Often referred to as “The Hot Spring Kingdom,” Taiwan is one of the world’s top 15 hot spring destinations. With some 130 hot spring sites, Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations and greatest variety of hot springs in the world, including the Dongpu Hot Spring area.
Please watch the following video of the Dongpu Hot Spring Area in central Taiwan:
Situated in central Taiwan’s Nantou County at about 1,200 meters above sea level, the Dongpu Hot Spring Area (東埔溫泉區) is one of the most famous tourist attractions for hot springs in Taiwan. The hot springs in this area pour out from a nearby valley and are fed by mild alkaline carbonic acid water.
An indoor hot spring pool in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: via Hotel Tilun Dongpu Spa)
With a pH value of about 7.5 and a temperature of around 50°C, the hot spring water in Dongpu is clear and odorless. A soak in the springs can get rid of tiredness, stimulate the appetite, and improve your overall health. In particular, the hot springs are widely known for their beautifying effects on the skin. As a result, Dongpu is not only popular among hot spring-goers, but it is also liked by mountain climbers.
A cavern-like hot spring pool inside a leading hotel in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
There are over a dozen hot spring hotels in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area, each with its own character and charm. In addition to indoor hot spring pools, some hotels are equipped with open-air hot spring pools, cavern-like hot spring pools, spas, and saunas. People who visit Dongpu can also take in the beautiful mountain scenery while relaxing in the springs.
There are diverse hot spring pools at hotels in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: via Hotel Tilun Dongpu Spa )
In one of the leading hot spring hotels in the area, a simulated cavern hot spring pool comprises a series of pools of various sizes with temperatures ranging from 16°C-40°C, including a whirlpool hot spring pool (Jacuzzi) and pools fitted with hot-spring showers and deck chairs. If it is not crowded, visitors can even swim in one of the hot spring pools.
Visitors can appreciate the beautiful scenery of the mountains and a suspension bridge in Dongpu. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
Close to the Yu Mountain (Yushan) National Park, visitors can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains and a large suspension bridge from the windows of some hotel rooms when the weather is clear.
The Rainbow Waterfall in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: via Chang Hsi-Hsin)
Other sites to visit around the Dongpu Hot Spring area
Besides soaking in the hot springs, there are other sites visitors wouldn’t want to miss when visiting the Dongpu Hot Spring Area, including Rainbow Waterfall, Lover’s Valley, Rainbow Suspension Bridge, Yunlong Waterfall (雲龍瀑布), and Yinyu Waterfall (乙女瀑布).
Dongpu is a famous Bunun tribe with superb hot springs and beautiful mountain scenery. (Image: Julia Fu via Nspirement)
Dongpu is the starting point of the Batongguan Ancient Trail (八通關古道), an ancient aboriginal trail left behind from the Qing Dynasty. Many hikers stay overnight in the area to enjoy the superb hot springs to relax tired muscles after a day of hiking on the ancient trail.
A Bunun tribe’s stone slab house in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: Billy Shyu via Nspirement)
When hiking on the Batongguan Ancient Trail, hikers will encounter a famous cliff called “Fuzi Cliff” (“Father and Son Cliff”父子斷崖). As its name suggests, the cliff is so steep that if a father’s son fell off, the father would be unable to save the son.
The Rainbow Bridge in the Dongpu Hot Spring Area. (Image: Screenshot via YouTube))
Since Dongpu is close to Taiwan’s largest plum producing sites, Fonggueidou (風斗櫃), Wusonglun (烏松崙), and Niuchoukeng (牛稠坑), visitors can enjoy the snow-like plum blossoms from December to January, and appreciate plum trees laden with fruit from March to April.
Dongpu Hot Spring Area is an all-season destination where visitors can soak in the hot springs, hike, sightsee, or just relax in this summer retreat.
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