Postcard Getaway

Discover the Charm of Capybaras in Yilan for a Unique Wildlife Experience

Written by Kaelie Piscitello

Yilan has beautiful mountains covered in luscious greenery and access to many fun winter activities. There are also many spots to hike and take in the beautiful nature nearby. 

For the spring and summer months, Yilan has beautiful beaches. On the train ride there, I could glimpse sights of the blue Pacific and take in lovely views of the sunset, especially on the way home Sunday evening.

Transportation in Yilan

I found getting around Yilan easy. My friends and I took the National Taiwan Railway from Taipei Main Station to Luodong and back. Once we were in Yilan County, it was easy for everyone to take cheap local trains with our easy cards from township to township.

During this trip, I discovered that Yilan’s buses arrive on time, and I did not have to worry about whether they will show up, as can sometimes happen in other parts of Taiwan.

Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm

I absolutely loved visiting Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm. It was a highlight of my trip. Travelers can choose a few different packages depending on what they want to experience. The package I purchased included a make-your-own mochi class, handmade snacks, and spending time with the animals.

During the mochi-making experience, my friends and I spent about 45 minutes pounding white rice into authentic mochi with a mortar. The mochi pounding was a great way to relieve any stress from work or life. The farm brought us packaging to take our treats home and a sugary peanut dip for a sweet flavor.

During the snack part of my experience, everyone ordered a scallion pancake because people know Yilan for its locally grown scallions. The pancake had a delicious, crispy texture and tasted savory and salty.

Of course, the best part of the farms was the animals! They had an interesting mix of animals from Australia and South America, including alpacas, wallabies, and capybaras. The animals acted incredibly friendly and loved eating the grass the farm gave us to feed them. A couple of the deer fought over the grass, but most of them politely bowed to me in exchange for their snacks. If you ran out of grass, you could get more by posting an Instagram story that tags the farm.

Everyone in my group felt most excited to see the capybaras because our young Taiwanese students influenced us with their love for them. The farm left out oranges for visitors to balance on the capybara’s heads. They also had baby capybaras walking around under a year old. They were adorable!

Furthermore, I loved interacting with a large tortoise and albino wallabies with bright red eyes. I also met my first alpacas and had the opportunity to sit with them while they rested. I loved visiting this farm. I can’t say it enough.

The Luodong Night Market

At the end of my first night, I stopped in Yilan City on the way to the hotel and explored Luodong Night Market for dinner. I got my usual fix and enjoyed eating my favourite peanut ice cream roll. 

I also enjoyed a duck burrito of Beijing roast duck at a great price. People typically order Beijing roast duck at a higher-end restaurant, so I loved trying it at a local stand. I felt disappointed by the mozzarella sticks I ordered because they were higher priced, and I only received four. I wouldn’t order them again.

More Delicious Eats

My friends and I sampled a Cantonese soup restaurant during my second day in Yilan. I savored an herbal soup for the first time, and it tasted different than what I’ve ever eaten before. The soup included a black chicken, natural herbs, and many other healthy ingredients.

The handmade flat noodles I ordered also tasted fantabulous. I wish we got two helpings of them so I could have eaten more. I also enjoyed sipping a strawberry-flavored Thai milk tea from a stand outside of the restaurant.

The Hot Springs

Many know Yilan for its easy access to cheap but great-quality local hot springs. While I was there, my friends and I chose to use the free public foot bath. The baths only open at certain times of the day, and they drain when they are not in use. So, they stay sanitary for all users.

I did not do this, but travelers can also take a pukka fish foot bath or foot pedicure, in which pukka fish eat away the dead skin on your feet.

The pukka fish leave feet smooth and supple. Some people find the fish ticklish but not painful, and many enjoy the experience.

My friends and I chose to experience a public foot bath. We joined a group of grandmas, who shared fruit with us while we enjoyed the foot bath.

The bath water felt hotter the closer I sat to the faucet, so my friends and I chose our seats depending on the temperatures we could tolerate. I visited YIlan on a chilly weekend and loved the moment to warm my legs in the comfortable water after walking around in the cold all day.