Another curiosity is the pao tsai pavilion, an exhibition on Korean food and the wonder of kimchee. Visitors file through this gallery of plastic platters of food gobsmacked as to why it's there or what it has to do with a "green" theme. Only when you reach the end -- shelves of Korean food products and a line of cash registers -- do you become aware of the pavilion's purpose.
The remaining pavilions are given over to pure fun. For kids (or anyone young at heart and short in stature), the playground pavilion is worth a couple of hours itself. A giant ship has been marooned in the middle of Wulaokeng with slides coming off it and a huge indoor jungle gym has been erected at the site.
Closer to the entrance of the scenic area, a 3-D theater will show daily screenings of computer-generated animation shorts: The Giant Little Ant, Deep Blue and a story about a boy who dreams of a magic pig.
And of course there is food. Near the entrance to the park is an area with a cafe and restaurant as well as several stalls selling specialties from all over the island.
But chief among the Green Expo's charms is the place at which it's held. Wulaokeng Scenic Area is nestled in a nook of the Shincheng River and offers pits for barbecuing and plenty of big open spaces for tossing a ball or Frisbee.
If time permits -- and if exhibitions about ants aren't your thing -- take a stroll upstream into the surrounding hillsides. There is no camping allowing and swimming is prohibited for good reason: The current is swift and comes quickly to a stepped dam downstream.
There will also be near-daily concerts held in a large outdoor amphitheater that's been erected for the event. For a schedule of who's playing when, check the expo's Web site at http://igreen.e-land.gov.tw.
All told, the Ilan Green Expo makes a great day trip that is sure to be fun for the whole family.
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