Nestled in Taiwan's heart, Nantou County is a dramatically beautiful region where swirling mists romance mountains, cuddle tea plantations, and kiss crystalline lakes. As Taiwan's only landlocked county, it compensates for the absence of a coastline with strikingly magnificent alpine scenery, featuring the iconic Sun Moon Lake and the towering Hehuanshan Mountain. Its subtropical climate summons warm summers and mild winters, with occasional snow kisses at higher elevations.

The local culture pulsates from the core of Taiwan's indigenous heritage, particularly reminiscing the Thao tribe around Sun Moon Lake, purled with Chinese traditions introduced by early settlers. Here, life sways at a gentler rhythm than in Taipei, with the local people relishing a lifestyle composed of tea cultivation, outdoor activities, and preserving traditional crafts.

What distinguishes Nantou is its staggering concentration of Taiwan's most celebrated tea-growing regions, boasting the prestigious Dong Ding Oolong uniquely offered by the Lugu Township. Food lovers magnetize here for the distinctive "lei cha" (ground tea), bamboo shoots foraged from mountain forests, and the famous Sun Moon Lake black tea.

Top on the regret-less-miss list of attractions is the Sun Moon Lake. This pristine beauty holds the title of Taiwan's largest natural lake, where visitors can pedal through the lakeside or cruise on a scenic boat ride. The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village offers glimpses into indigenous traditions, while the rolling highlands of the Cingjing Farm and its sheep pastures establish an unexpected Alpine ambiance in subtropical Taiwan.