A Explosion of 10,000 Plum Blossoms – A One-Day Trip to Kaohsiung for Hot Springs and Plum Blossom Viewing

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Kaohsiung’s Liouguei Baolai is the southernmost plum blossom viewing spot in Taiwan. Every winter, it’s a great place for flower appreciation, hot spring bathing, mountain retreats, and leisurely walks. This year, due to the cold wave and high humidity following continuous rainfall, the plum blossoms have bloomed abundantly. The sea of flowers covering the mountains resembles snow blanketing the forests, creating a stunningly beautiful scenery—perfect for visitors planning a one-day trip to enjoy hot springs and admire the flowers in the cold weather.

Plum Blossom Viewing
During the plum blossom season in Liouguei District, the vast sea of blooming plum blossoms covers an area of 200 hectares, with approximately 12,000 plum trees, making it the most beautiful floral spectacle in southern Taiwan. In particular, the plum blossoms in the Zhulin area of Liouguei and the Meilongshan hillside of Baolai Village, which are professional plum-growing zones, range in altitude from 440m to 1320m. The climate is highly suitable for growing plum trees, allowing the plum blossom scenery to be enjoyed even in early February.

Hot Spring Bathing
While visiting Liouguei for plum blossoms, don’t forget to soak in the BuLao Hot Springs and Baolai Hot Springs. The BuLao Hot Springs have a temperature between 40-50 degrees Celsius, and the water is a genuine weak alkaline carbonated spring. The water is colorless and odorless, leaving the skin smooth after bathing—as if you’ve been rejuvenated—and it’s said to have anti-aging effects.

The Baolai Hot Springs primarily feature carbonated spring water, located right next to the Laonong River. It is a carbonated spring with a pH value between 7.2 and 7.8, classifying it as a weak alkaline hot spring. The spring water is transparent, clear, colorless, and odorless, with a temperature of about 60 degrees Celsius. After bathing, your skin feels especially smooth, and it has significant therapeutic effects on sore muscles and bones.

The newly developed Baolai Huashang Hot Spring Park in Liouguei also features a variety of planted greenery and flower-viewing trails. Utilizing the hot spring resources, foot soaking pools have been set up to attract visitors to Baolai for flower viewing and hot spring bathing, helping the Baolai Hot Springs regain their status as a popular tourist attraction in Kaohsiung.