Updated: 2026-10-16 | Backfilled for 2026-09-29. Check official notices for current conditions.
The Jimmy Liao sights near Yilan Station work well as a short walk. See the suspended train at Diudiudang Forest, choose a few installations at Jimmy Plaza, and leave enough time for your return service.
With only half a day in Yilan City, do not try to squeeze the coast, hot springs and downtown into one route. The Yilan County tourism website’sJimmy Plaza and Diudiudang Forest attraction pageintroduces the public art opposite Yilan Station, Jimmy Plaza south of the station, and the picture-book themes in the station area. It is a good starting point for a city walk, but being near the station does not remove the need to cross roads safely. After leaving the station, check which side you are on, where to cross, and which entrance you need for the return trip. If you arrive by high-speed rail and transfer towards Yilan, use theTaiwan High Speed Rail guideto identify the actual HSR arrival station and onward transport. Yilan railway station is not an HSR station.
Start at the station; allow separate time for photos and rest
The county attraction page describes the steel trees and suspended green train at Diudiudang Forest, installations inspired by Jimmy Liao’s picture books. View the structure first from an open pedestrian area, then choose a photo spot that does not block others. The photograph shows the installations in 2016; it cannot confirm their current position, maintenance or event access. With children, watch the nearby roads and crowds, and do not let them leave the safe pedestrian area to chase a view of the train. The outdoor square may be sunny or wet in an afternoon shower. Shade, water and compact rain gear are more useful than an extra tripod.
Walking towards Jimmy Plaza, notice how the picture-book characters, luggage motifs and station-front space fit together. The Yilan tourism website’sYilan City themed guidelists the station, the Turn Left, Turn Right installations, Jimmy Park and the Happy Transfer Station as separate places. You need not see them all in half a day: choose two scenes that interest you most. Rest in an open place with seating when needed, rather than turning every installation into a mandatory photo stop. For another short route starting near a station, see theHsinchu old-center half-day walk. Station layouts, roads and return services differ, so do not copy its walking times.
| Half-day choice | How to plan it | Check First |
|---|---|---|
| Shortest visit | See the suspended train near the station and allow time to return safely. | Station exit, crossings and return service |
| Add Jimmy Plaza | Choose a few installations, rest when tired and skip the full checklist. | Current walking route, weather and crowds |
| Shorten in rain | Spend less time taking outdoor photos; favor sheltered transfers and breaks. | Walking surfaces, accessible space and departure times |
The county’sYilan Old Town walking suggestionalso connects the station, Diudiudang Forest and Jimmy Plaza as a starting point for a wider city route. It is one option, not a checklist everyone must finish in half a day. For museums or more distant streets, check opening hours, tickets and your group’s energy, then reduce photo time at the square. In rain, consult theTaiwan rainy-day itinerary guidefor alternative activities, but do not assume nearby indoor venues are open all day or can store luggage.
Returning or extending the walk: “nearby” still takes time
The sights near Yilan Station look close together, but walking to a platform, buying a ticket and waiting all take time. Before setting out, note whether your return uses TRA Yilan Station, a bus transfer point or another station; check the service and stop direction again before leaving. Do not plan your last connection around an old article’s timetable, particularly on holidays or in unsettled weather. If you will eat in Yilan City, allow for ordering, waiting and paying. Do not postpone the meal until just before boarding to take one more photo. With a stroller or luggage, choose the shortest route and turn back if construction, crowds or rain make it difficult. Even a brief stop lets you see the station-front public art.
Before combining the station square with a second walk, check the whole transport journey rather than the map’s straight-line distance. TheTamsui Old Street riverside half-day routealso starts with public transport followed by walking, but its waterfront and MRT connections differ from Yilan’s station area. Compare it for another day. Theshort Taipei Botanical Garden walkis another route that you can shorten as weather changes. In Yilan, the best use of half a day is to look closely at a few installations near the station, respect others using the square, and return calmly to the right departure point. The article photograph is a2016 Wikimedia Commons photo by Padai, used and resized underCC BY-SA 4.0. Check the latest notices for the present site layout.
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