The popular "Herbal Beauty Hot Spring" at Sichongxi, one of Taiwan's Four Famous Hot Springs, makes its debut
Last updated 2026-09-26 — When the red hot spring lanterns are hung up, it signals the official start of the annual Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival. The two-month-long 2013 Sichongxi Tourism & Hot Spring Festival kicks off on November 16, with the lead actors and actress of the microfilm "Love in Sichongxi"...
By MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
When the red hot spring lanterns are hung up, it signals the official start of the annual Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival. The two-month-long 2013 Sichongxi Tourism & Hot Spring Festival kicks off on November 16, with the lead actors and actress of the microfilm "Love in Sichongxi," Lin Jiayou and Jiang Chenxi, appearing as brand ambassadors. There’s also the unique "Herbal Beauty Hot Spring," a blind massage experience, a 300-year-old eggplant tree for making wishes, and package tour deals combining trips to the Mudan Township indigenous villages. Pingtung County Government invites everyone to enjoy the "scenic beauty, delicious food, and soothing hot springs" in the southernmost part of the country.
The two-month-long 2013 Sichongxi Tourism & Hot Spring Festival will begin on November 16. (Image source / from the Pingtung County Government Tourism and Communication Division official website)
Located at the southernmost tip of Taiwan, Sichongxi Hot Spring features colorless, odorless, alkaline carbonated water that is both drinkable and suitable for bathing. During the Japanese colonial era, it was ranked among Taiwan’s Four Famous Hot Springs alongside Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Guanziling. In 1932, Prince Chichibu of Japan visited here for his honeymoon after getting married, and the specially built honeymoon hot spring room for the prince still remains today — one of the most talked-about stories about Sichongxi.
This year’s Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival, driven by the online popularity of the microfilm "Love in Sichongxi," will kick off on November 16. Nearly 20 teams with over 400 participants, including the Sanxin Vocational High School marching band, electronic music "Theravada Prince" performers, the Baoli Community Development Association, the Pingnan Community College sports dance group, and local hot spring associations, will parade to kick off the festival.
"When the Start of Winter arrives, if you want to soak in a hot spring, you must come to Sichongxi," said Pingtung County Deputy Magistrate Chung Chia-Yen Bin. In addition to the herbal bathing experience and blind massage services during the two-month festival, visitors can also explore the 300-year-old eggplant tree featured in the microfilm. People can write wish cards and hang them by the tree to pray for sweet love and smooth sailing, or venture deeper into Mudan Township to discover hidden gems.
Yin Fenglan, Director of Pingtung County Government’s Tourism and Communication Division, pointed out that to create a hot spring town atmosphere, the county government has hung Japanese-style lanterns along Sichongxi streets, making the old street more charming at night. The mascot "Hot Spring Onion Baby," inspired by the local onion produce of Checheng Township, stands guard daily on the hot spring old street to welcome visitors. As soon as tourists enter Sichongxi, they can feel the ambiance of a hot spring resort.
At the same time, continuing the well-received "Herbal Beauty Hot Spring" theme from the previous two years, this year’s Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival introduces premium hot spring services. These include hot spring bath powders made from ten locally grown herbs such as roses, sage, and mint, essential oil massage revitalizing creams, massage oils, and essential oil bath bombs. Not only do they provide relaxation after soaking, but they also offer stress relief and skin beautification benefits from the herbs. Additionally, blind massage therapists have been stationed in Sichongxi to provide free 10-minute stress-relief massages to visitors during specified periods. Those who want more can even make on-site appointments.
The Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival runs until January 20 of next year. To make it easier for visitors to enjoy the hot springs, free shuttle buses are available. During the festival, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, a free shuttle runs every 30–40 minutes between Checheng Township Farmers’ Association and Sichongxi Hot Spring. Visitors can take the Chengkang Express bus from Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station, Kaohsiung Railway Station, or Pingtung Railway Station, get off at Checheng Township Farmers’ Association, and transfer to the free shuttle.
Pingtung County Government has also partnered with the Mudan indigenous village tour to offer discounted package deals: NT$380 per person for a one-day trip, NT$2,500 (for a twin room) and NT$2,100 (for a four-person room) for a two-day trip. It hopes visitors can journey further from Sichongxi to explore Mudan, experiencing the beauty of sunrise at Xuhai, Xuhai Hot Spring, Mudan Reservoir, Alishi Ancient Trail, and Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area.
Freedom travelers can also purchase the Kenting Express combo ticket to enjoy a 25% discount on round-trip high-speed rail tickets, a round-trip ticket on the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Kenting Express, and a free Kenting Streetcar ride: or buy a NT$580 round-trip ticket from Zuoying to Checheng at the Kenting Express counter at Exit 2 of Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station, which includes a free one-way Checheng–Sichongxi ticket and a hotel discount coupon.
In addition, a lucky draw event is planned this year. Netizens who take photos with the Hot Spring Baby and upload them to the “i Pingtung ~ Love Pingtung” Facebook page will have a chance to win Herbal Onion Baby merchandise. Those who spend NT$1,000 or more individually will also receive a raffle ticket, with grand prizes including iPhones and tablets.
Lin Jiayou and Jiang Chenxi star in "Love in Sichongxi," which recreates the 80-year historical connection between Sichongxi Hot Spring and Japan. (Video source / linked from YouTube)
● Extended Reading:
2013 Hot Spring Festival – Warm Spring Info Across Taiwan
http://goo.gl/Xxp0cc
Share
This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/views-39102
Related Articles
- Shaoxing's "Grandpa Gourd" hangs the gourds back up: "If there are too many people, we'll interact less — just take a quick look from afar"
- Chinese authorities announce "reciprocal adjustment" to Japan visa fees — single-entry visa jumps from 2,250 to 16,750 yen!
- The "health stones" carried by a traveler were found to have radiation levels exceeding safety limits by a thousand times, potentially endangering fellow passengers on the same flight. Customs issues warning!
- Shenzhen Airport Issues Late-Night Notice: Unidentified Aerial Object Detected, Causing Widespread Flight Delays!
- “They only said it cost money after I opened the box and washed it!” 200g of grapes sold for 60 yuan on a high-speed train—12306 responds!
- Can't buy an airline ticket? Denied exit? Blocked from boarding? A large number of Chinese tourists have mysteriously become "discredited individuals"
- Adverse weather and economic fluctuations impact Colombia's coffee market
- Beach bathing area responds to 2 yuan/30 seconds fee for freshwater foot rinsing: Clearly priced!
- Taking off with an improperly closed cabin door? Wing malfunction? Multiple flights made emergency returns mid-journey!
- Experience the gifts of nature！ A countdown of the world’s ten most stunning coastlines