Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park

The journey to Jiaoxi is a smooth ride from Taipei on the Kamalan bus or a TRA train, passing through the long Hsuehshan Tunnel and emerging onto the vast, flat plains of Yilan County. Unlike most Taiwanese hot springs located in remote mountain valleys, Jiaoxi sits right on a flat coastal plain, and the hot spring town spreads out directly from the railway station. Walking into the Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park, you will find a lush, green urban sanctuary filled with Japanese style wooden pavilions, winding stone paths, and steaming public canals. The atmosphere is relaxed and community oriented. The park features a large, beautifully designed public outdoor bathhouse called the Forest Bath, which is segregated by gender and requires total nudity. The entry fee is a modest eighty TWD. Because it is a traditional style facility, you must bring a towel and a swim cap, and you should ensure any tattoos are discreet or check with the front desk, though rules have relaxed significantly in recent years. The water in Jiaoxi is completely unique, it is a clear, odorless sodium bicarbonate spring that contains rare minerals like phenol. It looks just like fresh mountain water, but feels incredibly soft and slippery to the touch, with temperatures in the managed pools kept at a comfortable forty-one degrees Celsius. If you prefer a casual experience, there are several free, open air foot soaking pools scattered throughout the park where you can just pull up your trousers and dip your feet. To avoid the weekend rush of families from Taipei, try visiting on a weekday afternoon. After soaking, be sure to walk to a nearby bakery to try the local specialty, scallion pancakes made with Yilan's famous Sanxing green onions, which are exceptionally sweet and crisp.