Abandoned Building Transformed into Five-Star Hotel: Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel Opens on the 12th

▲A building that had been abandoned for over a decade has now been reborn as a new resort hotel.

Reported and photographed by Chen Ruizhong, Taitung

In the past, many people entering the Chihpen Hot Springs area could see an idle hotel building near the entrance. After years of renovation, this abandoned structure has been transformed into the Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel, built to five-star standards, and officially opened today (September 12). The event featured multiple performances, and many Taiwanese travel and hotel industry representatives were present to offer their congratulations.

▲The Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel officially opened on September 12, gearing up for the year-end hot spring crowd.

The Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel was established under the Ministry of Finance’s asset revitalization policy, pioneering a new model for reactivating non-performing assets. It offers a total of 280 rooms across more than 10 room types. Hotel facilities include a hot spring swimming pool (under construction), Beauty Spring (onsen), SPA, fitness center, and various restaurants. Room options include traditional guest rooms as well as tatami-style rooms. Nightly rates start from NT$8,200, with premium rooms priced at NT$16,800 per night. In the future, the hotel will focus not only on hosting high-end groups from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere but also on the domestic tourism market.

After officially commencing operations, Jinlian Hotel will also apply for star rating certification and is expected to become the fourth five-star hotel in Taitung, following hotels such as The Lalu, Chihsing Tan Katsuo Museum, and Naluwan.

▲(From left to right, second row) Huang Dingfang, Chairman of Taiwan Jinlian; Huang Jian-teng, Magistrate of Taitung County; Yang Bolü, Chairman of Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel.

At the opening ceremony, Taitung County Magistrate Huang Jian-teng stated that Taitung County has been actively transforming the Chihpen area over the past two to three years, improving aspects such as parking, accommodation, and commercial areas, in hopes of restoring the century-old reputation of Chihpen Hot Springs.

Huang Jian-teng also noted that in 2009, the average hotel occupancy rate in Taitung was only 32%, ranking 17th in Taiwan. By 2014, the average occupancy rate had risen to 67%, ranking second in the country. Now, Taitung needs to focus on improving the quality of tourism, and it is hoped that the opening of the Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel will further enhance the region’s tourism environment.

▲The hotel offers tatami-style rooms for guests to choose from.

Huang Dingfang, Chairman of Taiwan Jinlian and the mastermind behind the hotel’s construction, stated that currently about 6.6 million travelers visit Taitung each year. Coupled with the improved transportation accessibility brought by the Puyuma Express, this will further boost Taitung’s tourism development. With the official operation of the hotel, approximately 500 new jobs will be created, stimulating the local economy.

%The interior adopts a minimalist design, making full use of natural elements.

Yang Bolü, Chairman of Chihpen Jinlian Century Hotel, mentioned that with the increase in Taitung’s tourist population, many existing facilities can no longer meet visitors’ needs. The Jinlian Century Hotel is the first collaboration between Taiwan’s tourism industry and an asset management company. After two years of renovation, it aims to become a new accommodation option for travelers in Taitung.