Luodong

Luodung is accessible by train, bus (Capital star, Kamalan, or Guoguang) or car (National Freeway 5). Navigation is easy as all street signs are in both Chinese characters and either Romanization or English.

By train

• Luodong TRA station

  address: 2 Gongzheng Road
  The TRA station for Luodong Township lies slightly to the north east of the town centre.

By bus

• Luodong Transfer StationLuodong Transfer Station is the main bus interchange depot for the township. It lies immediately to the east of the TRA station.

There is a free city bus. The buses run every 30 minutes or so. Route maps are in Chinese only. Taxis are available at the train station, and the bus station near Jungshan Park. Bus drivers and taxi drivers at this time (2009) do not speak English.

Parks & nature

• Luodong Sports Park

  phone: +886 3 954 1216
  address: No. 666, Gongzheng Road
  The biggest attraction in Luodung. There are basketball courts, tennis courts, a professional baseball field, a track for exercise, in addition to areas for strolling, fish feeding (Japanese Grass Carp) and other outdoor activities.

• Luodong Forestry Culture Park

  phone: +886 3 954 5114
  address: No. 118, Zhongzheng North Road
  Located on the north side of Luodung. It is built around two logging ponds from the Japanese logging era. The main attractions here are the old train engines and the giant tree stump sculptures.

Temples

Many temples dot the city of Luodung. Each one is dedicated to a particular god. Gung An temple is one of the biggest. There is also a smaller one dedicated to Sun Wu Kung (the monkey god). The smaller temples are often the most intriguing. While the larger temples have many of the same gods, the smaller temeples are dedicated to lesser known deities, such as the god of agriculture, or even the "Brother Pig" - god of thugs and seedy night life.

• Luodong Confucian Temple

  phone: +886 3 951 6063
  address: No. 26, Section 1, Beicheng Road
  The local Confucian temple which includes the temple building and is surrounded by an area of ponds and gardens.

• Luodong Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

  phone: +886 3 951 2963
  address: No. 20, Section 1, Beicheng Road
  The city's Catholic cathedral located in the central-eastern part of the town.

• address: No. 16, Lane 55, Weiyang Road
  A large, multi-storey Buddhist temple on the western side of town.

• Chenghuang Temple

  phone: +886 3954 5924
  address: No. 128, Zhongzheng Road
  A smaller temple dating from 1815.

• Zhen'an Temple

  phone: +886 3956 2533
  address: No. 35, Zhongzheng Road

There isn't much to do in Luodung. But it is a fantastic jumping off point to see the rest of Yilan County.

• Luodong Cultural Working House

  phone: +886 3957 7440
  address: No. 96, Section 1, Chunjing Road
  An area of open parkland where there are often arts performances and workshops.

• Yilan County Natural History Education Center

  phone: +886 3 956 4177
  address: No. 99, Zhonghua Road
  A national level museum dedicated to the natural environment with both indoor and outdoor attractions and exhibits.

• Jun

  phone: +886 3 955-3699
  address: 10-1,Chuanjing Road, Sec 2
  Specializes in Yilan cuisine.

Night markets

• Luodong Night Market

  phone: +886 3954 5102
  address: intersection of Xindong Rd and Minsheng Rd
  located on three sides of Jungshan Park, is full of food stalls all with traditional Taiwanese cuisine. Try the oyster omelette, fried rice noodels, or filled tapioca starch balls. For the brave at heart, or smelling impared, try the stinky tofu. Good buys are dried fruit from Yilan County and an abundance of costume jewlry.