Happy Autumn Travel Adventure: The Four-Cross Creek Hot Spring Festival in Pingtung Kicks Off with Warmth

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team, compiled and reported

Southern Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Hot Springs – The Four-Cross Creek Sightseeing Hot Spring Festival will begin on November 2. This year, in addition to activities such as gourmet food, hot spring soaking, and cycling through scenic spots, the Four-Cross Creek Park, renovated with investment from Pingtung County Government, will reopen and feature landscape installations highlighting the historical significance of the site as the last purification spot for the Kamikaze pilots, further enriching the cultural ambiance of the hot spring area. Visiting Four-Cross Creek for a soak during the unique seasonal winds of the Hengchun Peninsula adds an extra layer of charm.

The hot spring park was built in the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933), and had lost its former beauty due to years of neglect. Since last year, the county government has been carrying out an environmental landscape improvement project for the northern section of the park, renovating the entrance plaza, foot-soaking pool, and ecological trails, presenting a completely renewed look. The local community is delighted that these improvements will boost tourism in Four-Cross Creek. “Four-Cross Creek is ready!” said Chung Chia-ping. In Four-Cross Creek, visitors can enjoy hot springs, delicious food, and beautiful scenery. Recently, the director of Japan’s Arima Onsen Museum visited Pingtung and highly praised the rich cultural heritage of Four-Cross Creek. He noted that while Japanese people enjoy hot springs all year round—including in the snow—Taiwan’s southern charm is also very appealing. Future collaborations could develop new types of tourism.

Known as the “Beauty Spring,” Four-Cross Creek Hot Springs have been ranked among Taiwan’s four famous hot springs since the Japanese colonial period, alongside Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Guanziling. Before ascending the throne, Emperor Showa of Japan once stayed overnight in Four-Cross Creek during his journey and recommended it to his younger brother, Prince Nobuhito, for his honeymoon—this is one of the most talked-about stories about Four-Cross Creek. Legend has it that during World War II, the Kamikaze pilots heading toward the Taiwan Strait would undergo their final purification ritual at the century-old Four-Cross Creek Hot Springs, cleansing their minds and bodies, invoking bravery, before their missions. The hot spring park features land art symbolizing this historical anecdote, making it one of the focal points of this year’s hot spring festival.

This year’s hot spring festival runs from November 2 across the year-end until January 31 next year, spanning three months. In addition to continuing the previous two years’ inclusion of blind massage therapists to provide relaxation services for visitors, the serene hot spring basin is perfect for leisurely cycling. This year’s festival includes three cycling routes, with bicycle rentals available at the Hot Spring Police Station, allowing tourists to explore the beauty of Four-Cross Creek more deeply. The shops along the old hot spring street feature facades of old-style Baroque architecture, latticed storm shutters designed to block the strong mountain winds, and gardens filled with nostalgic charm—all worth appreciating in detail. At night, the warm glow creates a relaxing atmosphere on the old hot spring street, inviting guests to step out of their accommodations and stroll the area. In December, there will also be two holiday music performances featuring performances by emerging local bands or groups from Pingtung, adding to the cultural richness of the hot spring area.