The vacation backyard of the people of Matsu！Over 50 hot spring pools — you can even soak in an onsen on a boat

▲Located in Xi Shan, Fuzhou on the Chinese mainland.

Reported and photographed by Yu Jiayun, reporter

In Taiwan, heading to a hot spring in winter is almost second nature—head to Beitou, Wulai, or Yangmingshan in the north, Tai’an and Guguan in the central region, Guanziling in the south, or even Zhiben in eastern Taiwan. But what about the people of Matsu? In fact, aside from Taiwan proper, there’s a hot spring destination just a 20-minute boat ride from Beigan Island in Matsu, located in Fuzhou on the mainland. The scale of the hot spring resorts here is astonishing—just one hotel features over 50 outdoor pools, each with unique themes, designs, and mineral properties. You can even soak in a hot spring while boating on the lake, making for a fun and relaxing experience that serves as a winter holiday retreat for the people of Matsu.

▲Hot spring hotels in Fuzhou are quite sizable.

▲You can soak in a hot spring while floating down the stream.

They say China is vast and rich in resources, and this is certainly reflected in the hot spring hotels of Fuzhou. Known for its abundant hot spring resources, Fuzhou is home to a variety of hot spring resorts, each with its own distinctive character—but they all share one thing in common: size. This Xi Shan Hot Spring Resort Hotel, located about a 20-minute drive from downtown, may not be the largest, but it still spans a whopping 9,000 pyeong (approximately 30,000 square meters), featuring over 50 open-air hot spring pools across a vast area that resembles a large-scale theme park.

▲%There are over 50 pools here.

Although it’s a Chinese hot spring resort, the open-air hot spring area at Xi Shan has a distinctly Southeast Asian holiday vibe. With over 200 species of plants and flowers, the garden not only creates a natural ambiance but also offers privacy between the pools with natural dividers—perfect for couples, families, and friends seeking an undisturbed soak. You can spend a relaxing afternoon in whichever pool catches your fancy, and when you’re tired, head over for a massage, go for a swim, or simply rest and enjoy the scenery by the stream. It’s incredibly blissful.

▲Besides hot springs, you can also swim.

▲After your soak, get a massage to unwind.

▲Sitting by the stream and enjoying the view is wonderfully relaxing.

Aside from the wide selection of pools, the uniquely designed hot springs are another highlight. Inspired by the fishing lifestyle of Fujian, some pools are crafted from large bamboo baskets woven from rattan—seen from afar, they look like eggs nestled among the greenery. There’s also the exceptionally special “onboard hot spring,” where visitors can soak in a small boat while a boatman paddles along the stream, offering a truly nostalgic and rare experience.

▲%The creatively designed pools are a major draw.