The next highlight of the trip is travelling to Yilan. Yilan is a scenic region on Taiwan’s northeast coast, known for its relaxed pace, natural beauty, and strong local culture. Just a short journey from Taipei, it offers a refreshing contrast to the city with its lush rice fields, coastal landscapes, and mountain backdrops.

The area is especially famous for the hot springs in Jiaoxi, where visitors can unwind in mineral-rich waters. Yilan also has a vibrant food scene, with specialties like scallion pancakes and fresh seafood reflecting its agricultural roots. Cultural spots such as the National Center for Traditional Arts showcase traditional crafts, performances, and architecture, giving insight into Taiwan’s heritage.

This time, our visit to Yilan took a different turn. Instead of soaking in the region’s famous hot springs, we focused on exploring its many kid-friendly attractions, making it a fun and engaging stop for the whole family.

Yilan turned out to be a great destination for children, with interactive museums, spacious outdoor areas, and hands-on experiences that kept everyone entertained. From creative parks to playful learning spaces, the region offers plenty of opportunities for kids to explore, imagine, and burn off energy in a safe and welcoming environment.

The slower pace of Yilan, compared to Taipei, also made it easier to travel with children, giving us more time to enjoy each stop without feeling rushed. Overall, it was a refreshing and family-friendly way to experience a different side of Yilan.

There are various ways of travelling to Yilan. This time round, as per Harvey’s request, we took a local train instead. The journey from Taoyuan to Yilan took about 1.5 hours, offering scenic views along the way. Harvey enjoyed every bit of it, making the ride just as memorable as the destination itself.

So where do we go in Yilan?

Taxi Museum

We visited the Taxi Museum, a place Harvey had been eagerly looking forward to since the beginning of the year. Dedicated entirely to taxis, the museum features a colourful collection of vintage cars, models, and memorabilia from around the world.

What made it especially enjoyable was how interactive and kid-friendly it was, with hands-on exhibits and playful displays that kept Harvey engaged throughout. For a taxi lover, it was easily one of the highlights of our time in Yilan.

Inside, you’ll find a surprisingly large collection, including vintage taxis from different countries and eras, as well as over a thousand taxi-related items ranging from model cars to unique memorabilia. There are also classic models like the iconic London cab and New York-style taxis, making it feel like stepping back in time.

Lucky Art Crayon Factory

We visited the Lucky Art Crayon Factory, a colourful and highly interactive attraction that’s perfect for kids. Housed in a bright, crayon-themed building, it offers hands-on experiences where children can create their own crayons, markers, and other crafts.

The factory is one of the few remaining crayon manufacturers in Taiwan, now transformed into a fun “tourism factory” that encourages creativity and play.

With its mix of DIY activities, playful spaces, and vibrant atmosphere, it felt less like a traditional factory and more like a creative playground—making it a memorable stop for families visiting Yilan. Harvey definitely has a lot of fun there!

Inside, there are several DIY stations where we can:

• Colour and draw using different crayon techniques
• Make your own markers to bring home
• Create personalised crayons by choosing shapes, colours, and designs
• Try crayon imprinting and pressing activities
• Enjoy body painting or face painting

There are also playful extras like costume corners where kids can dress up, making the whole place feel more like a creative playground than a factory. Most of the activities are included in the ticket, and you get to keep what you make—so it doubles as a fun souvenir from Yilan.

Our trip to Yilan was a fun and memorable family getaway filled with simple joys and child-friendly adventures. Instead of focusing on hot springs, we explored a different side of Yilan that suited Harvey perfectly.

We travelled by local train from Taoyuan, a journey of about 1.5 hours that Harvey enjoyed from start to finish. The trip itself already felt like part of the adventure.

A major highlight for Harvey was the Taxi Museum, which he had been excited about for months. The collection of vintage taxis and interactive displays made it both fun and memorable, especially for a little taxi enthusiast.

We also visited the Lucky Art Crayon Factory, where Harvey got to take part in hands-on DIY activities like making crayons and colouring creations. It felt more like a creative playground than a factory, and kept him happily engaged throughout.

Overall, Yilan offered us a relaxed, family-friendly escape with plenty of interactive experiences for kids, making it a trip full of laughter, learning, and lasting memories.