Toucheng, Yilan

Toucheng (頭城) is a township in the northern coast of Yilan County, Taiwan.
* Area: 100.89 km²
* Population: 31,517 people (2008)

Transportation

Toucheng is served by the Yilan Line of Taiwan Railway Administration. Toucheng has more rail stations(three) than any other townships in Taiwan. There are seven stations along the route.

The township has recently seen a market increase in tourism due to the opening of the Freeway 5, (Chiang Wei-shui Memorial Freeway,) linking it with the Western area of Taipei. The freeway consists of a series of tunnels dug though the Snow Mountains, the longest of which measures 12.7 km (11.68 miles). The distance between Western Taipei and Toucheng is now 30km (18.75 miles) and takes roughly thirty minutes of driving, compared to several hours in the past.

Local attractions

The township has its fair share of fresh seafood restaurants and also a remarkable black sand beach,a surfer's attraction with a good view of the Turtle Island. (a national reservation, the only active volcano in Taiwan)

Several boat operators offer trips from the Wushish Harbor to Turtle Island and also for whale and dolphin watching.

The Juh-an River Bird sanctuary is another attraction of Toucheng.

Once the economic center of the area, the Ho-Ping street in Tocuheng is one of the few unaltered and typical Ching Dynasty Taiwanese urban structures.

See also

*Senkaku Islands