Wulai 烏來
Wulai, situated at the confluence of the Nanshi River 南势溪 and the Tonghoushe River 桶后溪, is a famous mountainous township in northern Taiwan most renowned for its hot springs, stunning landscape of mountains and waters, and Atayal 泰雅族 indigenous culture.
‘Wulai’ in the Atayal language means ‘hot spring’. The hot springs in Wulai are mildly alkaline, and are colourless and tasteless, unlike those of hot springs in Peitou 北投, another renowned hot springs area in Taiwan, which may have a slight smell of sulphur.
The most famous sight in Wulai is the Wulai Waterfalls 烏來瀑布. The spectacular 80m tall waterfall is the tallest waterfall in northern Taiwan.
Three other main attractions in Wulai are Wulai Old Street 烏來老街, Wulai Tramway 烏來台车 and Wulai Cablecar 烏來缆车.
Wulai Old Street has many restaurants serving local delicacies and retail shops selling local snacks, sweets, and souvenirs. The 1.6 km long Wulai Tramway brings visitors alongside the Nanshi River upstream to Wulai Waterfalls as an alternative to walking upslope. Wulai Cablecar then brings visitors from here across the Nanshi River to enjoy a panoramic view of the waterfall from the sky. The 382 m long Wulai Cablecar’s upper endpoint is at Yun Hsien Resort 云仙乐园 at the top of Wulai Waterfalls. The small and picturesque Yun Hsien Lake 云仙湖, the upstream source of Wulai Waterfalls, is located within Yun Hsien Resort. Yun Hsien Resort, at an elevation of 500 m above sea level, has a hotel, a restaurant, a café, walking trails, and other leisure facilities for visitors to enjoy an overnight stay amongst trees in the mountains.
Wulai is a 50-minute drive south of Taipei city centre. Wulai can be conveniently reached by public bus 849 which runs between Wulai and Taipei Main Station 台北车站 and stops at a number of subway stations along the way to Wulai. Bus 849’s terminal stop and the multistorey carpark in Wulai are both a short walk to Wulai Old Street.
The Walk – Wulai Falls 烏來瀑布 and Yun Hsien Lake 云仙湖
If you arrive in Wulai at Bus 849’s terminal stop or park your car at the multistorey carpark, you will first reach Wulai Bridge 烏來桥 just before the 150 m long Wulai Old Street, then Lansheng Bridge 览胜桥.
From Lansheng Bridge you will take Wenquan Street 溫泉街 and then Pubu Road 瀑布路, which runs alongside Nanshi River, to reach Wulai Falls.
The one-way distance between Wulai Bridge and Wulai Falls is approximately 2 km.
From Wulai Falls, take Wulai Cablecar to the upper endpoint and then take the stairs and walking trails that lead to Yun Hsien Lake in Yun Hsien Resort. Spend as much time as you wish to walk around Yun Hsien Lake, explore the walking trails in Yun Hsien Resort, or sit and rest to enjoy, the cool air, the peace and serenity by the lake, and amongst the trees in the mountain.
Want to discover more great walking locations around Perth? Check out the “By the Waters” blogs.
Wulai 烏來 is a 50-minute drive south of Taipei city centre. Wulai can be conveniently reached by public bus 849 which runs between Wulai and Taipei Main Station 台北车站 and stops at a number of subway stations along the way to Wulai.