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Hot Springs Around Taipei
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All your worldly cares will
melt away with a wintertime dip in one of Taiwan's many
beautiful hot spring.
(courtesy of Spring City) |
Geologists tell us that the Tatun Mountains north of Taipei were formed around 2.8 million years ago when the Philippine Sea Plate rammed into the Eurasian Plate, a collision which gave birth to more than 20 volcanoes. These volcanoes remained active until a bit more than 300,000 years ago.
While the tectonic turbulence that created Taiwan has largely subsided, geothermal activity continues today, dotting our beautiful island with 99 delightful hot springs. Many of Taiwan's best loved hot springs are in Yangmingshan, Peitou, and Wulai, each within an hour's drive of downtown Taipei, and each offering visitors its own distinctive scenery. There's something for everyone there, with luxury hotels, restaurants serving wild herbs from the nearby mountains, and open-air hot springs that anyone can hop into free of charge.
If you're a nature lover, the winter is a good time to hike in the hills in Taiwan and take a dip in a hot spring. And winter is when the cherry blossoms and calla lilies come into full bloom on Yangmingshan. If you're a history buff, you'll be intrigued by all the Japanese-style architecture at the hot spring resorts and the area's many historic sites. Learn all about Peitou's rich history at Peitou Hot Springs Museum and the Taiwan Folk Arts Museum. Less than an hour south from downtown Taipei is Wulai, Taipei County's only Aboriginal mountain village. The visitor to Wulai can learn about the culture of the Atayal tribe and try out their distinctive cuisine. The beautiful waterfalls and gorges along Nanshih Creek will make you wonder if you've stumbled upon the fabled Shangri-la!
Wintertime is hot spring season in Taiwan. There's nothing quite like jumping into a pool of natural spring water for a long, hot soak while the fragrance of flowers wafts through on the nippy winter air. So go on. Make your winter!
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