Set against the high spine of central mountains, Yilan county’s broad plain of rice paddies, small cities and hot springs marks a welcome break from the more hectic Taipei lifestyle. We love a hot spring dip after a long day, and you may even have private hot spring bath in your room.

But the Yilan area’s waters don’t always run hot – for over twenty years the nearby Kavalan Distillery has made use of the mineral rich waters flowing off the Snow Mountains that flank the region to distill some globally recognized whiskeys. A tour and a tasting will melt the city from your bones even faster than the hot springs will.

Being in the Yilan area is also a great way to connect with Taiwan’s Indigenous culture. Spend a day at Atayal village, listening to village elders tell stories of history and their ways of life, before tucking into a lunch of bamboo stuffed with rice.

A visit to Yilan is a perfect way to see some of the more rural side of Taiwan, just an hour outside of the capital.