Taiwan Hot Springs
Taupo Hot Springs Spa's selection of the
best spa experiences in Taiwan
Taiwan is ranked among the top 15 hot spring mineral
water sites in the world. The island of Taiwan is
situated on the same geothermal belt known as the
'Pacific Rim of Fire' as Taupo Hot Springs Spa in Lake
Taupo, New Zealand.
Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations (more
than 100 hot springs) and greatest variety of thermal
springs in the world varying from hot springs to cold
springs, mud springs, and seabed hot
springs.
A number of Taiwan Hot Springs have begun
to forge 'Sister Spa' relationships with Taupo Hot
Springs Spa here in Lake Taupo, New Zealand. For
more information about visiting Taiwan and Taiwan Hot
Springs, visit Taiwan’s premier travel agency on
the web - eztravel
Here is Taupo Hot Springs Spa’s pick of the very
best Taiwanese Hot Springs experiences in one of the
most diverse hot springs areas in the world.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #1
Yangmingshan Hot Springs - Taipei
city
Yangmingshan is on the doorstep of the greater
Taipei area. The hot spring water of Yangmingshan is
mostly clear, but some of the springs produce a
greenish water. It is said to be effective in treating
skin diseases, hardening of the arteries, and
rheumatism. Most of these springs are concentrated on
the western flank of Mt. Shamao, at Liuku and Qiku.
There are a lot of places for bathing in this area,
including the Yangmingshan hot-spring area, Coldwater
Depression, Macao, and Gengziping. The waters from
these different areas have different mineral contents,
giving each spring its own distinctive features in
terms of minerals, temperature, and medical effect.
The water of the Coldwater Depression is a
milk-white in colour and its temperature, at about 40
degrees Celsius, is considerably lower than that of
other hot springs in the Yangmingshan area. The waters
are said to be effective in treating chronic arthritis,
muscular aches and pains, chronic skin diseases,
anemia, diabetes, gout, and measles.
The Macao Hot Springs come from the earth at a
temperature of 70-75 degrees Celsius and are said to be
good for treating feminine ailments, diabetes, and
gout; while others should be careful, if they have
excessive uric acid or bladder stones.
The water of the Gengziping Hot Springs is even
hotter--its temperature can be as high as 99
degrees--and is said to be beneficial for chronic
arthritis, muscular aches and pains, chronic skin
diseases, gout, and syphilis; you should not bathe in
this water, however, if you suffer from excessive uric
acid, bladder stones, bladder inflamation, chronic
gastritis, bronchitis, chronic hepatitis, or
neuralgia.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #2
Jiaosi Hot Springs - Ilan County,
Northern Taiwan
Taiwan’s Jiaosi hot springs were discovered
during the Guangxu reign (1875-1908) of the Qing
Dynasty and, together with the mineral hot springs of
Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Guanziling, were named as the
four major hot-spring areas of Taiwan in early days.
Famous as ‘The Hot Spring among Hot
Springs’, the bicarbonate water here is clear and
transparent, and is good for drinking as well as
bathing. The temperature of the water is relatively
high in March and April, and somewhat lower in the
summer. The minerals in the water are excellent for
promoting circulation and relieving stiff muscles. They
are also said to be good for treating gastric diseases,
arthritis, skin ailments, neuralgia, rheumatism,
backache, and broken bones.
The hot springs of Jiaoxi are a flatland hot
springs, which is rare in Taiwan and produces sodium
bicarbonate water that contains other chemicals such as
calcium and potassium. The mineral water is clear and
odorless; it gushes from the ground at a temperature of
58 degrees Celsius, and after bathing it leaves your
skin feeling smooth and supple without being sticky at
all.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #3
Guanziling Hot Springs - Tainan County,
Southern Taiwan
The hot mud springs of Guanziling are situated in Baihe
Township in Tainan County, Taiwan and were known far
and wide as early as the Japanese occupation period
(1895-1945) as one of the four main hot springs of
Taiwan, along with Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Sichongxi.
The hot spring water here is of a rare cloudy type
which is found in only three places in the world:
Kagoshima in Japan, Sicily in Italy, and Guanziling in
Taiwan. The minerals in the spring water contain
alkaline and iodine, is salty and has a light sulfuric
smell and give it a grayish color. The water helps
treat skin disease, neuralgia, and gastrointestinal
disorders and is also said to be effective for curing
skin allergies, alleviating exhaustion, and beautifying
the body. After bathing in these waters, the skin feels
soft, Guanziling having earned the name of natural
cosmetic. Glacial marine mud is obtained by the cooling
of mud from these springs.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #4
Beitou Hot Springs - Taipei
City
The Beitou hot spring region in Taiwan is surrounded by
the Shamau, Datun and Chising Mountains. The springs
spread its sulphur mist through the valley all year
round. Beitou is bestowed with abundant hot spring
resources and is called "the hot spring village". The
Beitou hot spring region refers to more than 10 places
such as Dijegu, Lungfung, Funghuang, Hushanli and
Hsinyi Road. The major areas for hot spring spas are
Chungshan Road, Kuanming Road, Hsinming Road and
Chuandu Road which surround Beitou Hot Spring Park. The
Hot springs here are mostly sulphuric springs. There is
white sulphur, green sulphur and iron sulphur springs.
The temperatures of the springs are in the range of 55
to 58 Celsius. They are said to be very effective in
healing dermatitis and arthritis.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #5
Taiwan’s Eastern Hot Springs in
Taitung county - Jhihben, Wulu, and Green
Island
Jhihben Hot Springs - Taitung
County
The Jhihben hot springs are situated in the Jhihben
River valley. In addition to its hot mineral water, the
area also offers gorges, waterfalls, a forest
recreation area, and other natural scenic attractions.
The sodium bicarbonate water here is colorless and is
said to be good for skin diseases, rheumatism, and
neuralgia, and for promoting blood circulation and
relaxing the muscles and joints.
Wulu Hot Springs - Taitung
County
The Wulu hot springs produce
colorless, odorless carbonate water, which is also good
for both drinking and bathing. It is said to be good
for treating arthritis, neuralgia, and athlete's feet.
The nearby Wulu Gorge, with the surrounding thick and
rich-green forests, offers some of the most spectacular
scenery on the Southern Cross-Island Highway.
Jaurih Hot Spring – Green
Island
The Jaurih Hot Spring is situated on the southeastern
coral shore of Green Island and is one of only three
salt-water hot springs in the world. The main mineral
in the water is sulphur, but there is not so much of
the characteristic sulphur smell here. When you finish
bathing in this water, you may feel a bit sticky. The
East Coast National Scenic Area has developed three
round hot pools of different temperatures for visitors
to bathe in; visitors can enjoy island views of azure
seas and blue skies as they soak, and in the night time
they can savour the sight of the starry heavens.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #6
Taiwan’s Eastern Hot Springs in
Hualien county - Antung, Ruisui, Hungye,
and Wenshan
Antung Hot Springs - Hualien
county
The clear, odorless, salty hydrogen sulfide water of
the Antung hot springs can be used for bathing and
drinking as well, and is said to be able to cure
external wounds, skin ailments, and gastric diseases.
There is an old Japanese-style hot-spring hotel and a
new modern hotel for visitors to choose from.
Neighborhood residents frequently dig holes which fill
with water and provide them with open-air bathing,
adding a rustic atmosphere to the area. The water is so
hot that you can enjoy the incomparable pleasure of
boiling your own hot-spring eggs here.
Ruisui Hot Springs - Hualien
county
The Ruisui hot springs were discovered as early as
1919, with public baths then being built. The
Japanese-style hotel that operated at that time is
still in operation, and it has developed an open-air
bathing pool so that travellers can savour the pleasure
of hot-spring soaking in the wilderness. The spring
water here is rich in iron and emerges from the ground
at a temperature of 48 degrees Celsius; the iron in the
water oxidizes when it comes into contact with the air,
imparting a pale brown colour and a slightly salty,
rusty flavour. These are the only carbonate hot springs
on the entire island of Taiwan.
Many first-time visitors hesitate to bathe in the
Ruisui’s water, erroneously believing it to be
dirty; while, Japanese travellers who understand the
effects of the spring water come especially to soak in
the water with salt crystals floating on its surface.
The water is said to be effective in treating skin
allergies and rheumatism. The PH factor of this
carbonate spring water is between 6 and 7, making it
slightly alkaline. Frequent bathing in this kind of
water is said to increase the chances of a woman
bearing a male child; and this seems to be why the
Ruisui springs attracts large numbers of newlywed
couples who come in search of sons.
Hungye Hot Springs - Hualien
county
The hot mineral springs of Hungye (Hong- yeh) produce
bicarbonate water that is clear and odorless, and
emerges from the ground at a temperature of 47 degrees
Celsius. These springs became widely known during the
Japanese occupation period (1895-1945), and even today
there is still an old Japanese-style inn there that
provides baths for travelers nostalgic for the
past.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #7
Taiwan’s Northern Hot Springs -
Chinshan & Wulai Hot Springs in Taipei
County,
Chiaohsi & Jenzhe Hot Springs and Suau Cold
Spring in Ilan County
Wulai Hot Springs - Taipei
County
Wulai is the home of Atayal tribespeople, and here you
can observe their traditional dances and rituals. No
visit to Wulai is complete without a hot-spring bath.
The mineral spring water here comes in two types,
carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, both of which are
said to be good for treating gastric ailments and
beautifying the skin. You can go to a commercially
operated resort or bathing pool; or, if you want to
save money, you can go to a public pool on the bank of
the Nanshi River and enjoy the pleasure of open-air
bathing.
Suao Cold Springs - Ilan
County
The cold springs of Suao produce colorless, odorless
bicarbonate water at a temperature of 22 degrees
Celsius. The water is naturally carbonated. There are
only two sources of such mineral springs in the world,
the other being in Italy. The water is a bit
breathtaking when you first immerse yourself in it,
because it is colder than body temperature; in a few
minutes, though, your body will be suffused with warmth
and the bubbles caused by the carbonation will
instantly perk up your spirits.
Renze Hot Springs - Ilan
County
The Renze hot springs are at the midway point on trips
up to the Mt.Taiping Forest Recreation Area in Ilan
County. The calcium carbonate water here is extremely
hot, frequently emerging from the ground at above 95
degrees Celsius; it is colorless and odorless, and
leaves your skin feeling smooth and lustrous.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #8
Taiwan Central Hot Springs - Lushan, Guguan,
Dongpu, Wanda, Taian, Kukuan and Tung
Lushan/Guguan Hot Springs - Nantou
County
The Lushan hot springs are located in Nantou County's
Renai Township. The bicarbonate water here is clear,
transparent, and odorless; bathing in this water is
said to be good for rheumatism and neuralgia, and
drinking it is supposed to regulate acidity and cure
chronic gastritis.
Dongpu Hot Springs
Dongpu is
the Bunun aborigine village that is closest to the main
peak of Yushan, and is also a major gateway to the
Yushan National Park. The village is best known for its
hot springs, which emerge at a temperature of 48
degrees Celsius from the flank of Mt. Wangxiang to the
east. The bicarbonate water is transparent and pure,
and is said to be good for alleviating exhaustion, all
sorts of external injuries, damaged muscles and bones,
rheumatism, skin diseases, and neuritis.
Miaoli - Taian Hot Springs
The Taian hot spring area is located in Miaoli County's
Antung Township and includes the Hushan hot spring,
Taian hot spring, and Tenglong hot spring. The
bicarbonate water of the Taian hot spring area is
colorless and odorless, and is said to be effective in
treating arthritis, neuralgia, and gastric ailments.
The main source of the water is Taian, where it comes
from the ground at a temperature of about 47 degrees
Celsius.
The Hushan Hot spring is situated on a sandbar in
the river bed, and the Hushan Hot Spring Hotel provides
bathing and overnight facilities. The Tenglong hot
spring is approximately 3.8 kilometers east of the
Hushan hot spring and provides facilities for country
activities.
Great Taiwan Hot Springs experiences #9
Taiwan Southern Hot Springs - Baolai
and Bulao in Kaohsiung County
Baolai Hot Springs - Kaohsiung
County
The Baolai hot springs are
located deep in the mountains of Liugui Township,
Kaohsiung County, near the banks of the Laonong River.
The hot-spring waters are rich in minerals, and their
bicarbonate content is said to be able to loosen up the
muscles and bones as well as to beautify the body.
Bulao Hot Springs - Kaohsiung
County
The Bulao hot springs are also
located in Liugui Township and were developed back
during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan (1895-1945).
These springs too are situated beside the Laonong River
and produce a clear bicarbonate water that is suitable
for drinking as well as bathing and is said to be
effective for eliminating exhaustion, relieving
muscular aches and pains, and beautifying the skin.