Dried up for 40 years! The "largest in East Asia" Beitou century-old bathhouse is refilled with hot spring water again

▲ Back then, the Beitou Public Bathhouse was the largest in all of East Asia, enjoying its heyday. (Photo / Provided by Beitou Hot Spring Museum)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

Pouring a ladle of hot spring water may seem easy, but for the Beitou Public Bathhouse, it has been a 40-year journey — with 25 of those years seeing the site reduced to ruins,Local elder Grandma Chen recalls: “My impression of this place was overgrown weeds, like a haunted house. Thankfully, it was those kids and that petition letter...”

The “kids” Grandma Chen refers to are the students from Beitou Elementary School who, during a school trip 18 years ago, stumbled upon this site. Led by their teacher, they developed a strong sense of mission to preserve the culture, which led them to initiate the “Beitou Public Bathhouse Preservation Movement” and write that petition letter.Xu Hongguo, who was an elementary student at the time and participated in launching the movement, recalled: “I still remember the broken glass everywhere and wild weeds blocking our path, but we knew this place had meaning. With gratitude in our hearts, my classmates and I hoped to preserve this site that represents the history of Beitou’s hot springs.”After continuous petitions, historical research, appeals to all sectors of society, and the rallying support of Beitou residents, the site was designated as a third-grade historic monument in 1997. The following year, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum was established on the same spot.


▲ Today, water is once again flowing into the Beitou Public Bathhouse, and will continue to do so until November 3. (Photo / By Reporter Chen Ziying)

 
▲ In addition to the main bath, there were also individual hot spring tubs back then. (Photo / By Reporter Chen Ziying)

 
▲ Back then, a group of Beitou Elementary School students initiated a petition to preserve the historically and culturally significant public bathhouse. Pictured left is Xu Hongguo (on the right in the photo); led by Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs Director Liu Weigong (third from left in the right photo), hot spring water was poured back into the bathhouse, reviving its former glory. (Photo / By Reporter Chen Ziying)

Now, 15 years later, the Beitou Public Bathhouse not only remains preserved on the first floor of the Hot Spring Museum, but has also become a must-visit spot for both domestic and international tourists. Museum director Chung Chao-chia said: “The core value of this museum has gained recognition and a shared willingness to work together from residents and the community. Our oldest volunteer is 89 years old. What’s precious here is the human spirit. This is no longer just a museum — the public bath area has become a stage, a space full of cultural significance.”

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the public bathhouse and the 15th anniversary of the Hot Spring Museum. To commemorate this, the museum staff specially refilled the former communal bath with hot spring water today (24th), symbolizing the revival of its former glory. The public is also invited to use wooden ladles to pour water into the pool, experiencing the historical site where time and space intersect — a moment full of special meaning.

 
▲% Visitors can also experience scooping water into the pool using a wooden ladle, feeling a deep sense of immersion and nostalgia. (Photo / By Reporter Chen Ziying)