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

By MOOK Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 

As the weather gradually cools down, the annual Taipei Hot Spring Festival is set to take place for five consecutive days starting October 29 around the Xinzhuang Beitou MRT Station. This year’s festival has carefully curated a series of activities that highlight Beitou’s unique characteristics and promote international cultural exchange, including the “Songshan City Great God Sedan – Dogo Hachicho Men’s Festival Event,” where four approximately 600 to 700-kilogram god sedans come for an international performance exchange, bringing a breathtaking sense of grandeur to the scene. There will also be cultural and creative markets, open-air movie screenings, blood donation giveaways for hot spring vouchers, and other events. On Saturdays and Sundays, free hot spring shuttle buses are available. The festival offers a rich and exciting lineup. During the event period, many shops in Beitou are offering promotions such as “buy one get one free” on hot spring baths and meals, and customers can also enjoy various specified discounts at participating stores until December 30 by presenting the coupon at the back of the 2015 Hot Spring Festival guidebook.

In addition, MOOK Travel has also compiled a list of must-visit attractions in the Beitou area for fans, so that when you come to Beitou, apart from enjoying hot springs, you can also combine various attractions for a well-planned one-day itinerary.
 
● Beitou Water Park Open-Air Hot Springs

The open-air hot spring bath area by the Beitou Stream has six hot spring pools where visitors can soak in the steaming hot water while enjoying a breeze on their face and listening to the sounds of nature. Don’t forget to wear your swimsuit. Additionally, in the stream area under the big banyan tree downstream of Yinxing Bridge, foot soaking areas are set up, allowing the public to experience the warmth of the hot springs while feeling the breeze, hearing the sounds of wind, leaves, stream water, birds, and insects—closing their eyes to quietly immerse themselves in the gifts of nature.

【Info】
Address: No. 6, Zhongshan Rd., 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 and was constructed 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, while the second floor features a resting area. The building was constructed using brick and reinforced concrete. The architectural design incorporates both Western and Japanese styles, with verandas and large windows overlooking the surroundings. In recent years, it has been restored and is now open to the public as a museum.

【Info】
Address: No. 2, Zhongshan Rd., 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 location
 
● Taipei Public Library -Beitou Branch

Beitou is not only a renowned hot spring destination but also home to Taiwan’s first green building library. This unique library is located within the lush, ecologically rich Beitou Park and sits adjacent to the Hot Spring Museum. The library has been awarded a candidate certificate for nine major green building indicators. The entire structure makes extensive use of floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light and skillfully frames 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 destination
  
●Beitou Civic Center

The Beitou Civic Center serves to promote the cultural and historical heritage of the area and acts as a cultural landmark for 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 Center, the Green Library, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, Longnai Hot Spring, Puji Temple, and the Beitou Cultural Artifacts Museum.