With Taiwan’s visa-free extension for Filipinos, now is the best time to discover and explore the country.
Less than two hours away via Philippines AirAsia flight from Clark International Airport, Taiwan offers both urban and rural enjoyment.
After exploring famous temples and night markets in Taipei City, tourists can escape to Yilan County to reconnect with nature.
Yilan County is located in northeast Taiwan, a 45 minute-drive from Taipei City.
For a hassle-free transfer from the city to Yilan, travellers can book a ride with Tripool, a point-to-point service where travellers can book online (www.tripool.app).
Yilan County is surrounded with vast plains of green fields, mountains on three sides, with the ocean on the east side. It is best known for its hot springs, vegetable produce, fresh seafood and wine.
One of the two cold springs in the world can be found in Yilan County. The Su’ao Cold Spring has a temperature of 22 degrees Celcius all year round. It’s pH value is 5.5 and is abundant in carbonate and sodium ions. It is the only bicarbonate spring in Taiwan.
Most hotels and accommodation in the area have in-house hot springs right inside their rooms.
Westin Yilan Resort is one of the best places to stay in the area. Their rooms offer a luxurious ambience with upscale services including a mineral-enriched hot spring right across your bed.
The Westin (www.westin-yilan.com) also offers flavourful dishes including fresh seafoods and home-made desserts.
Another resort hotel that offers high-end services is the Guan Xiang Century Resort Hotel (https://www.hotspring-hotel.com.tw). Aside from top notch room amenities and services, they also offer personal hot springs and 16 spring bath houses including outdoor spring areas.
But for budget conscious travellers, Just Sleep (www.justsleep.com.tw) hotel is the best place to go. This Japanese-inspired hotel is located in the popular business district of Jiaoxi. Their rooms also offer private hot spring pools.
Aside from its hot springs, Yilan County is home to Turtle Island which has been named as one of the Top 12 Coolest Islands in the World.
The island is abundant in primitive natural resources and wildlife. Over 10 cetacean species including whales, dolphins and porpoises appear in March and November in the waters around the island.
It is also in Yilan County where tourists can find the Kavalan Whisky Distillery that has received awards as the best single malt whiskey by the World Whiskies Awards in 2015 and 2016.
The distillery’s oak barrels had been treated with high temperature flaming that gives whiskey a deep color.
Before leaving Yilan, tourists can buy food souvenirs from the I-llan Cake shop (www.i-cake.com.tw) which sells the thinnest biscuit in the world that measures 0.1 centimeters. They also offer other pastries like pineapple cakes and almond crisps.
The Yilan government is encouraging Filipinos to come to their county. Every year, about 4,000 to 5,000 Filipinos come to this area but the local government is expecting an increase since the relaxation of the visa requirement in their country.
Just Sleep hotel at Jioaxi, Yilan.