When people speak of Taiwan, they often talk about its famous capital, Taipei. With Taipei 101, the third tallest building in the world, towering over the gorgeous skyline, this city sure is a hot spot for both locals and tourists. However, aside from its exciting city life, Taiwan has many hidden treasures. Yilan, a small county along the northeastern coast, is certainly one of them. Surrounded by beautiful mountains coupled with flowing waterways, Yilan is the place to go to escape our fast-paced lives and re-connect with nature. Having recently explored the lovely county, here are my suggestions on 5 must do's in Yilan!

1. Suao Cold Spring

If you ever find yourself in Taiwan, you don't need me to tell you that it is hot, hot, hot. But no need to fear, one of the world's two natural cold springs lies right in the heart of Yilan. With average temperatures below 22 degrees Celsius, people flock here to relax on a humid day and let the all natural cold spring water sooth their skin.

2. Jiaosi Hot Spring

After a trip to the cold spring during the viciously hot daytime, nothing is more relaxing than a trip to the hot spring during the chilled night time. Here, you can either choose to soak your body or get a "fish massage" in which little fish bite the dead skin off your feet. Both options are sure to leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

3. Seafood

Filled with rivers and surrounded by the open sea, Yilan has some of the freshest, tastiest seafood around town. People line up for hours outside of restaurants such as Wu's Harbour Contemporary Cuisine and Fu Mei Fresh Seafood, just to get a taste of the perfectly seasoned fish, shrimp, scallop, squid, octopus and even shark meat.

4. Meihua Lake

This is a fantastic place for children, elders, families, couples and everyone in between! With delicious local snacks and fun rental bikes, this is the perfect place for people of all ages to unwind and enjoy the beauty of nature. One can choose to ride a single, tandem, or family bike around the lake, surrounded by beautiful mountains.

5. Ludong Night Market

As one of the most famous night markets in Taiwan, Ludong Night Market is favored for various delicious and unique foods such as pan fried spring onion pancakes and red bean boba desserts. There are also many carnival games to be played, street performances to be enjoyed and shopping to be done. Ludong Night Market is so popular, if you ever visit, expect to find yourself packed between flocks of strangers also trying to make their way to the next exciting stand.