Experience Rural Tourism in Yuanli Without Driving This Mid-Autumn Holiday: Take the Train, Explore Markets, Bike Through Rice Fields, and Enjoy Weaving Crafts in a Day Trip

If you'd like to avoid getting stuck in traffic during the Mid-Autumn holiday, consider taking the train for a relaxing rural getaway to Yuanli. The Miaoli County Government Agricultural Department recommends a car-free rural tourism experience using the 'train + YouBike' approach. Starting from Yuanli Railway Station, walk about five minutes to explore the market district and enjoy local snacks. Then rent a YouBike at the station and cycle approximately 6 kilometers (about 25–30 minutes) toward Shanjiao to view the painted rice fields and visit Love Orchard. Have lunch nearby, spend the afternoon exploring the Lanyu Grass Culture Museum, and cycle back to the train station in the evening. Actual cycling time can be flexibly adjusted based on physical condition, weather, and road conditions.

This autumn, Yuanli welcomes a new attraction: the painted rice fields. The 2026 Yuanli Painted Rice Fields opened on September 19 under the theme 'Journey Together,' serving as a warm-up event for the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Miaoli. Hidden within the fields is an image of Mazu, making the period around the Mid-Autumn Festival the perfect time to stroll through the fields and admire the golden waves of rice.

Zheng Nien-chun, General Director of the Yuanli Township Farmers' Association, says Yuanli's charm lies in residents’ everyday lives. Just minutes from the station is the market district—after enjoying breakfast and browsing shops, switch to a bicycle and ride toward Shanjiao. Travelers can seamlessly transition from urban streets to open farmland, experiencing Yuanli’s markets, rice paddies, agricultural products, and Lanyu grass culture all in one day.

Chen Shu-yi, Director of the Agricultural Department, emphasizes that the greatest feature of this route is the ability to explore rural areas without needing a car. The walk from the station to the market is ideal, while switching to a YouBike allows access to the countryside. Once arriving in Shanjiao, Love Orchard, the painted rice fields, and the Lanyu Grass Culture Museum are all located nearby, enabling tourists to enjoy a relaxed itinerary filled with dining, sightseeing, and hands-on experiences without rushing between sites.

This itinerary integrates Yuanli’s markets, fields, agricultural products, and rural culture into a single seamless route—designed so that independent travelers arriving by train can truly immerse themselves in rural life, rather than just staying at stations or popular tourist spots.

Even after the Mid-Autumn Festival, rural tourism continues. In conjunction with the NT$500 Miaoli Coin bonus for weekday domestic travel accommodations starting October 1, the Agricultural Department will continue identifying休闲 agriculture zones, farms, farmers’ association sales outlets, and specialty product consumption points. This initiative encourages overnight visitors to extend their itineraries into rural areas—enjoying a local meal, participating in an experience activity, or bringing home Miaoli agricultural products.

The Miaoli County Government reminds visitors that the number of available YouBike vehicles and docking stations may vary, and operating hours and experience activities at venues may change depending on the date. Travelers should confirm the latest information before departure. When planning a biking itinerary, please adjust according to personal fitness and weather conditions.