By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
The hanging of red hot spring lanterns marks the official opening 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 of the microfilm “Love in Sichongxi,” Lin Jiayou and Jiang Chenxi, appearing as brand ambassadors. The event also features a one-of-a-kind Herbal Beauty Spring, blind massage experiences, a 300-year-old eggplant tree for making wishes, and combines tribal tours of the Maidan Township to offer discounted package itineraries. Pingtung County Government invites everyone across the nation to enjoy the beauty, cuisine, and hot springs of Taiwan’s southernmost region.
The two-month-long 2013 Sichongxi Tourism & Hot Spring Festival will begin on November 16. (Image source / Pingtung County Government Tourism & Communications Department official website)
Located at Taiwan’s southernmost tip, Sichongxi Hot Spring produces colorless, odorless, drinkable, and bathable alkaline carbonated water. During the Japanese colonial period, it was ranked alongside Beitou, Yangmingshan, and Guanziling as one of Taiwan’s Four Famous Hot Springs. In 1932, after his wedding, Prince Chichibu of Japan came here for his honeymoon. The specially built honeymoon hot spring room for the prince still remains today and is one of the most talked-about stories of Sichongxi.
This year’s Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival, driven by the online popularity of the microfilm “Love in Sichongxi,” will commence on November 16. Nearly 20 teams, including the Sanhsin Home Economics School Marching Band, Electric-Temple Gods, the Baoli Community Development Association, Pingnan Community College sports dance group, and local hot spring associations, will parade with over 400 participants 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 herbal baths and blind massage experiences, the two-month-long festival highlights include visiting the 300-year-old eggplant tree featured in the microfilm. Visitors can write wish cards and hang them beside the tree to pray for sweet love and smooth sailing, or explore the scenic beauty of Maidan Township.
Yin Fenglan, Director of Pingtung County Government Tourism & Communications Department, noted that to create a hot spring town atmosphere, the county government has hung Japanese-style lanterns along Sichongxi streets, making the old street more enchanting at night. The mascot “Hot Spring Onion Baby,” inspired by the local onions of Checheng Township, stands guard daily on the hot spring old street to welcome visitors. Upon entering Sichongxi, tourists can immediately feel the charm of a hot spring resort town.
Additionally, continuing the highly popular “Herbal Beauty Spring” theme from the previous two years, this year’s Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival offers upgraded hot spring services. These include herbal bath powders made from ten locally grown herbs such as roses, sage, and mint, essential oil massage rejuvenation 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. Furthermore, blind massage therapists will be stationed in Sichongxi to provide free 10-minute stress relief massages to visitors during designated periods. Those who want more can make on-site appointments.
The Sichongxi Hot Spring Festival runs until January 20 next year. To make it easier for visitors to enjoy Sichongxi’s 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 bus runs every 30–40 minutes between Checheng Township Farmers’ Association and Sichongxi Hot Spring. Visitors can take the Chengkung 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 bus.
Pingtung County Government has also combined the Maidan Tribe Tour to offer discounted package itineraries. A one-day tour is NT$380 per person, while a two-day tour costs NT$2,500 (for a double room) or NT$2,100 (for a quad room). The aim is for visitors to journey further from Sichongxi to Maidan, experiencing the beauty of sunrise at Shuhai, Shuhai Hot Spring, Maidan Reservoir, the mysterious Alishi Trail, and Dongyuan Forest Recreation Area.
Online travelers who prefer independent trips can also purchase the Kenting Express combo ticket to enjoy a 25% discount on round-trip high-speed rail tickets, a round-trip Kenting Express Taiwan Tourist Shuttle ticket, and a free Kenting Streetcar ride. Alternatively, purchase the Zuoying to Checheng round-trip ticket combo for NT$580 at Counter 2 of the Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station Kenting Express desk, which includes a complimentary Checheng–Sichongxi ticket and a hotel discount coupon.
Additionally, 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 co-starred in “Love in Sichongxi,” recreating the 80-year historical connection between Sichongxi Hot Spring and Japan. (Video source / Linked from YouTube)
● Extended Reading:
2013 Hot Spring Festival – Warm Springs Across Taiwan
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