The short answer
Take early train 272 for a one-seat ride; otherwise plan one transfer in the north.
At the time of checking, TRA train 272 left Miaoli early each morning, stopped in Hsinchu and continued around Taipei onto the Yilan line. If it is too early, take TRA to Banqiao or Taipei and change for the east coast, or use HSR to Nangang and bus 1878/1879 when you are already near an HSR station.
Start by choosing the correct station. TRA Hsinchu is downtown; Hsinchu HSR is in Zhubei and connects to TRA Liujia. TRA Miaoli is in Miaoli City; Miaoli HSR is in Houlong and connects to TRA Fengfu. A detour from downtown to HSR is not automatically faster.
Use Luodong as your hub for Luodong Night Market, Dongshan River Water Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts and accommodation along the river. Travel only as far as Jiaoxi for the hot-spring district, or Yilan for the city centre and Jimmy Park.
- Early through train
- TRA 272
- Checked times were about 05:27 from Miaoli, 05:55 from Hsinchu, 09:20 at Yilan and 09:30 at Luodong. Recheck your travel date.
- From city centres
- TRA via Banqiao/Taipei
- Allow roughly 2.5–3.5 hours from Hsinchu or 3–4.5 hours from Miaoli, depending on the trains and connection.
- From HSR areas
- HSR → Nangang → 1878/1879
- Bus 1878 serves Yilan; 1879 serves Wujie and Luodong. Tickets are separate and Freeway 5 traffic affects the final leg.
From Hsinchu and Miaoli · west coast to Yilan
Start with TRA from the city, use Nangang when HSR is convenient, and drive for groups with rural stops.
Routes were checked on 24 July 2026. Train 272, reserved east-coast seats, buses 1878/1879 and Freeway 5 restrictions can all change, so build the day around official timetables and reopen them before departure.
TRA｜Through train 272, or change in Banqiao/Taipei
TRA Hsinchu or Miaoli is the simplest starting point from town. Train 272 ran through to Yilan and Luodong when checked; at other times, take a northbound train and change to an east-coast service in Banqiao or Taipei.
- Typical journey
- Hsinchu 2.5–3.5 hours; Miaoli 3–4.5 hours
- Adult one way
- Varies by train and ticketed sections; check TRA
- Best for
- City-centre starts, avoiding road traffic and the early through train
HSR plus highway bus｜Nangang to Yilan or Luodong
Take HSR north to Nangang, then follow signs to Nangang Bus Station West. Bus 1878 goes to Yilan; 1879 continues via Wujie to Luodong. The interchange is clear, though the bus still shares Freeway 5 traffic.
- Scheduled journey
- Hsinchu 2–3 hours; Miaoli 2.5–3.5 hours
- Adult one way
- Separate HSR and bus tickets; varies by train and seat
- Best for
- Zhubei, Houlong and travellers already near HSR
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 1/3 to Freeway 5
Join Freeway 1 or 3 northbound, then use Freeway 3 and Freeway 5 through the Hsuehshan Tunnel. It is flexible in flowing traffic, but weekend and holiday queues can add several hours.
- In clear traffic
- Clear traffic: Hsinchu 2–2.5 hr; Miaoli 2.5–3.5 hr
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls, parking or private-transfer fee
- Best for
- Families, large bags, Meihua Lake and multiple rural stops
TRA｜Through train 272, or change in Banqiao/Taipei
- 1Search your exact date from Hsinchu or Miaoli to Yilan/Luodong. Checked train 272 times were about 05:27 Miaoli, 05:55 Hsinchu, 09:20 Yilan and 09:30 Luodong; the current TRA timetable always takes priority.
- 2If 272 is too early, ticket the first leg to Banqiao or Taipei and reserve the east-coast train separately or as one itinerary. With bags, leave 15–25 minutes rather than forcing a very tight transfer.
- 3Book to Jiaoxi for the hot springs, Yilan for the city and Jimmy Park, or Luodong for the night market, Dongshan River, Wujie and nearby accommodation.
HSR plus highway bus｜Nangang to Yilan or Luodong
- 1Hsinchu HSR is not TRA Hsinchu; it connects by passageway to TRA Liujia. Miaoli HSR is not TRA Miaoli; Exit 5 connects to TRA Fengfu. Include the trip to the HSR station in your comparison.
- 2At Nangang, follow station signs to Nangang Bus Station West. Check 1878 for Yilan city or 1879 for Wujie, Luodong and the Dongshan River area, including reservation and platform details.
- 3If Freeway 1968 shows severe congestion, change to an east-coast TRA train at Nangang or Taipei instead. Scheduled bus time is not a reliable comparison on holiday weekends.
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 1/3 to Freeway 5
- 1Set the first attraction or the full accommodation address as the destination, not simply ‘Yilan’. Jiaoxi, Yilan city, Wujie, Luodong and Dongshan use different interchanges.
- 2Before leaving, use Freeway 1968 to check Freeway 5 travel times, cameras and high-occupancy restrictions. TRA is normally more predictable when the tunnel approach is already heavily congested.
- 3For a private transfer, confirm a licensed operator, child-seat needs, luggage count, one-way versus waiting charges, and the exact Wujie or Dongshan drop-off address.
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
Train 272 reaches Luodong at about 09:30, a useful start for the forestry park, Dongshan River and night market. On other trains, leave as early as practical, drop your bags first, then use Green 21, bus 621 or a short taxi ride for the river corridor.
If you cannot reach Luodong before noon, do not force both the water park and arts centre into the same day. Check in, visit the night market, and save the river corridor for the next morning.
- 05:30
01
Travel from Hsinchu or Miaoli to Luodong
Use train 272 if the early start works; otherwise change TRA services or take HSR to Nangang and bus 1879, aiming to reach Luodong before noon.
- 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.
Train 272 removes a transfer but leaves very early and provides only one useful through departure. Confirm that it runs and stops on your travel date before booking timed activities.
Hsinchu HSR is in Zhubei and connects to Liujia; Miaoli HSR is in Houlong and connects to Fengfu. Neither is the same place as the downtown TRA station with the matching city name.
Reserved east-coast trains sell out on Fridays, weekends and holidays. If your plans centre on the night market, water park and arts centre, reserve through to Luodong.
From Luodong, walk to the night market; use Green 21/621 or a taxi for the water park and arts centre; use bus 281 or a taxi for Meihua Lake, checking the return trip as well.
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.
Routes prioritize official TRA, Taiwan HSR, Highway Bureau iBus, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, Yilan County and Freeway Bureau information. The hero is based on a verified real photo of TRA Hsinchu Station, used under CC BY-SA 3.0 and edited in reference-image mode to remove people.
- TRA timetable and faresTaiwan Railway Corporation
- Taiwan HSR timetable and faresTaiwan High Speed Rail
- HSR Hsinchu station connectionsTaiwan High Speed Rail
- HSR Miaoli station connectionsTaiwan High Speed Rail
- Route 1878 · Nangang to YilanHighway Bureau · iBus
- Route 1879 · Nangang to LuodongHighway Bureau · iBus
- Green 21 Dongshan River RouteTaiwan Tourist Shuttle
- Local transport in YilanYilan County Government
- Check Freeway 1968 trafficFreeway Bureau
- Original hero photograph (TRA Hsinchu Station, CC BY-SA 3.0)Wikimedia Commons · SElefant · CC BY-SA 3.0 · modified
Last checked 24 July 2026. TRA train 272 and connections, HSR, buses 1878/1879, Yilan local buses, fares and Freeway 5 controls can change; follow each operator on the day of travel.