Soak in the tub with hippos！ A semi-self-service artistic bathhouse in Jiaoxi

Text & Photos／By

Gui Xiaosun

The first time I saw this 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse', I knew I had to visit it on my next trip to Yilan！ To satisfy my inner collection of beautiful things～ Maybe it's because I love taking photos that I've fallen for these 'visually captivating things'！ Or perhaps it's the act of collecting that has shaped my own unique 'aesthetic'. This feeling is both fascinating and something I never expected！ At least during my school days, I never encountered such things. Back then, I was just a clueless student who only knew about studying, never imagining that after immersing myself in Taiwan’s culture over the years, I’d gradually accumulate so much. These experiences have allowed me to revisit the past of every city I visit—stories rarely mentioned in school textbooks！ I’ve rediscovered Taiwan through my own footsteps.

Yilan is a place I’d never been to as a child. In the past two or three years, I’ve visited three times. Compared to my frequent trips to Tainan, eastern Taiwan is somewhere I can only explore during longer holidays. This time, I stayed in Yilan City, Jiaoxi, Dongshan, and Luodong. On the first evening, after dinner, we strolled around lively Jiaoxi. Around 8 PM, we arrived at 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse'. Located at a bustling intersection in Jiaoxi, the old gray hotel’s entrance is marked by strips of green light—you might overlook it if you’re not paying attention, but once you find it, it leaves a lasting impression～

Like a quiet corner in a busy district, 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse' sits along the lively Jiaoxi Road. Standing at the intersection, we weren’t sure which way to go at first. After following the address, we found this low-key yet adorable place right in front of us！ If you didn’t know what it was, you might walk right past it without realizing what it offers～ It’s not a hotel or inn—it’s purely a place for you to soak in the tub！ Its simplicity and charming details make you realize that 'soaking in the tub' can be this delightful ^~^

Before entering 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse', there’s a large shoe cabinet where you can leave your shoes and slip into a pair of provided slippers to head inside！ The large white walls are adorned with playful black ink illustrations—this is what makes 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse' so captivating！ On one side of the first-floor lobby, the wall depicts people in various bathing poses, with humorous expressions and cute actions, simple yet highly representative.

Most of the baths at 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse' operate on a self-service basis, which suits shy Taiwanese folks quite well！ XD At the first-floor counter, you can rent towels, buy a bottle of water, and choose which bathhouse to use for the day！ We visited on the first night of the Lunar New Year, and luckily, there were two or three 'artistic bathhouses' available！ That means not every bath here is an artistic one～

Bring your phone or camera—there are plenty of details at 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse' that will make you want to take photos！ The black-line illustrations on the white walls are all creations by the designers here. Taiwan has many amazing illustrators who don’t rely on references but instead infuse their own unique style. After selecting what we needed, we headed upstairs through a white half-curtain—pure white details, simple and incredibly pleasing to the eye！

Stepping into our 【Hippo Bath】—one of the classic bathhouses at 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse'！ The cost is：1.5 hours for 900 NTD！ The adorable 【Hippo Bath】features six hippos, one horse, one tiger, one bear, one pig, and one seal. Surrounded by these animals, it feels like they’re bathing with you. The hippo with a bite of green onion looks effortlessly lazy！ The animals wear bath caps or towels on their heads, looking cute and lifelike～

In the pure white bathhouse, everything feels like a clean blank canvas！ White floor tiles, white wall tiles, white paint with black outlines... This is the warmest and most story-rich bathhouse I’ve ever experienced！ When visiting Jiaoxi in Yilan, you must come here～ Turn on the classic sodium bicarbonate hot spring of Jiaoxi, and the hot water continuously bubbles in the large and small pools. We stepped outside and waited.

Next to our 【Hippo Bath】is another artistic bathhouse, also filled with colorful, line-filled designs！ This one even has a TV and rest area—remember, it’s 1200 NTD for 1.5 hours～ A great choice for families with young kids！ Especially with toddlers, you can enjoy quality family time and take plenty of wonderful photos.

As the hot spring filled to about seventy or eighty percent, the bathhouse became filled with warm steam, creating a hazy, dreamy beauty～ I really love the toiletries provided by 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse'—they’re from a local Taiwanese brand: Tea Seed House, which you can also find at Eslite Bookstore. During my five-day trip, 'Huadong Ji’an ＼ Forest Homestay' also used it！

As the steam grew thicker, we quickly stashed our two cameras in our bags, worried the humidity might damage them！ XD Just as my friend stepped into the smaller pool, I pulled out my phone to capture this moment～ This was our romantic night in Jiaoxi. Though there was no cold wave, the warm spring water still warmed our hearts.

After soaking during the day, you can enjoy brunch at 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse'！ Other times, you can also choose tea, soups, and hot spring eggs！ These little treats make the bathing experience even more enjoyable～ ^___________^ /

That first night, we returned to our homestay still feeling all warm and cozy, and the bath made it so easy to fall into a deep, uninterrupted sleep！ The next morning, when we asked each other, we all agreed it was the bath that left our bodies feeling so relaxed and comfortable～ When visiting Jiaoxi, you absolutely can’t miss this 'Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse'. If you’re into indie culture, you’ll definitely fall in love with it！ ^____________^ /
Cong Zao. Jiaoxi Bathhouse Hot Spring Onion
Address：No. 77, Section 5, Jiaoxi Road, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
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Phone：03-987-6929［Enjoy life, don’t let it get boring. Gui Xiaosun］FB