Taiwan is often referred to as one of the most underrated adventure sport destinations in Asia if not the world. With a large portion of the island covered in huge mountains filled with hidden lakes, thousand year old forests, cascading waterfalls, and memorizing scenery it's hard to see why.

The lush, rugged and incident-packed landscape lining the upper reaches of the Keelung River Valley makes this a stunningly beautiful area, and one which deservedly attracts crowds on weekends to enjoy its scenic riches.

Despite its size – in terms of population it's one of Taiwan's ten largest cities – and economic importance, Changhua (彰化) isn't a leading tourist destinations.

Ever wondered where Maokong (貓空), that ever-popular hillside on the southern edge of Taipei where everyone goes to drink tea, got its name?

The summer time is the reproduction period for some wild birds in Taiwan. When you walk in the forest and watch the trees carefully, you may easily find bird nests.

For most weekenders, the small town of Sanjhih (三芝) is nothing more than a hazy memory along the road to bigger, more well-known places such as White Sand Beach (白沙灣, surely the loveliest beach in north Taiwan) and Cape Fugui (富貴), which combines a fisherman's market (offering delicious seafood lunches) with some wild and panoramic sea views from Taiwan's northernmost point.

Taiwan was ruled by Japan for half a century until the end of World War II. Dozens of splendid examples of architecture from that era can be found in Taipei (台北) and other cities, yet very little evidence of Shinto – the official religion of Japan throughout the colonial period – has survived.

Summer is now in its hottest period with temperatures having reached as high as 35 degree Celsius in the past few days forcing people to find cool places.

Paying a visit to the wonderful Sanmin Bat Cave, which was once one of the best short adventures of northern Taiwan, is a pretty straightforward affair these days, since the local authorities, seeking to open this imposing natural curiosity to everyone, changed the route of the access trail to the cavern, bypassing a long wade up the slippery stream bed, and the steep descent and ascent (with fixed ropes) of several rock faces.

While there are many large tourist destinations that everyone wants to go to, some smaller ones are well worth seeing if one has access to a car and some time for a daytrip.