Hot Springs in Taiwan

Are there hot springs in Taiwan?

Yes, more than 100. Taiwan's hot springs range from Beitou, a metro ride from central Taipei, to Jiaoxi in Yilan, the mud springs of Guanziling and Zhaori on Green Island, one of only a few seawater hot springs in the world.

The bathing culture took its cue from Japanese onsen, and most hot spring towns have hotels with private baths alongside cheaper public baths. Unlike Japan, tattoos are generally not a problem.

The water varies a lot, from the acidic sulphur springs of Beitou to clear, odourless springs at Jiaoxi and iron-rich water at Ruisui.

Best hot springs in Taiwan

The hot spring areas most visitors choose between, from Taipei to the east coast.

• Onsen town

  Beitou Hot Spring

  Beitou, Taipei

  Taiwan's best-known hot spring district, a metro ride from central Taipei, with hotels, a hot spring museum and public baths.

• Onsen town

  Jiaoxi Hot Springs

  Jiaoxi, Yilan

  A hot spring town right by the train station, known for clear, odourless water and free foot baths.

• Seawater springs

  Zhaori Hot Spring

  Green Island, Taitung

  Saltwater hot springs on the shore of Green Island, heated to 60–70°C at the source and cooled in the pools.

• Public bath

  Lengshuikeng Public Bath

  Yangmingshan, Taipei

  A free public bathhouse with milky sulphur water in Yangmingshan National Park.

• Mud springs

  Guanziling Mud Hot Springs

  Baihe, Tainan

  Rare grey mud hot springs in the hills, and one of Taiwan's four historic hot spring areas.

• Onsen town

  Wulai Hot Springs

  Wulai, New Taipei

  A mountain village south of Taipei with riverside hot spring hotels and a waterfall nearby.

• Hot springs

  Guguan Hot Springs

  Heping, Taichung

  A mountain hot spring town in the Dajia River valley, popular with Taiwanese weekenders.

• Hot springs

  Ruisui Hot Springs

  Ruisui, Hualien

  Rust-coloured, iron-rich hot springs in the East Rift Valley.

• Hot springs

  Sichongxi Hot Springs

  Checheng, Pingtung

  One of Taiwan's four historic hot spring areas, an easy stop on the way to Kenting.

Hot springs in Taiwan map

Every one of the 20 hot springs on this page, with natural springs, resorts and pools shown by pin shape.

Famous hot springs in Taiwan

All 20 hot spring areas we list in Taiwan, A to Z, from Taipei's Beitou to Green Island.

• Hot springs

  Antong Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Hot springs in the East Rift Valley, with a historic Japanese-era hotel.

• Hot springs

  Baolai Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Hot springs in the mountains of Kaohsiung, with small resorts by the Laonong River.

• Onsen town

  Beitou Hot Spring, Taiwan

  Hot spring district at the end of a metro line in Taipei, with hotels, a museum and cheap public baths.

• Public bath

  Beitou Park Public Hot Spring, Taiwan

  Inexpensive outdoor public baths in Beitou Park, where swimsuits are required.

• View only

  Beitou Thermal Valley, Taiwan

  Steaming green lake of acidic hot water in Beitou, for looking at only; it's far too hot to touch.

• Hot springs

  Dongpu Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Mountain hot springs at a trailhead near Yushan National Park, with hotels.

• Mud springs

  Guanziling Mud Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Rare grey mud hot springs in the hills of Tainan; nearby, a spring burns with fire on the water.

• Hot springs

  Guguan Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Mountain hot spring town in the Dajia River valley, with hotels and a public foot bath.

• Onsen town

  Jiaoxi Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Hot spring town by the train station, with clear, odourless water, free foot baths and public baths.

• Hot springs

  Jinlun Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Quiet hot spring village near the Taitung coast, with simple baths.

• Onsen town

  Jinshan Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Seaside hot spring town on the north coast, with sulphur and iron-rich springs, a public foot bath and hotels.

• Public bath

  Lengshuikeng Public Bath, Taiwan

  Free public bathhouse and foot bath in Yangmingshan National Park, with milky sulphur water.

• Hot springs

  Qingquan Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Hot springs in the Atayal mountain village of Qingquan, with small hotels and a public bath.

• Hot springs

  Renze Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Mountain hot springs on the road to Taipingshan forest, with a lodge and public pools.

• Hot springs

  Ruisui Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Iron-rich, rust-coloured hot springs in the East Rift Valley, with long-running inns.

• Hot springs

  Sichongxi Hot Springs, Taiwan

  One of Taiwan's four historic hot spring areas, on the way to Kenting.

• Hot springs

  Tai'an Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Mountain hot spring area with clear, odourless alkaline water and resorts along the river.

• Onsen town

  Wulai Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Mountain village south of Taipei with hot spring hotels along the Nanshi River and a waterfall nearby.

• Seawater springs

  Zhaori Hot Spring, Taiwan

  Saltwater hot springs on Green Island's shore, one of only a few in the world, with ocean views.

• Hot springs

  Zhiben Hot Springs, Taiwan

  Hot spring resort area in a river valley near Taitung City.

When to go and how to reach hot springs in Taiwan

Seasons

Hot spring season runs from about October to March, when the weather is cool. Summer is hot and humid, but many places still open early in the morning and in the evening. Typhoons can close mountain roads in summer and autumn.

Entry fees

Public baths are cheap, and Lengshuikeng is free. Hotels sell day use of their public pools or private bath rooms, usually by the hour, and charge more at weekends.

Access and travel

Beitou is on the Taipei Metro, Jiaoxi is a short train or bus ride from Taipei, and Green Island is a ferry or short flight from Taitung. Mountain springs such as Guguan, Baolai and Renze are best reached by car or tour.

Frequently asked questions about hot springs in Taiwan

How to soak responsibly in Taiwan

Taiwanese baths mix Japanese customs with a few local ones.

• Wash before you soakShower thoroughly at the washing stations before getting into any shared bath.
• Check roads after typhoonsMountain hot spring areas can be cut off by landslides.
• Don't touch the Thermal Valley waterBeitou's green sulphur springs are strongly acidic and far too hot to bathe in.
• Check the swimsuit ruleIndoor public baths are usually nude and single-sex; outdoor pools usually require swimsuits.
• Wear a swim cap if askedSome public pools require one.
• Keep soaks shortMany springs are very hot; take breaks and drink water.

Pictures of hot springs in Taiwan

Photos of Beitou Hot Spring, Jiaoxi Hot Springs, Zhaori Hot Spring, Lengshuikeng Public Bath, Guanziling Mud Hot Springs and Wulai Hot Springs, all hot springs in this guide. We only use photos whose license allows reuse and credit the photographer under each one. The full credits are on our photo credits page.

Hot springs elsewhere in Asia

Continue to another country in Asia.

• Japan
• South Korea
• Turkey
• Indonesia
• Philippines

See every country with hot springs