The Four Creeks Hot Spring Festival Kicks Off; Mascot Onion Baby Makes First Street Parade Appearance

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The two-month-long 2013 Four Creeks Sightseeing Hot Spring Festival kicked off in high spirits on the 16th. With installation art street decorations and a lively street parade warming up the atmosphere, the festival was officially launched. Pingtung County Government has continued to offer attractions such as herbal beauty hot springs, free massages, free shuttle buses to the hot spring area, a 300-year-old eggplant tree as a wishing tree, and bundled discount packages that include tribal tours of Mudan Township, inviting both domestic and international tourists to the southernmost part of the country to “admire the beautiful scenery, taste delicious food, and soak in beautiful hot springs.”


▲ The two-month-long 2013 Four Creeks Sightseeing Hot Spring Festival kicked off on the 16th. (Photo / Provided by Pingtung County Government)

The opening ceremony on the 16th combined with a street parade event, gathering over 400 participants from 20 groups. The program was rich and diverse, blending Japanese aesthetics with local characteristics. The mascot Onion Baby made its first public appearance. The parade started from Checheng Elementary School’s Hot Spring Branch, traveled along Hot Spring Road to Fuquan Temple, and ended at Fuan Temple, the largest Guanyin temple in Taiwan. The whole route was lively with drumbeats, long parade lines, and grand scenes, reaching multiple climaxes. Many tourists flocked to capture the moment, filling the old street with vibrant energy and the festive atmosphere of the Four Creeks Hot Spring Festival.

In addition to offering a free 10-minute blind massage experience, guests staying at designated hotels can also make on-site reservations for full massage services, allowing visitors to enjoy the dual relaxation of forest aromatherapy and shiatsu massage while soaking in the hot springs.


▲ Mascot Onion Baby. (Photo / Provided by Pingtung County Government)

The Tourism Bureau stated that the Four Creeks Hot Spring Festival will continue until January 20th of next year. To make it easier for tourists to enjoy the hot springs, the county government has thoughtfully arranged free shuttle buses. During the festival, from Friday to Sunday, every day between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., a free shuttle bus runs every 30 to 40 minutes between Checheng Farmers’ Association and Four Creeks Hot Spring. Tourists can take the Chengkun Express bus from Zuoying HSR Station, Kaohsiung Railway Station, or Pingtung Railway Station, get off at Checheng Farmers’ Association, and transfer to the free shuttle.

The county government has also launched bundled discount packages in combination with the Mudan tribal tour. A one-day trip costs NT$380 per person, while a two-day trip is NT$2,500 (for a double room) or NT$2,100 (for a four-person room). These packages aim to allow tourists to go beyond Four Creeks and explore Mudan, experiencing hidden gems such as the sunrise at Shuhai, Shuhai Hot Springs, Mudan Reservoir, A-Xiqi Ancient Trail, and Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area.

For those who prefer independent travel, you can also purchase the Kenting Express combo ticket to enjoy a 25% discount on round-trip HSR tickets, a round-trip Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Kenting Express ticket, and receive one Kenting Streetcar ride for free. Alternatively, you can purchase a round-trip ticket from Zuoying to Checheng for NT$580 at the Kenting Express counter at Exit 2 of Zuoying HSR Station, which includes a free one-way trip from Checheng to Four Creeks and a discount voucher for accommodation.
To encourage people to visit Four Creeks for hot spring experiences, the county government has also designed a lottery event. By taking a photo with the Hot Spring Baby mascot and uploading it to the “i Pingtung ~ Love Pingtung” Facebook page, participants have the chance to win cultural and creative merchandise featuring Onion Baby. Those who spend NT$1,000 or more individually can also receive a lottery ticket, with grand prizes including iPhones and tablets. Details of the event can be found on the official website.http://lovehotspring.tw