Meishan means "Plum Mountain," but in this sprawling rural township you'll also see tea, betel nut, jelly figs, and other cash crops. The town of Meishan is, on the face of it, little different to many other small Taiwanese towns. But drive eastward and very soon you'll be in the highlands. The road from Meishan to Taiping is a tourist attraction in its own right; continue along Road 149-Jia, and you'll come to well-established destinations like Ruifeng and Taihe.

County Road 122, which enters the township from the south, leads to Ruili - where there are several hotels - and various waterfalls before linking up with Road 149-Jia. The hillsides around Taiping and Taising abound in caves, and there are plenty of hiking opportunities: Sharp Mountain, Second Sharp Mountain, plus the Taising and Ruitai ancient paths. You won't run out of things to see and do!