice.
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We are a multicultural, creative and dedicated team working to promote sustainable tourism. Join us in our fight against the climate crisis, single-use plastics and over-tourism!
