A Five-Star Boutique Retreat Hidden in the Mountains of Miaoli: Glass-View Bath and Mountain Spring Pool

▲Shuye is surrounded not only by camphor forests and bamboo groves, but also boasts even more stunning scenery when irises are in bloom. (Photo provided by Shuye Villa; all others below are the same)

Reported by Li Zi-yi / Comprehensive Report

Tucked away in the mountains and forests of Miaoli, this hidden gem in Sanyi also offers an independent pool resort villa. Summer is the perfect time to head for the hills—why not escape the heat in Miaoli? Aside from the photogenic Junjing Lake Boutique Hotel, Miaoli is also home to Shuye Villa, which feels like a secret base. Blessed with a unique natural environment, you can soak in a bath while enjoying mountain and forest views. It’s also located near the popular Longteng Broken Bridge scenic spot, making it easy to explore other Instagram-worthy sites.

Recently winning the Environmental Category First Prize at the architectural world’s equivalent of the Oscars—the Global Outstanding Building Award—Shuye Villa perfectly integrates its beautiful design with the surrounding environment. Built along the natural terrain without leveling the land or cutting down trees, the resort even features a century-old camphor tree inside one of the rooms.

▲Seasonally, fireflies can also be spotted nearby.

The entire property spans 3 hectares, though only over 600 pyeong (approximately 20,000 square meters) have been developed. Built on the foundation of ecological architecture, it was initially intended for private use rather than as a guesthouse. To avoid harming the land, the design navigates around trees and avoids land leveling. The construction process was quite challenging, taking four to five years to complete, resulting in one main building and four distinctive villas. The villas are enveloped by native camphor forests and bamboo, offering lush greenery and serene views in every direction.

▲There’s also a cool mountain spring pool next to the main building.

Outside the main structure lies a pool with a special feature: its water is cool mountain spring water, giving the feeling of swimming in nature. Due to the relatively cold water temperature, the pool is only open from June 1 to mid-October each year.

▲Each of the four rooms has its own outdoor balcony, offering views full of greenery.

The four rooms are named Qingchuan, Shuquan, Churi, and Zuiyue, each nearly 30 pyeong in size. They include outdoor balconies and a stunning glass-enclosed infinity bath with floor-to-ceiling windows, featuring geothermal water. All four room types make extensive use of glass, ensuring excellent natural lighting—so much so that you hardly need to turn on the lights during the day.

▲The Shuquan room even has a camphor tree inside, making it the room that best showcases the harmony between architecture and nature.

Shuquan is the room that best represents the symbiosis of architecture and nature, built around a camphor tree with the tree visible from inside the room. Qingchuan is the closest to the main building, making it more convenient for meals and featuring the fewest stairs in the entire complex. Its view is concentrated in the bathroom, where you can see the outdoor pool and the scenery of the old mountain railway line, making it especially suitable for guests traveling with elders.

▲Zuiyue features a skylight, allowing you to see stars and the moon on winter nights.

▲Churi even includes a princess bed, which is very popular with girls.

Churi is the room type that receives the first sunlight of the day in the complex, offering plenty of sunshine. Its most distinctive feature is the glass-enclosed staircase corridor, where you can sit and admire the camphor trees and blue sky outside. There’s also a romantic white princess bed, particularly favored by girls. Zuoyue’s highlight is its “skylight” design, which allows you to see stars and the moon on clear winter nights.

▲There are many staircase designs throughout the property.

Due to the many staircases on the property, safety considerations mean that since last year, the resort only accepts children aged 10 and above, as well as adults. Known as a five-star boutique accommodation, a one-night stay costs approximately NT$14,300 to NT$22,000, including breakfast and dinner for two. Many guests visiting Miaoli are eager to try local specialties, so Shuye’s dinners focus on Hakka cuisine combined with ingredients from local small farms, with seasonal dishes changing regularly.

Shuye Villa

Address: No. 27-1, Wai Zhuang, Liulin Village, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County
Phone: 03 788 1712