The PLACE YILAN

The Place Yilan

On our recent trip to Yilan in northeastern Taiwan we visited the National Center for Traditional Arts. After having fun there for a whole day we stayed at The Place Yilan, a very interesting place to stay!

What better way to end a day at the National Center for Traditional Arts than to spend a night at the NCTFA? The Place Yilan is a resort-style complex, managed by Taiwan’s Hotel Royal Group, right inside the NCTFA grounds. On the walls inside the entrance-building lobby are two magnificent large-scale koji pottery artworks depicting figures from Chinese mythology; koji pottery, also called cochin pottery, is a unique art form closely identified with Taiwan temple decoration. Just beyond the lobby is a bright, friendly, spacious café/bistro/reading room featuring minimalist modern décor, which overlooks manicured lawns.

Lobby with interesting tiles and koji pottery

Café/bistro/reading room

At one end of the quiet lawn space is The Place Yilan’s cluster of two-floor guestroom buildings. These are done in the same heritage-design red-brick/white-stucco style seen in the center’s Old Street area. The new management has introduced an “East meets West” fusion to the rooms, with light-color Western-style wood paneling and furnishings complementing the legacy-look architectural foundation.

Elegantly designed guestroom

Guests enjoy free access to the full NCFTA complex. Evenings are breezily pleasant, with lamplights kept on along the center’s pathways, making for relaxing strolls under starry skies. Rooms range from small quarters for budget travelers (one shared room accommodates four people, with one bedroom and two bunkbeds, lockers, shared living room and washroom; NT$1,200 per person, no breakfast) to regular rooms for two people and more (starting at NT$9,000).

Pleasant architecture and landscaping outside

Rooms for budget travelers

Those in regular rooms enjoy a free Chinese-style buffet breakfast and one or two free DIY-experience tickets, depending on room type; the possibility of adding a free dinner is under discussion.