North of Toucheng, the coast road (Highway 2) and the railway squeeze between the mountains and the Pacific, with Guishan Island offshore the whole way. The Yilan stretch runs through Wai'ao, Daxi, Dali and Shicheng to the county line, and Fulong, in New Taipei, is just beyond. The day we'd send you on is the Caoling Historic Trail: train to Dali, walk over the hills to Fulong, train back. It's at its best in the November silvergrass season, but check that it has reopened first.
- Train TRA Local trains only to Dali, about 35 minutes from Yilan Station, NT$68; about 20 a day each way
- Bus G19 Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Northeast Coast Line (Green 19) from Jiaoxi Transfer Station via Toucheng, Daxi and Dali, 5 trips a day
- By car CAR Highway 2 north from Toucheng; the Dali visitor center is at about km 118.5
- Status Caoling Historic Trail closed after a typhoon, listed as closed until November 13, 2026 (see below)
Closed after the October typhoon: the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area's list, updated October 30, 2026, shows all three sections of the Caoling Historic Trail (north, Dali and Daxi) closed for repairs from October 22 to November 13, 2026. Beiguan Tidal Park has been closed since October 25 and Fulong Beach since October 22, both until further notice. The Old Caoling Tunnel cycle path reopened on October 25 and the Shicheng service area on October 29. Check the scenic area's latest news before you go.
Getting there
Only local trains stop at Dali Station (大里車站). On the Saturday timetable we checked (November 14, 2026), about 20 ran each way, every 40 to 80 minutes, taking 34 to 49 minutes from Yilan Station. The last one back from Dali to Yilan left at 23:03. They take your EasyCard. Fulong Station (福隆車站), at the other end of the trail, has more trains, including some fast ones: about 30 a day to Yilan, 30 to 60 minutes, NT$86 on a local train. That's why we'd walk the trail from Dali to Fulong and not the other way: you finish where the trains are. From Taipei Main Station to Dali, local trains take about 1.5 to 2 hours, NT$137.
The Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Northeast Coast Line (Green 19) G19 runs from Jiaoxi Transfer Station (礁溪轉運站) through Toucheng, past Wai'ao, Beiguan and Daxi harbor, to the Tiangong Temple (Dali visitor center) stop and on to Magang below the Sandiaojiao Lighthouse. It runs only five times a day, so note the time of the bus back before you set off. → Local buses
Dali Tiangong Temple
- Hours Weekdays 09:00 to 17:00, weekends and holidays 08:00 to 18:00
- Entry Free
- Address No. 33, Section 7, Binhai Road, Toucheng
- Getting there About 5 minutes' walk from Dali Station; G19 to the Tiangong Temple stop
Dali Tiangong Temple (大里天公廟), also called Qingyun Temple (慶雲宮), is dedicated to the Jade Emperor and dates from 1836. It sits between the hills and the sea, looking out to Guishan Island, and the view of the waves from here, "Dali watching the tide", was once named one of the Eight Views of Lanyang. Its festival day is the ninth day of the first lunar month. Small shops by the temple sell local snacks such as whitebait soup and agar jelly (石花凍).
Next door, the Dali Visitor Center (大里遊客中心) (09:00 to 17:00, free) is worth a few minutes before you start. It has trail information and an 80-seat film room showing short films on the hour from 10:00 to 16:00. Out front is a copy of the trail's Tiger Stele, where you can try a rubbing.
The Caoling Historic Trail
The Caoling Historic Trail (草嶺古道) is an 8.5 km path over the hills between Dali and Yuanwangkeng (遠望坑) near Fulong. It was once the main road between Taipei and Yilan and is one of the surviving parts of the old Tamsui to Kavalan trails (淡蘭古道). It climbs through broadleaf forest and tree ferns, past two stone inscriptions left by the Qing general Liu Ming-deng (劉明燈), the Tiger Stele (虎字碑) and the Xiongzhen Manyan stele (雄鎮蠻煙) of 1867, to the pass (埡口), where a pavilion looks out over the sea to Guishan Island. In the hills, a ranger station rebuilt in the old style sells simple food and drinks.
Silvergrass season. In November the northeast monsoon blows the white silvergrass across the hilltops, and the pass turns silver. The scenic area's 2026 Caoling Silvergrass Festival (草嶺古道芒花季) was moved because of the typhoon damage, and now runs on Saturdays and Sundays from November 14 to December 13, 2026, with a weekend market, rubbings at the Tiger Stele and guided walks. See the festival's official page.
- From the Dali end: the trailhead is beside the temple, about 400 m from Dali Station.
- From the Fulong end: the trailhead is at Yuanwangkeng Water Park (遠望坑親水公園), about 4.5 km and an hour's walk from Fulong Station, or 1.5 km from the Yuanwangkeng stop of Keelung Bus 791.
- Bring layers, rain gear, plenty of water and shoes with grip: the weather on the hill changes fast. Don't pick the silvergrass. You can be fined for it.
Daxi fishing harbor
Daxi Fishing Harbor (大溪漁港), one stop south of Dali on the train, is near the Guishan Island fishing grounds. The boats come in from about 14:00 to 15:00 and the catch is auctioned on the quay, so time your visit for the afternoon if you want to see it. The big harbor market building next door has seafood restaurants and dried goods. Just north is Honeymoon Bay (蜜月灣), a crescent of sand between the rocks with surf big enough for national contests. → Surfing · Toucheng
Fulong
Over the county line in New Taipei, Fulong has a long sandy beach where a river meets the sea, and the Old Caoling Tunnel (舊草嶺隧道), a 1924 railway tunnel turned cycle path that comes out at Shicheng on the Yilan side. The beach is closed for repairs (above), but the tunnel has reopened. Fulong is Taipei's side of the coast, and Inside Taipei's Fulong day trip covers the beach, the tunnel and the bike hire.
→ More waterfalls and hikes in Yilan · More day trips from Yilan
Sources: Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area: typhoon closures and reopenings (updated October 30, 2026), silvergrass festival postponement (October 27, 2026), 2026 Caoling Silvergrass Festival, Caoling Historic Trail, Dali Tiangong Temple, Dali Visitor Center, Daxi Fishing Harbor, Honeymoon Bay, Old Caoling Tunnel; Taiwan Railway timetable and fare search (Yilan, Dali, Fulong and Taipei, November 14, 2026); Taiwan Tourist Shuttle. Checked November 2026.