Jinshan Governor-General Hot Spring

The journey to Jinshan is a spectacular coastal trip from Taipei, taking the MRT to Tamsui Station and then boarding the Crown Northern Coast bus, or driving a scooter along the dramatic northern shoreline via Highway 2. The road hugs the rugged Pacific edge, passing sandy beaches and black stone cliffs before turning into the old coastal town of Jinshan. The Jinshan Governor General Hot Spring sits at the edge of the town near the old fishing harbor, housed in a beautiful, double story historic colonial building painted in soft turquoise and cream tones. The atmosphere is deeply nostalgic and coastal, with the salty sea breeze mingling with warm volcanic steam. This facility is famous for its rare iron oxide and sulfur seabed spring water. Due to its close proximity to the ocean, the water is drawn from deep beneath the sea floor, emerging with a clear but slightly yellowish, rusty tint from the iron minerals, and a distinctly salty taste. It is completely unique and leaves a refreshing, crisp mineral coating on your skin, with pools ranging from thirty-eight to forty-three degrees Celsius. A day pass to the open air rooftop pools costs around three hundred TWD. These public outdoor pools are coed and require standard swimsuits and caps, making them highly tattoo friendly. If you prefer, there are also traditional gender segregated indoor nude baths on the lower floors. You should bring your own towel and a bottle of fresh water. To avoid the heavy weekend crowds of coastal road trippers, plan your visit for a rainy weekday afternoon. After drying off, walk over to the historic Jinshan Old Street to join the crowds lining up for a plate of their legendary sweet and savory Jinshan duck.