The short answer
For most travelers, going straight to Luodong is easiest.
Use Luodong as the hub for Dongshan, Wujie and central Luodong. Head east to the river and NCFTA by day, then return to the night market in the evening.
If Luodong Night Market, Dongshan River Water Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts, or a stay around Dongshan River is your goal, use Luodong Station or Luodong Transfer Station as your first hub. Getting off at Yilan Station usually adds another southbound transfer.
TRA is the most reliable choice on busy weekends because it avoids National Freeway 5 traffic. Kamalan Bus 1917 is convenient with luggage because it runs from Taipei Bus Station to Luodong Transfer Station. In Luodong, walk to central sights or continue by Green 21, route 621, route 281, or a short taxi ride.
- Best all-round
- TRA train to Luodong
- The official reference journey is about 1 hr 19 min and avoids freeway traffic.
- Easy with luggage
- Kamalan Bus 1917
- Taipei Bus Station to Luodong Transfer Station; scheduled from about 72 minutes.
- Local sightseeing
- Green 21 Dongshan River Route
- Links the forestry park, night market, water park and NCFTA.
Taipei to Luodong
Train for reliability, bus for simplicity, car for flexibility.
Times and fares below were checked in July 2026 and are planning estimates. Confirm the exact service, seat and fare on the operator's official site before departure.
Train | Taipei Main Station to Luodong
Take an east-coast TRA service from Taipei Main Station to Luodong. Reserved Puyuma, Taroko and Tze-Chiang services are faster; local services take longer.
- Typical journey
- About 1 hr 19 min
- Adult one way
- About NT$214–332 by train type
- Best for
- Weekends, predictable timing and local bus connections
Bus | Kamalan 1917 from Taipei Bus Station
Taipei Bus Station is north of Taipei Main Station beside Q Square. Route 1917 runs via National Freeway 5 to Luodong Transfer Station, but weekend traffic through the tunnel can add substantial time.
- Scheduled journey
- From about 72 min; longer in traffic
- Adult one way
- About NT$121–150 by coach type
- Best for
- Staying near Taipei Main Station and traveling with luggage
Drive | National Freeway 5 to Luodong
Taipei to Luodong is roughly 60 km. Driving makes Meihua Lake, Sanqi Beauty Trail and the river corridor much easier to combine, but southbound weekend and Sunday return traffic require a large buffer.
- In clear traffic
- About 60–80 min
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Best for
- Families, groups and several rural stops
Train | Taipei Main Station to Luodong
- 1Search Taipei → Luodong on the Taiwan Railways website or app. The sights in this guide are mainly around Luodong, Dongshan and Wujie, not Yilan City.
- 2Reserved trains require a ticket for that service. Book ahead for Friday evenings, weekends, public holidays and the summer folklore festival.
- 3At Luodong, use the front exit for the night market. The rear exit leads to Luodong Transfer Station for Green 21, routes 621 and 281, and highway buses.
Bus | Kamalan 1917 from Taipei Bus Station
- 1Follow signs for Taipei Bus Station / Q Square from Taipei Main Station. If it is your first visit, allow an extra 10–15 minutes to find the departure bay.
- 2Check that you are boarding Kamalan Bus 1917 for Luodong. Some departures can be reserved, and the fare differs between three- and four-seat rows.
- 3From Taipei's Xinyi district, Capital Bus 1570 from Taipei City Hall Bus Station is a useful alternative; it does not leave from Taipei Main Station.
Drive | National Freeway 5 to Luodong
- 1Navigate to your first actual stop rather than simply to Yilan. Luodong Interchange is usually the useful exit for Luodong, Wujie and Dongshan.
- 2Check the Freeway 1968 service and any high-occupancy restrictions before a holiday trip. Do not plan around a normal weekday travel time.
- 3Parking near the night market takes time. Leaving the car at your accommodation and taking a taxi into central Luodong can be more comfortable.
After reaching Luodong
How to continue to the night market, water park and major sights
The station's front side is best for walking into central Luodong; the rear side connects to the transfer station. Green 21 is the most useful sightseeing spine, but it does not run as frequently as a city bus in Taipei—check the return before getting off.
Luodong Night Market
Walk west along Gongzheng Road toward Zhongshan Park. The market fills the streets around the park and Minsheng Road. On busy evenings, include crowd and walking time in your return plan.
Green 21 also stops at Gongzheng Elementary School (Luodong Night Market). A short taxi is useful with children or in rain.
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk north along Zhongzheng North Road, or take Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station to the forestry park stop.
It works well as your first stop after arrival and pairs naturally with the night market on the same trip into central Luodong.
Dongshan River Water Park
Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Dongshan River Water Park. During major events, follow the organizer's temporary shuttle notices.
Green 21 has limited departures. With swim gear, luggage or a larger group, a one-way taxi is often worth it.
National Center for Traditional Arts
Take Green 21 or Kamalan Bus 621 to the National Center for Traditional Arts. Check the correct bay because the two routes have different schedules.
Seasonal boats may connect the NCFTA and water park, but do not rely on the boat as year-round transport.
Dongshan River EcoArk
Take a local train from Luodong to Dongshan Station. The EcoArk entrance is close to the station; not every reserved express stops at Dongshan.
Pair it with Dongshan Old Street or the riverside cycle route, and check the local train back before you start walking.
Meihua Lake
Take route 281 toward Ren Shan Botanical Garden from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Meihua Lake. Check both outbound and return departures because service is infrequent.
Old guides may still mention Green 25, which stopped running in 2026. Use route 281, another currently announced service, or a taxi.
A workable car-free plan
One day and one night, with taxis only for the awkward final legs
This order keeps the walkable stop first and the Green 21 corridor in the afternoon. Drop luggage at your accommodation before visiting the night market. Adjust every time to the train and bus you actually book.
For a day trip, walk from the night market back to Luodong Station and take a train to Taipei. Confirm the last suitable reserved train before buying and allow time for weekend station crowds.
- 09:00
01
Leave Taipei Main Station
Take a reserved train and aim to reach Luodong by about 10:30.
- 10:30
02
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk from the station, spend 1–1.5 hours, then have lunch near the station.
- 13:00
03
Green 21 toward Dongshan River
Choose either the water park or NCFTA for a longer visit; add both only if the timetable works.
- 17:00
04
Check in near Dongshan River
With luggage, take a taxi from the attraction or Luodong Transfer Station and rest first.
- 18:30
05
Dinner at Luodong Night Market
Travel light and take a taxi back, rather than building the evening around the last local bus.
Four things before departure
Treat the timetable as the structure of your day.
Reserved TRA services, route 1917 and freeway conditions all change. Check once the day before and again before leaving—do not rely only on a search-result snippet.
Yilan local buses accept EasyCard, iPASS and icash. Tap when boarding and alighting. Bring exact change if paying cash; drivers do not give change.
Green 21 reaches the most sights, but its spacing is closer to hourly than to a Taipei city bus. Save both outbound and return times before boarding.
The folklore festival, holidays, heavy rain and typhoons can change routes and opening arrangements. Check same-day notices for the water park and boats.
Connect the journey to your stay
Do not force one more transfer on the final leg.
Water Edge Garden sits between Dongshan River and open fields. With luggage from Luodong Station, the transfer station or the water park, a short taxi is usually the clearest last leg. Include the fare and wait in your plan, and use the booking contact to confirm arrival arrangements.
Sources and pre-trip checks
Confirm the day's service on official pages.
This guide cross-checks Yilan County Government, Taiwan Railways, the Highway Bureau's iBus service, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle and the Tourism Administration. Reopen these links before you travel.
- Getting to YilanYilan Travel · Yilan County Government
- Train times and fare searchTaiwan Railway Corporation
- Route 1917, fares and live arrivalsiBus · Highway Bureau
- Green 21 Dongshan River RouteTaiwan Tourist Shuttle
- Local transport and bus fares in YilanYilan Travel · Yilan County Government
- Water park and NCFTA transportTourism Administration, MOTC
Last checked 24 July 2026. Travel times are planning estimates and exclude waiting, walking, congestion and temporary changes. Fares, departures, bays, event shuttles and boats are subject to the operator's same-day notice.