· Hot Springs ·

Hot springs, the hot tears of the earth, are one of the most precious gifts that the earth has given to us. Taiwan, is ranked among the world's top 15 hot spring sites, harboring a great variety of springs, including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs. The island can proudly regard itself as one of the regions with the highest concentration (>100 hot springs) and greatest variety of hot springs in the world.

(^o^)South Taiwan Hot Springs(^o^)

(^o^)East Taiwan Hot Springs(^o^)

(^o^)North Taiwan Hot Springs(^o^)
[Xinbeitou Hot Springs Area]
Taipei City's northernmost district, Beitou began to rise as a hot spring destination in 1896. The springs here are fed by water from Diregu (Hell Valley) and Longfong Valley near Xingyi (Singyi) Road. Three distinct types of spring can be found here, including green sulfur, white sulfur, and iron sulfur. Bathing facilities are equally varied, with everything from traditional Japanese-style bathhouses to fashionably modern spas catering to day-trip and overnight visitors. Apart from the springs, there are plenty of other attractions in Xinbeitou to reward repeat visitors.

- Free-Range Chicken and Mountain-Grown Vegetables -
The traditional and modern resort-style restaurants of Xinbeitou serve up dishes made with free-range chicken and mountain-grown vegetables, winning over diners with an unforgettable taste.

[Shamao Mountain Hot Spring Area]
Shamao Mountain welcomes visitors with a year-round profusion of color and a natural landscape that one will want to slow down to admire. This is also a good spot for a hot spring soak and a feast of wild-grown vegetables in nature's scenic embrace, offering something for body, mind and spirit.
Sulfuric acid springs are dominant here and the water has a sulfur smell that is slightly stronger than that of the springs in Beitou.
Most of the hot spring hotels and restaurants here are clustered in Pingdeng Village near Lengshueikeng, and in Macao off the Yangmingshan-Jinshan Highway. There are also a few establishments off Yangde Boulevard that offer bathing, restaurant and tea service.

- Wild-Grown Vegetables -
Shamao Mountain is known for its wild-grown vegetables, which are especially sweet and crisp.

[Wulai Hot Springs]
Hot springs were first discovered in Wulai over 300 years ago by the Atayal people. The springs, which bubble forth from the Nanshi River valley, are known as "beauty baths" since the water softens cuticles and moisturizes the skin. Today, visitors can choose from a range of upscale spas with hydrotherapy facilities and an inviting ambiance. Most of the bathhouses in Wulai are clustered on Wulai Street.
Wulai is a popular hot spring area in northern Taiwan. The high quality water here is clear, odorless and known for its beauty-enhancing effects. Visitors to Wulai can also experience the culture, cuisine and spirited dancing of the Atayal indigenous people.

- Atayal Cuisine -
Wulai is known for its Atayal cuisine, which emphasizes the original flavor of the ingredients without too much added seasoning. Commonly used dipping sauces include fermented shiso (perilla) and plum juice or honey; and steaming, boiling and roasting are the preferred forms of cooking. The Atayal stuffings are made of sweet potato rice, banana rice or Chinese yam rice without pork or soy sauce. The resulting dishes are refreshingly tasty and healthy.

[Jiaoxi Hot Spring Area]
Jiaoxi is one of only a few lowland hot spring sites in Taiwan. The springs are fed by rainwater that has seeped down into subterranean rock, where it is heated by magma remaining from a volcanic eruption on Guishan (Turtle) Island thousands of years ago.
In recent years, the hot spring spas here have preserved Jiaoxi's traditional ambiance but with a more modern emphasis on health and fitness. The spring water and facilities are both of excellent quality.
Jiaoxi is a traditional hot spring area with a new face, offering visitors a wide range of bathing options. The locally grown vegetables, irrigated with nutrient-rich spring water, are another good reason to visit Jiaoxi.

- Hot Spring Vegetables -
The hot springs of Jiaosi are fed by pure and clean water at a temperature range of 22 to 33 degrees centigrade. The water is rich in iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium and other trace elements making it perfect for irrigation use. Vegetables raised on the water grow quickly and are unusually crisp, tender and sweet. With support from the Jiaosi Township Farmers' Association, the local farmers have made hot spring vegetables one of the specialty items of Jiaosi. The locally grown water spinach, tomatoes, sponge gourd, and water bamboo, collectively known as the "four treasures," are particularly well known.

(^o^)Central Taiwan Hot Springs (^o^)
[Tai-an Hot Springs]
The Tai-an Hot Springs are reached by a narrow winding mountain road lined by steep cliffs on one side and the murmuring Wunshui River on the other. The springs are nestled among three peaks Henglong, Niaozui and Huzi mountains, creating a peaceful retreat off the beaten track.
The hot springs at Tai-an are fed by water from the northwest foothills of Niaozuei Mountain. The Atayal people first discovered the springs in 1909 during a hunting expedition.
Tucked away deep in a secluded mountain area, the Tai-an Hot Springs have preserved their original natural beauty over the years. In addition to the natural allures of the valleys, waterfalls, cliffs, and warm springs, this area is a melting pot of Hakka and Atayal culture.

- Hakka Food -
The Tai-an area is populated mainly by residents of Atayal and Hakka origin. The two cultures have contributed to the distinctive local cuisine. Sweet and crisp wild-grown vegetables, pickled mustard greens, boar, river fish, turtledoves, flying squirrels, and Ficus formosana and just some of the tasty natural ingredients used.
Hakka food is traditionally oily and heavily salted and spiced. However, in keeping with the health-conscious age, the Hakka cuisine in Tai-an is lighter and cooked with hot spring water to create exquisite dishes that fuse the best of Hakka and Atayal cooking traditions.

[Guguan Hot Spring Area]

The hot spring hotels and restaurants in Guguan provide bathing facilities and specialize in trout cuisine. Cool mountain air, steaming hot spring water, and natural beauty come together at Guguan to create one of Taiwan's premier hot spring areas. Even the habitat-fussy trout are perfectly happy and content in pristine waters and nature of Guguan.

- Trout -
Trout is a freshwater fish that is known to be fastidious about its living arrangements, requiring exceptionally clean water at a temperature range of 6 to 13 degrees centigrade. The river water in Guguan amply meets these conditions, and the area has therefore come to be known for its fresh and tender trout cuisine.

[Dongpu Hot Spring]

The Dongpu Hot Springs are situated in the scenic mountains by Yushan National Park.
There are several well-known scenic sites close to the springs, including the Batongguan Historic Trail and Rainbow Waterfall, offering plenty of options for a healthy walk in the woods before a soothing and restorative hot spring soak.
The Dongpu Hot Spring Area is located in Sinyi Township of Nantou County. Sinyi is Taiwan's biggest plum producing area, so winter bathers can also enjoy the snow-like plum blossoms in Fonggueidou and Wusonglun.

- Plum Cuisine -
Every year during the plum blossom season, the hillsides of Xinyi Township turn into a sea of blooms that blanket the ground and trails like a snow.
Rouge plum is the dominant variety of plum grown in Xinyi Township. The harvest is used in distinctive cuisine and a variety of products, including plum juice, plum vinegar, gummy dried plums, and plum brittle.

//Flying Taiwan//