The short answer
Use HSR and change at Nangang for the earliest arrival; check train 423 for a one-seat ride.
At the time of checking, TRA train 423 ran daily from Xinzuoying through Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung and Hualien to Luodong and Yilan. The HSR option needs separate HSR and TRA tickets but offers far more departure choices.
Kaohsiung Main Station and Zuoying HSR are different stations. Zuoying HSR connects by passageway to TRA Xinzuoying. Pingtung has no HSR station, so HSR users first take TRA to Xinzuoying and follow the signs into the HSR station.
Use Luodong as the hub for Luodong Night Market, Dongshan River Water Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts and riverside stays. Get off at Jiaoxi for hot springs, or Yilan for the city centre and Jimmy Park.
- Usually fastest
- Zuoying HSR → Nangang → TRA
- Allow about 4–5 hours from Kaohsiung city or 4.5–5.5 hours from Pingtung. Leave at least 20–30 minutes to change at Nangang.
- One-seat ride
- TRA train 423
- Checked times: Xinzuoying 10:47, Kaohsiung 11:00, Pingtung 11:18, Luodong 16:23 and Yilan 16:31. Recheck your exact date.
- Best local hub
- Luodong station and bus station
- Walk to the night market; use Green 21, route 621 or a taxi for the water park and arts centre, and route 281 or a taxi for Meihua Lake.
From Kaohsiung and Pingtung · South Taiwan to Yilan
HSR is fastest, train 423 removes the transfer, and driving suits groups making several rural stops.
Routes were checked on July 24, 2026. Train 423, east-coast seats, HSR fares, buses 1878/1879 and Freeway 5 controls can change, so run a fresh search for your travel date.
HSR plus TRA｜Zuoying to Nangang, then an east-coast train
Take HSR from Zuoying to Nangang and change within the station complex to a TRA train for Yilan or Luodong. This shortens the long western leg and keeps the final leg off congested Freeway 5.
- Typical journey
- Kaohsiung about 4–5 hours; Pingtung about 4.5–5.5 hours
- Adult one way
- Zuoying–Nangang HSR standard reserved fare NT$1,530, plus local and TRA fares
- Best for
- Early arrival, weekends and travellers comfortable with one change
TRA｜Direct train 423 via the South-Link and east coast
Train 423 runs from Xinzuoying through Kaohsiung and Pingtung, then follows the South-Link Line to Taitung and the east coast to Luodong and Yilan. It is a long ride, but there is no platform change.
- Typical journey
- Kaohsiung–Luodong about 5h 23m; Pingtung–Luodong about 5h 05m
- Adult one way
- Varies by boarding station and train; use the TRA result for the actual fare
- Best for
- Pingtung departures, luggage and avoiding station changes
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 1/3 north to Freeway 5
Join Freeway 1 or 3 from Kaohsiung, or usually Freeway 3 from Pingtung, then take Freeway 5 into Yilan. The journey exceeds 400 kilometres, so flexibility comes with fatigue and major traffic risk.
- In clear traffic
- With light traffic and a short break: Kaohsiung 5.5–6.5h; Pingtung 6–7h
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls, parking or private-transfer charge
- Best for
- Families, heavy luggage and several countryside stops after arrival
HSR plus TRA｜Zuoying to Nangang, then an east-coast train
- 1From Kaohsiung city, reach Zuoying by KMRT, TRA or taxi. From Pingtung, take TRA to Xinzuoying. The TRA and HSR stations connect, but allow time to walk, collect tickets and pass the gates.
- 2Book HSR to Nangang, then follow the B2 north–south corridors to TRA Nangang. Reserve the east-coast train to Yilan or Luodong separately and leave a 20–30 minute connection.
- 3Buses 1878 to Yilan and 1879 to Wujie/Luodong are alternatives from Nangang, but TRA is usually more predictable when Freeway 5 is congested.
TRA｜Direct train 423 via the South-Link and east coast
- 1Search your travel date from Kaohsiung or Pingtung to Luodong or Yilan. At the time checked, train 423 left Kaohsiung at 11:00 and Pingtung at 11:18, reaching Luodong at 16:23 and Yilan at 16:31, and ran daily.
- 2Train 423 is reserved-seat only and does not sell standing tickets. Book early for weekends and holidays, and keep water, a light meal, a charger and a layer within reach for the five-hour journey.
- 3Because it reaches Luodong in late afternoon, use day one for check-in and the night market. Save the water park, arts centre and Meihua Lake for the next day.
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 1/3 north to Freeway 5
- 1Set the first attraction or full accommodation address as the destination and schedule at least one proper rest. Jiaoxi, Yilan, Wujie, Luodong and Dongshan use different exits.
- 2Before leaving, check Freeway 1968 for Freeways 1, 3 and 5, including travel times and traffic controls. Holiday peaks on Freeway 5 can take several times longer than normal.
- 3The scenic east-coast drive via the South-Link, Hualien and Suhua corridor is much longer and more weather-sensitive. Use it only as a multi-day road trip, not as the fastest alternative.
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
An early HSR connection can put you in Luodong before noon for the forestry park, Dongshan River and the night market. Train 423 arrives around 16:23, so check in, eat at the market and visit the river attractions the next day.
This is a long cross-island journey. Do not force both the water park and arts centre into arrival day; drop your luggage and choose only the forestry park or night market if time allows.
- 06:30
01
Leave Kaohsiung or Pingtung: choose early arrival or no transfer
Use HSR to Nangang and TRA if you want to reach Luodong before noon. Choose train 423 for a direct ride and move the first day's daytime sights to day two.
- 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 423 ran daily and sold no standing tickets when checked, but schedules and stops change. Search outbound and return dates separately.
Pingtung has no HSR station. Zuoying HSR connects to TRA Xinzuoying and is not Kaohsiung Main Station, so include the approach time.
HSR and TRA require separate tickets. East-coast reserved trains fill on Fridays, weekends and holidays; do not wait until Nangang to find the next seat.
From Luodong: walk to the night market; take Green 21/621 or a taxi to the water park and arts centre; use 281 or a taxi for Meihua Lake.
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.
The route uses official TRA, Taiwan HSR, Highway Bureau iBus, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, Yilan County and Freeway Bureau information. The hero is a verified real photo of Pingtung Station, used under CC BY-SA 4.0 and edited in reference-image mode to remove people.
- TRA timetable and faresTaiwan Railway Corporation
- TRA train 423 · checked official scheduleTaiwan Railway Corporation
- Taiwan HSR timetableTaiwan High Speed Rail
- Taiwan HSR fare tableTaiwan High Speed Rail
- Zuoying HSR and TRA Xinzuoying connectionsTaiwan High Speed Rail
- Nangang HSR and TRA 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
- Freeway 1968 live trafficFreeway Bureau
- Freeway 5 holiday congestion adviceFreeway Bureau
- Original hero photo (Pingtung Station, CC BY-SA 4.0)Wikimedia Commons · Adece033090 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · modified
Last checked July 24, 2026. Train 423 and connecting trains, HSR, buses 1878/1879, local buses, fares and Freeway 5 controls can change. Follow the operators' notices for your travel date.