Top Taiwanese Hot Spring & Gourmet Selection – White Sulfur Hot Springs Relieve Fatigue and Improve Neuralgia

Text & Photos / Eat & Travel Double Issue

When you're feeling tense in both body and mind, nothing beats the healing power of hot spring cuisine. Come experience the enchanting charm of Taiwan’s renowned food and springs today.

Yangmingshan Chuwu Hot Springs

▲ The 60-degree slant represents the spirit of hospitality, akin to a bow from the service industry.

On frigid winter days, Yangmingshan offers a new way to beat the cold—with hearty hot dishes and soothing hot springs, all set against a backdrop of flowing nature and picturesque scenery.

Visiting Yangmingshan Chuwu Hot Springs, don’t rush to judge your surroundings—your body will tell you everything without words, more honestly than your heart ever could.

After years of acclaim in Pingtung, Peony Bay VILLA has replicated and refined its success, choosing this year to tap into Yangmingshan’s hot springs and embrace the mist, launching Chuwu Hot Springs under that very name. They’re all set to welcome their first winter season with eager bathers.

The seemingly tilted exterior design follows the 60-degree angle of a welcoming bow, showcasing the group’s warm hospitality from the very first glance.

A Rare Dreamlike Hot Spring Pool

▲ The indoor onsen rooms are filled with the rich aroma of Hinoki wood.

The resort’s six unique room types are built along the river valley terrain. Each guest room comes with a private hot spring bath, designed not only for comfort but also for beauty and ambiance. Hinoki wood trimming enhances the therapeutic atmosphere, and the fragrance of Hinoki throughout the space is especially intoxicating. The flat, smooth stones used to build the pools are sourced from Pingtung.

To ensure an authentic “natural spring” experience, two wells were drilled to source 32°C and 55°C waters, regulating the temperature without dilution or cooling from tap water. Even in summer, soaking in 32°C water feels pleasantly refreshing.

While most sulfur springs are acidic, the sulfur spring at Chuwu is a rare weakly alkaline type in the world. Minerals such as volcanogenic bentonite clay in the water vary slightly day to day in composition, resulting in milky white, yellow, or dark green hues—making the changing colors part of the fun of the soak.

▲ Lounging on a large tatami mat after a soak is a true luxury.

The River Valley Onsen Room is a fan favorite. In addition to the indoor onsen, stepping out onto the stone path leads you to a private backyard with another semi-open-air rock pool. Soak in the warm waters while gazing at endless lush forests—Chuwu fulfills the winter dream of bathing with nature.

After your soak, kick back on the tatami, enjoy the green scenery outside, nibble on homemade pineapple cakes or ice cream from Chuwu, or opt for an essential oil spa to soothe your muscles. With warm springs and delicious treats, the chill fades away, making winter far more bearable.

Creative Cuisine with a Homely Twist

▲ Crispy fried pork ribs with a secret batter recipe that adds a springy texture.

Follow the aroma of home-cooked meals to the Chuwu Study Room or Caoshan Dining Hall. Dishes feature Jinshan No. 57 sweet potatoes, Wanli blue crabs, Sanzhi water bamboo, fresh seafood from Guhou Fishing Port, and organic vegetables from local farms—all served hot and flavorful.

Step into the Chuwu Study Room to the sound of calming music. On your right, a curated bookshelf lines the wall; on your left, a large window offers sweeping views of Jinshan city and the sparkling blue sea, with rows of autumn miscanthus swaying gently in the breeze.

Around 7 AM, a soft mist begins to rise, creating a dreamy, otherworldly scene. By noon, the fog lifts, revealing a crystal-clear landscape. As evening falls, the fading sunlight paints the sky in vibrant reds and greens, while city lights twinkle in harmony with distant fishing boat lamps.

Guarded by Mt. Huangzui in the distance and accompanied by the gentle babble of Huangxi Stream, dining here feels like half the meal is already a healing experience before you even take a bite.

Assistant Manager Tsai Ding-guo shares: “Our dishes focus on natural flavors. There are no pre-made ingredients in our kitchen—everything is hand-prepared by our chefs using health-boosting combinations of fish, meats, vegetables, and fruits that we’ve developed ourselves.”

Simply salt-seared guji fish caught fresh at Guhou Fishing Port sits atop a base of tomato sauce made from locally grown cherry tomatoes, paired with sweet steamed sweet potatoes for added texture. The main course features USDA Choice-grade boneless beef short ribs with even marbling, best enjoyed at medium-well after searing and roasting, lightly seasoned with rock salt or shichimi spice.

The risotto, cooked to an eight- or nine-tenths done texture, is mixed with tomato sauce, diced king oyster mushrooms, and celery, then finished with a touch of aged black vinegar and pine nuts for a layered, rich flavor. Enjoying the chef’s à la carte tasting menu in the study room comes with free refills if you’re still hungry—each dish’s creative flair is sure to delight.

▲ Tomato vegetable cheese risotto, with careful attention to rice texture, combines tomato sauce and veggies for a nutrition-packed treat.

Downstairs, the Caoshan Dining Hall serves up familiar, comforting “mom’s cooking” flavors. From bamboo shoot and pork rib soup to secret recipe fried pork ribs, red glutinous rice pork, jade cabbage braised pork, and wild bamboo shoots, the ten dishes span mains, soups, and desserts—all made with fresh, local ingredients prepared on the spot. Unlimited servings ensure guests leave full and satisfied. Both restaurants employ different cooking techniques to highlight the distinct tastes of local ingredients.

Address: No. 82, Shancheng Road, Jinshan District, New Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2408-0666
Facilities: Public open-air baths, private bath rooms, in-room soaking/SPA massage
Rates: Twin rooms start from NT$7,920 on weekdays and NT$9,240 on weekends/holidays (both plus 10%)
Credit cards: Accepted

Beitou Dadi Hotel
Dadi Hotel was formerly known as Pacific Hot Spring Resort. Nestled on a mountainside, it offers panoramic views of Beitou city and most of Guandu Plain. Located in a tranquil and private part of Beitou, the hotel now delivers a unique hot spring accommodation experience. With its abundant use of pure white tones and natural wood textures, it creates an eco-friendly, minimalist, stylish and warm ambiance, while also providing heartfelt service to soothe every guest.

Well-regarded Traditional White Sulfur Hot Springs

▲ The public baths are built with rocks, with a gentle flow of spring water, showcasing a natural and earthy style close to nature.

Since its establishment in 1896, Beitou has been home to the white sulfur hot springs favored by the Japanese. With a pH value of 4–5, the pale yellow, semi-transparent water has a slight sulfur odor. It helps relieve fatigue and improve neuralgia. This distinctive sulfur aroma has made Beitou’s hot springs famous worldwide. Dadi Hotel shares this well-known local natural spring water with travelers in its most sincere form.

To accommodate some Western guests who are not used to the strong sulfur smell, Dadi Hotel has added an extra step to dilute the traditional sulfur odor, making the soak more relaxing and effortless to get accustomed to.

Western Restaurant – Savor Creative French Cuisine

▲ The American PRIME Top Blade Steak is made with premium beef blade, cooked by charcoal grilling to ensure tenderness without bloodiness, then seared on the surface to create a crispy crust, served with slow-cooked beef sauce.

“Favorite” Western Restaurant impresses Asian guests—turns out Franco-Italian cuisine can feel this familiar. Chef Ye Ming-Fu showcases creativity and inspiration through his craftsmanship, effortlessly making diners’ palates borderless. “Favorite” offers all-day dining, with the highly recommended “American PRIME Top Blade Steak Set” being a standout. The starter “Chicken Roll” blends minced chicken mousse with a smooth texture and tomato salsa for a flavorful overture.

“Pan-Seared Tuna with Mixed Salad” presents a refreshing style reminiscent of the French Riviera. The tuna is pan-seared in olive oil, paired with molecular processed olive oil caviar, delivering a taste of Nice. The highlight, the premium American beef blade, is grilled to tender perfection without blood, drizzled with bone marrow sauce for layered flavors.

▲ Pan-Seared Tuna with Mixed Salad: Fresh-grade tuna is cubed, slow-seared until the exterior is crispy, then topped with a touch of olive oil caviar and arranged in a floral pattern.

To satisfy food lovers’ palates, Dadi Hotel also offers Qiyan No.1 Chinese Restaurant and Yue’er Wanwan Hot Pot. The Yue’er Wanwan Sea Perch duo pot uses master craftsman Sori Yanagi’s southern-style iron pot to cook seasonal fresh ingredients. Qiyan No.1 Chinese Restaurant captivates diners with creative Chinese dishes, especially appealing to foreign guests who can genuinely experience the flavor intricacies of Chinese cuisine.

Address: No. 1 Qiyen Road, Beitou District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 5551-8888
Facilities: Public open-air baths, private bath rooms, in-room soaking/SPA massage/fitness center/outdoor swimming pool
Rates: Twin rooms start from NT$13,800 plus 10% / American PRIME Top Blade Steak Set NT$1,880 plus 10%
Credit cards: Accepted