Cozy Autumn: Two Major Hot Spring Festivals Kick Off in Southern Taiwan!

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team

As autumn cools down, it's once again the season for soaking in hot springs. The misty, warm springs that evoke cozy images catch everyone’s attention. Starting in November, two of southern Taiwan’s famous hot spring towns—Guanziling and Sichongxi, both ranked among Taiwan’s Top Four Hot Springs—will successively host their festivals. This year, Guanziling combines the 300th anniversary of the discovery of its unique "water and fire together" phenomenon with a Michelin three-star journey, launching a series of events. Meanwhile, Sichongxi welcomes the reopening of Sichongxi Park, introduces landscape installation street displays, and offers free shuttle services to the hot spring area, making the southern Taiwan hot spring festival atmosphere even more vibrant.

Historical records indicate that Guanziling’s hot spring water is muddy due to underground mudstone layers. During the Japanese colonial period, it was famed as the “Spiritual Spring” and “Taiwan’s No. 1 Hot Spring” for its believed healing properties. Soaking here not only relieves fatigue but also benefits skin beauty. With cooler weather arriving, everyone is encouraged to visit Guanziling to experience Taiwan’s top hot spring, enjoy a good soak and delicious food, explore nearby attractions (such as Water and Fire Together, Biyun Temple, and Daxian Temple), shop for green-skinned oranges, taste Dongshan coffee, and take a nostalgic trip to Houpi Jingliao’s “No Rice, Still Happy” community.

This event continues previous years’ initiatives by inviting visually impaired massage therapists to provide stress relief services. In the tranquil hot spring basin, away from the hustle and bustle, cycling is the perfect way to explore. This year’s hot spring festival has planned three cycling routes, with bike rentals available at the Hot Spring Police Station, allowing visitors to delve deeper into the beauty of Sichongxi. The old streets of the hot spring area feature shops with classic Baroque-style walls, lattice shutters designed to block the strong mountain winds, and gardens filled with nostalgic charm—all worth appreciating. At night, the warm glow creates a relaxing and pleasant atmosphere along the hot spring old street, enticing guests to step out of their accommodations for a stroll. In December, there will be two holiday music performances featuring local bands or groups from Pingtung’s emerging creative arts scene, adding cultural vibrancy to the hot spring area.