The four most famous hot spring areas in Taiwan are Yangmingshan Hot Springs, Beitou Hot Springs, Guanziling Hot Springs, and Sichongxi Hot Springs, collectively known as "Taiwan's four major hot springs".
During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese recognized Taiwan's abundant hot spring resources and saw an opportunity to promote the habit of bathing. As a result, they began developing hot springs and building public bathhouses in the northern region of Taiwan. The bathhouses in Beitou, Yangmingshan, Guanziling, and Sichongxi were the most well-known and prosperous at that time. They also incorporated various Japanese hot spring culture designs, such as nude bathing, Japanese-style bathrobes, and health-promoting hot springs.
1. Beitou Hot Springs is the earliest developed hot spring area in Taiwan. As early as 1893, a businessman learned about the abundant natural hot springs in Beitou and established Taiwan's first private hot spring club. In addition, the first hot spring hotel established in Taiwan, called "Ten Gu An" (now a historic site), is also located here. Therefore, Beitou is known as the birthplace of hot springs in Taiwan and is the foremost of Taiwan's four famous hot springs. There are mainly two types of hot springs in Beitou, one is carbonated spring and the other is sulfur spring. Among them, there are only two blue sulfur radium springs in the world, which contain radium elements in the spring water and can relax tired muscles and bones.
2. Yangmingshan Hot Springs was first developed in 1913 during the Japanese colonial period, and a public hot spring bath was established. At that time, it could attract up to 60,000 visitors per year, making it the most well-known hot spring area in northern Taiwan. In terms of hot spring quality, all the hot springs in the Yangmingshan area belong to sulfur springs, with white sulfur springs being the most prominent. The spring water is white, resembling milk, and feels silky smooth to the touch. It can help with beauty and skin care, hence it is also known as the "beauty bath". In addition, with the presence of a national park, the surrounding hot spring facilities and natural environment are well-protected and managed. If you want to enjoy both hot springs and scenery in northern Taiwan, Yangmingshan Hot Springs is definitely the place to go.
3. Guanziling Hot Springs originated in 1898 and were then called "Special Springs", specifically catering to high-ranking officials during the Japanese colonial period, before gradually developing into the current hot spring resort. The hot spring quality at Guanziling is very unique, belonging to mud hot springs. It is not only the only one in Taiwan but also one of the three major mud hot springs in the world, making it extremely rare. Due to the presence of sand mud, the spring water appears gray-black and has a higher temperature than regular hot springs, averaging above 75°C. After soaking, it can make the complexion more rosy and help with beauty and skin care.
4. Sichongxi Hot Spring is the second earliest developed hot spring area in Taiwan. With elegant surroundings of green mountains and clear waters, it was a popular destination for hot spring enthusiasts, and even visited by the Japanese emperor, gaining widespread fame and recognition as one of Taiwan's four famous hot springs. Among the four famous hot springs in Taiwan, Sichongxi Hot Spring has the clearest water. Its water quality is sedimentary rock carbonic acid spring, so pure that one can see the bottom of the hot spring pool with the naked eye, and the hot spring water was drinkable in earlier times. Locals also use the hot spring water to produce a famous delicacy - the red-yolked salted egg, which is not only healthy but also delicious. If you visit the Zhongxi Hot Spring area, it's worth trying this local specialty.
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