Volcanically Perfect Hot Springs in Taiwan

October is the beginning of hot spring season in Taiwan. This tiny island in the Pacific is known for its humid, damp and cold winters, and with the advance of cold weather, Taiwan’s hot spring areas begin to flourish once more.

With over 100 springs to choose from in locations all over the island, Taiwan is the perfect place to seek some hot spring action that will heat up both the body and soul. Taiwan is also home to hot springs of many different kinds. The island boasts sodium springs, sulfur springs, mud springs, cold springs, salt springs, and more. Each type of hot spring offers its own health benefits.

Beitou, Yangmingshan and Guanziling are the most appreciated and preferred hot spring areas in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s hot springs have a long history that got their start during the Japanese colonial period. From 1895 to 1945, hot spring areas around the island slowly began to flourish. In 1896, a Japanese man by the name of Hirado Gengo opened the first hot spring hotel in Beitou, New Taipei.

After that, Taiwan’s reputation as a hot spring destination skyrocketed as new hot spa resorts offering high class service, luxurious surroundings and world class facilities were quickly established in hot spring areas all over the country.

Taipei is one of the only cities in the world that can claim to have its very own hot spring mountain in its backyard. Taipei’s super efficient and ultra convenient transportation system can deliver you right to the doors of these gorgeous mountain hot spring hotels. Visitors have a number of choices to choose from. Public hot springs are available if you’re looking for an inexpensive afternoon of soaking or you can choose to relax in a traditional hot spring spa hotel that rents out rooms by the hour and by the night.

Beitou Hot Spring Valley is supplied by Yang Ming Mountain and it is famous for hot spring spas, beer halls, tea gardens and hostels. It is THE hunting ground for good old luxurious hot spring resorts.

In this area, there are three kinds of hot springs: green sulphur, white sulphur and ferrous sulphur. They all have their own healing magic.

Green sulfur water is the color of jade and the locals believe these waters heal rheumatism and ease exhaustion. White sulfur water looks milky and smells very strongly of sulphur. Soaking in white sulfur water is believed to treat ulcers, chronic skin diseases, liver diseases and diabetes. Ferrous sulfur water has a clear appearance and it is believed to relieve nerve strain and inflammation. Many people believe Yang Ming Mountains volcanic waters heal illnesses, but I would like to highlight the relaxing effect of these waters. It relaxes the mind and refreshes the strained body and soul.

Taking a long soak in one of Taiwan’s many hot springs, is an outstanding investment for yourself.

“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.” – Sylvia Plath

Reference List

Here are three choices that come highly recommended by travel bloggers and Trip Advisor reviewers.

Villa 32 in Beitou is known for being the perfect place for rest and rejuvenation. It is located between two majestic mountains that gives the perfect view. They offer three European style villas and two Japanese style villas. The resort does not allow guests under 16 years of age.

Landis Resort in Yangmingshan has reasonable prices and it offers facilities of an international standard. It has 47 guest rooms. Each room has a natural volcanic hot water hot tub. The hotel also has a spacious outdoor pool and a small restaurant that serves local and western food.

Toong Mao Spa Resort in Guanziling is well known for its mud springs. It has 76 suites and private oil hydrotherapy rooms, plus spa rooms and outdoor nude spa rooms for men and women. In the lobby it has a free exhibit that shows the development and history of spas in the region.

Bilguun NamsraiABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bilguun Namsrai is a Mongolian student who has been studying in Taipei, Taiwan since 2012. She completed her final year of undergraduate studies in capital city of Mongolia where she studied International Law. Currently, she is a senior graduate journalism student at Chinese Culture University.

While studying, Bilguun has always had an interest in law and journalism field. Upon graduation, Bilguun is looking to start her career as a news reporter, anchor in broadcasting channels, or as a contract lawyer. She is a member of the Foreign Students Club in Taiwan.