Taitung

Taitung offers a heady blend of Japanese, Chinese and aboriginal influences, making it something of a bohemian oasis amid the rice fields and farmland of the East Rift Valley. Taitung’s not short on culture, with its former train station serving as an art space bursting with cafes, pop-up shops and galleries. Its lack of modernisation is part of its charm, and there’s no better way to explore than with a cycle ride along the beaches of Taitung Seashore Park, through Liyushan Park or on the rural stretches along Hwy 197.

Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, Taitung is a spot to just kick back and relax – the nightlife consists mostly of quaint coffee shops and seasonal concerts – but for those wanting to sway to the serene rhythms of local life, unwind in the saltwater hot-springs of Green Island and linger over their seagrass dumplings, Taitung is a must-visit spot.