Wulai, Taiwan

The little aboriginal village of Wulai has long been touted as one of the top hot-springs resorts in Taiwan. But we advise against spending your money here as the town is pretty grubby (though many hotels are first rate inside) and the water is reportedly not very pure. As one local friend quipped, the only prosperous business in Wulai these days is selling water heaters.That said, step outside the village and you're in a thickness of jungle that has impressed travellers for 200 years. You can hike, swim, river trace or just picnic by cool mountain streams. There are spectacular waterfalls in the area, some accessible just off the road, others known only to a few, and many excellent bird-watching venues. Even the tourist street in the village is not bad, especially for a hearty meal after a long day in the wilds.