台东县

Why this place

Taitung is the long, sparsely populated county on the southeast coast, with the mountains behind and the Pacific in front. It has the strongest concentration of indigenous cultures on the island — Amis, Paiwan and Puyuma — and diving at Green Island and Orchid Island.

What to see

• Green Island (Lyudao) — diving, a saltwater hot spring, and the old prison site
• Orchid Island (Lanyu) — Tao indigenous culture, with the underground houses and the flying-fish season
• The East Rift Valley and the coastal road, and the Chishang rice fields
• The Beinan archaeological site and the prehistoric museum

What to eat

• Taitung's 'Chishang bento' (lunch boxes) — rice grown in the valley, sold at the station
• Indigenous cooking: millet dumplings, wild greens and the local flying fish

Best time

October–April; Orchid Island's flying-fish season is March–June