Things to do in Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring Resorts

Just a couple of hours flight from the noisy, stressful streets of Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo or Bangkok, Taipei has natural hot springs to relax your body amidst natural mountain landscapes that sooth your mind.

The hot spring resorts specialize in healthy gourmet Chinese and Taiwanese food. They emphasize using the best local seasonal ingredients. For example, the Chiao Hsi tomato grows in the sodium-bicarbonate hot spring water farm, and the Yang Ming Shan organic vegetables are farmed by hand in the high attitude valleys. These dishes are not like Taiwan's famous night market or street food. They are healthy gourmet foods, served in a peaceful, quiet environment.

The hot springs at Yang Ming Shan, Beitou and Chiao Hsi are only about 30 minutes to one hour drive from Taipei. Beitou, a suburb of northern Taipei, is the closest, and can be reached by metro in about half an hour.

The hot spring water compositions varies. For example, the sulphur hot springs found around Yang Ming Shan in North Taipei have a milky white colour and a pungent scent, while the sodium-bicarbonate hot springs around the east coast town of Chiao Hsi are clear and odourless.

Here are a few hot spring resorts for your reference.

Landis Resort YangMingShan

SweetMe Hotspring Resort (Beitou)

Les Champs (Chiao Hsi)

Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi