Taiwan's Best Hot Springs
If you continue up to Bo’ai Road, Taitung Story Museum is a gorgeous cafe/ bookshop perfect for a quick coffee and cake fix. Behind the cafe, you’ll also find some cool photo spots if you’re into the ‘Gram. In the midst of indigenous architecture and nostalgic flair, residents here are mostly farmers and fishermen. This sweet and juicy fruit it is one of Dawu’s most popular souvenirs. Off the coast of Dawu, a rare saltwater gusher has been found.
Mineral deposits from the hot spring water have painted the cliff vibrant hues of orange and green, which is a true spectacle to observe as you recline in the hot water and look up. There are even calcium carbonate deposits that look like brain coral. For the best developed/family-friendly hot springs, head to Huilai Resort (會來尖石溫泉渡假村) (see on Booking / Agoda 必備走春 / TripAdvisor). Note that the kids’ waterpark at Huilai is not heated, so that section is not open in winter, but there are still plenty of shallow pools for the kids to enjoy. One of the most rewarding wild hot springs in Northern Taiwan is Sileng Hot Spring, located in a remote corner of Taoyuan on the Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provinial Highway #7).
The eight-arches cross-sea bridge taking you to Sanxiantai Island is a famous landmark in eastern Taiwan. The bridge represents the waves of the ocean and also the Chinese dragon. The island was once connected to the mainland and used to be home to the Amis tribe, it’s now uninhabited and classified as a nature reserve area. A local legend state that one day, 3 gods visited the island and left their footprints there. Even though Chishang is quite small, it’s got a lot going for it!
Those who like trying local foods might want to consider staying atCentury Hotel. There are lots of famous restaurants serving local dishes near this Hot spring hotel. The room is large and comfortable, and the bathroom also has a hot spring bath.
However, you’ll need to budget a whole day for the adventure, including driving time and the 3-4 hours needed to hike to it. If you’re spending the night in Yuli, it’s a quick hop over to Antong Hot Spring, on a small highway connecting highways 9 and 11 on the coast. A cheaper choice that also has private tubs in your room plus a big public hot spring is Coco’s Hot Spring Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor). Because it’s quite close to Hualien City, you could also do this as an easy day trip from Hualien. It felt rushed but it was certainly doable, and this wasn’t a problem for us since our main goal was to spend several days in Kenting. If you actually want to see more of the stops along the way, I wouldn’t recommend this.
Chishang is the first township you will enter after crossing the Hualien-Taitung border. Along with Yuli and Guanshan and Luye , it’s another great place to spend the night in the beautiful East Rift Valley. You can read my more detailed guide to Chishang and Mr. Brown Avenue here. If you live in Taiwan, you could easily make countless weekend trips to this part of Taiwan, only focusing on one smaller area in Hualien or Taitung each time. With express trains making the journey from Taipei to Taitung in a mere 3.5 hours, weekend trips to the southeast have become all the more feasible.
Usually made of wild boar or dear and a range of plants you’ve never heard about, the food in Taitung is usually really tasty and different from the more classical Taiwanese food. If you want to try the aboriginal cuisine head for Mi Ba Nai in Taitung city or Luolei restaurant which also offers traditional music performances. Taitung County is located on the delta of the Beinan River, at the southern tip of the rift valley.
Dashibishan is a series of wooden stairs out on a cape looking out over Jici beach. Fengbin Skywalk with a terrying coastal walk with some sections with glass floors. Unfortunately, both of these walkways are marked as closed at the time I write this. This very easy 15.2 kilometer path takes in the bucolic scenery that you’ve come for and features the aisle of betel palms, a section flanked by areca palms on either side of the path. While Chishang is trendier among young people these days, some Taiwanese families or older people still prefer Guanshan.
Dulan is a laid-back beach town in the North of Taitung City. If you are just passing by on Highway 11, you might not think much of it as a worthy spot to stop by. But exploring further around the town, you will soon realize this small town exudes completely different vibes. Lisong Hot Spring has been on my list for years, but I never got a chance. One time it rained too much, which wouldn’t have been safe.