Taipei Hot Spring Festival Kicks Off: Must-Visit Attractions in Beitou

By MOOK Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

As the weather turns cooler, the annual Taipei Hot Spring Festival kicks off for five days starting October 29 around Xinbeitou MRT Station. This year’s festival has carefully curated a series of events that highlight Beitou’s unique charm and promote international cultural exchange, including the "Songshan City Great God Sedan Chair – Dogo Hachimachi Men’s Festival Event," where four sacred palanquins weighing approximately 600 to 700 kilograms come to perform for international exchange. The powerful presence delivers an impressive spectacle on site. There will also be a creative market, open-air cinema, blood donation with free hot spring coupons, and other activities. On Saturdays and Sundays, there are also free hot spring shuttle buses. The event is rich and exciting. During the festival period, many shops in Beitou are offering promotions such as “buy one get one free” on hot spring baths and food. Additionally, with the discount coupon provided at the back of the 2015 Hot Spring Festival guidebook, visitors can enjoy various specified discounts at participating shops until December 30.

In addition, MOOK Travel has also compiled a list of must-visit attractions in the Beitou area for fans, so that besides enjoying hot springs, you can also plan a one-day itinerary combining various attractions when visiting Beitou.
 
● Beitou Waterfront Park Open-Air Hot Springs

The open-air hot spring bath area by the Beitou Creek has six hot spring pools set up, allowing visitors to soak in the steaming hot springs while feeling a gentle breeze on their faces and listening to the sounds of nature. Don’t forget to wear your swimsuit. In addition, in the stream area under the big banyan tree downstream of Yinxing Bridge, foot soaking facilities are also available, giving the public a chance to immerse themselves in the warm hot spring water while enjoying the breeze, the sounds of leaves, creek water, birds, and insects, quietly experiencing the gifts of nature and the blessings of the earth.

【Info】
Address: No. 6, Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2897-2260
Opening Hours:
05:30–07:30 (First Session)
08:00–10:00 (Second Session)
10:30–13:00 (Third Session)
13:30–16:00 (Fourth Session)
16:30–19:00 (Fifth Session)
19:30–22:00 (Sixth Session)
 
● Beitou Hot Spring Museum

The Beitou Hot Spring Bathhouse was built in 1913 by the Taipei Prefecture, modeled after the Izu-Yugashima Hot Springs in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was a famous public bathhouse during the Japanese colonial period. The first floor houses large and small blue sulfur hot spring baths with installed cabinetry, while the second floor is a mixed-gender bathing area (closed to the public). The building structure was completed using bricks and reinforced concrete. The architectural style features Western influences with Japanese aesthetics, and the exterior walls are covered with green tiles. The building also has ventilation towers and is surrounded by trees, providing a cool environment all year round. It has now been restored and repurposed as a museum open to the public.

【Info】
Address: No. 2, Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2893-9981
Transportation: Take the MRT to Xinbeitou Station, walk about 1 minute toward Zhongshan Road to reach the museum.
 
● Taipei Public Library—Beitou Branch

Besides being a renowned hot spring destination, Beitou is also home to Taiwan’s first green architecture library. This unique library is located within the lush and ecologically rich Beitou Park, right next to the Hot Spring Museum. The library has been awarded a candidate certificate for nine major green building indicators. The entire building features large floor-to-ceiling windows that make full use of natural light and cleverly incorporate views of the surrounding nature.

【Info】
Address: No. 251, Guangming Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2897-7682
Transportation: Take the MRT to Xinbeitou Station, walk about 1 minute toward Zhongshan Road to reach the location
  
●Beitou Civic Center

The Beitou Civic Center serves to promote the cultural and historical heritage of the area and stands as a cultural landmark of Beitou District. The center provides a green wellness map for reference, introducing nearby attractions such as Beitou Park, the Century-Old Stone Bridge, the Ketagalan Cultural Hall, the Green Library, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Lungnan Tang, Puji Temple, and the Beitou Cultural and Artistic Museum.