A Million Plum Blossoms Bloom: A One-Day Hot Spring & Plum Viewing Trip in Kaohsiung

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Kaohsiung’s Liugui Baolai is the southernmost plum blossom viewing spot in Taiwan. Every winter, it’s a great place for flower appreciation, hot spring bathing, mountain hiking, and leisurely walks. This year, due to the cold wave and high humidity after consecutive days of rain, the plum blossoms have bloomed abundantly, covering the mountains with seas of flowers like snowscapes in the forest — a stunning sight that’s perfect for a one-day trip to soak in hot springs and admire the blossoms in the chilly weather.

Plum Blossom Viewing
During the plum blossom season in Liugui District, the vast sea of blossoms spans 200 hectares with about 12,000 plum trees, making it the most beautiful floral spectacle in southern Taiwan. Especially in the Zhulin area of Liugui and the plum-producing specialty zone on the western slopes of Meilong Mountain in Baolai, with altitudes ranging from 440m to 1320m, the climate is ideal for growing plum trees. Even in early February, visitors can still enjoy the plum blossom scenery.

Hot Spring Bathing
When visiting Liugui for plum blossoms, don’t miss out on soaking in the Bulao Hot Springs and Baolai Hot Springs. The Bulao Hot Springs have a temperature between 40-50°C and are a genuine weak alkaline carbonated spring. The water is colorless and odorless, leaving your skin smooth after bathing, as if you’ve regained youthfulness — it’s said to have anti-aging benefits.

Baolai Hot Springs mainly feature carbonated springs and are located right next to the Laonong River. The pH value ranges from 7.2 to 7.8, making it a weak alkaline spring. The water is transparent, clear, colorless, and tasteless, with a temperature of around 60°C. It leaves the skin especially smooth after bathing and is quite effective for relieving muscle and joint soreness.

The newly developed Baolai Huashang Hot Spring Park in Liugui also features a variety of plants and flower-viewing trails. With hot spring resources used to create foot-soaking pools, the park attracts visitors to enjoy both flower viewing and hot spring bathing in the Baolai area, making Baolai Hot Springs a popular tourist destination in Kaohsiung once again.