Beitou
Taiwan is ranked among the world's top hot spring sites. There are over 100 hot springs all over the island ranging from common sulphur springs to rare seawater springs. While most of these hot springs are located far from major urban areas, Beitou is the exception. Beitou is the closest hot springs to Taipei and it is about a 35 minute MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) ride from the city. That said, Beitou is very popular with locals who live in the city and tourists alike, who travel here for a quick and convenient soak in the wenquan (hot springs), where the sulphurous waters are said to have healing qualities. We spent an enjoyable afternoon in Beitou, where we visited Beitou Thermal Valley and the Outdoor Public Bath.
Beitou Thermal Valley
Beitou Thermal Valley covers an area of 3500 square feet. The Beitou Thermal Valley Hot Spring is a green sulphur spring with a temperature of over 80 degrees Celsius. Visitors are permitted around the perimeter of the basin, but it was hard to see the actual hot spring due to the constant rising steam. Interesting enough, the sulphur smell was strong, but not too overwhelming.
Beitou Outdoor Public Bath
Beitou has a variety of bathing options, from free roadside creeks for soaking feet, to luxurious private baths in upscale resorts. David was very keen to experience a hot spring in Taiwan, so he decided to visit the Outdoor Pubic Bath. This co-ed public hot spring has three pools ranging in temperature from comfortably hot to scalding hot. There is also a pool with frigid water to cool-off. When we first got there it was empty, but later on in the afternoon, it got very busy with people coming after work for a soak. For privacy reasons, only people bathing are allowed inside and cameras are banned from the premises. That said, I (Sam) could only take photos from the area overlooking the baths. David could only spend about 15 minutes soaking in the hot pool (the middle one of the three), as it got too hot after a while. Despite the short visit, David was happy he got to experience a Taiwanese hot spring.
Beitou has a variety of bathing options, from free roadside creeks for soaking feet, to luxurious private baths in upscale resorts. David was very keen to experience a hot spring in Taiwan, so he decided to visit the Outdoor Pubic Bath. This co-ed public hot spring has three pools ranging in temperature from comfortably hot to scalding hot. There is also a pool with frigid water to cool-off. When we first got there it was empty, but later on in the afternoon, it got very busy with people coming after work for a soak. For privacy reasons, only people bathing are allowed inside and cameras are banned from the premises. That said, I (Sam) could only take photos from the area overlooking the baths. David could only spend about 15 minutes soaking in the hot pool (the middle one of the three), as it got too hot after a while. Despite the short visit, David was happy he got to experience a Taiwanese hot spring.
Yingge
Yingge is situated about forty minutes south by train from Taipei. It is a pottery town with numerous pottery plants and shops selling an array of pottery and ceramic objects. Pottery was first introduced to Yingge in 1804 and it started out as small cottage industry producing cheap earthenware. With the Japanese occupation, Yingge's production of pottery was ramped up in the 1930's to include ceramic parts for mines and weapons. After World War II, Ceramicists from all over Taiwan began to settle in Yingge and by the 1970's it was one of the largest production centres in the world. However, like many other industries around the world, in the 1990's, Yingge saw most of its production moved to China. Today, Yingge is no longer the large manufacturing base it once was, but is now more a cultural venue for lovers of traditional crafts and pottery. We spent a lovely morning in Yingge visiting the numerous pottery and ceramics shops.
Yingge is situated about forty minutes south by train from Taipei. It is a pottery town with numerous pottery plants and shops selling an array of pottery and ceramic objects. Pottery was first introduced to Yingge in 1804 and it started out as small cottage industry producing cheap earthenware. With the Japanese occupation, Yingge's production of pottery was ramped up in the 1930's to include ceramic parts for mines and weapons. After World War II, Ceramicists from all over Taiwan began to settle in Yingge and by the 1970's it was one of the largest production centres in the world. However, like many other industries around the world, in the 1990's, Yingge saw most of its production moved to China. Today, Yingge is no longer the large manufacturing base it once was, but is now more a cultural venue for lovers of traditional crafts and pottery. We spent a lovely morning in Yingge visiting the numerous pottery and ceramics shops.
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