Beitou is Taiwan’s Premiere Hot Spring area in Taiwan (北投溫泉). Originally built by the Japanese on natural hot spring water flowing down from Yangmingshan, this area is now springing with hot spring baths, hotels, museums, hikes, restaurants, and more. It is one of the best day trips near Taipei. In this guide, we will tell you how to enjoy this area like a local, and at the same time soak like Japanese royalty.

Historical Background:

Beitou’s hot springs are distributed along the Huangxi Valley, including areas like Shamao Mountain, Datun Volcanic Group, Qixing Mountain volcanic rock layers, and Jinshan Fault in northern Taiwan. These include Thermal Valley Hot Springs, Sulfur Valley Hot Springs, Upper Beitou Hot Springs, Shuangchong Creek Hot Springs (Xingyi Road Hot Springs Area), and Longfeng Valley Hot Springs. The narrow definition of Beitou Hot Springs categorizes the springs by their composition: the geothermal springs of Thermal Valley (green sulfur springs, 50–90°C and highly acidic), the white sulfur springs of Sulfur Valley (pH of 3–5 and a temperature of about 45°C), and iron sulfur springs located in Upper Beitou (eutral carbonate hot springs, with a lower temperature of about 40–60°C).
Historical and Cultural Background
In 1894 during the Qing Dynasty, the first person to establish a hot spring in Beitou was German sulfur merchant Ouely. The following year, Japanese Rear Admiral Tsunoda Hidematsu and Taipei County Secretary Nirei Keiji inspected the hot springs. On November 10, 1895, Governor Kabayama Sukenori also visited, and a public bath area began to form near today’s Beitou Hot Spring Museum.
In 1905 funds were raised to to construct Puji Temple, dedicated to the goddess of hot springs, Kannon, to bless the local hot spring industry. In 1913, a public hot spring bath was established under the direction of the Taipei Prefecture, modeled after the hot springs of Izu in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It cost more than 56,000 yen to build. In the late 1920s, members of the Japanese imperial family, including Prince Asaka Yasuhiko, visited Beitou’s public baths.
In 1954, Beitou became a legally recognized red-light district. The practice was abolished in 1979, and Beitou has since shifted focus to tourism and leisure.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the number of hot spring inns in Beitou peaked, with over 70 inns in operation. However, from 1975 onwards, the industry began to decline due to poor management, lack of public infrastructure, and excessive development.
In 1995, a local movement to save the Beitou Public Bathhouse succeeded, leading to its restoration as the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, which was designated a historic site in 1998. In 1999, the Tourism Bureau declared it the “Year of Beitou Hot Springs,” revitalizing the industry.
Beitou Hot Springs, along with Caoshan, Guanziling, and Sichongxi Hot Springs, was one of the four major hot springs in Taiwan during the Japanese era.
Beitou Hot Springs is a popular tourist attraction, especially with local Taiwanese people and Japanese tourists. The winter is the most popular season.

Hours:

24/7

Activities:

Besides soaking in hot springs, there are many activities available in Beitou such as Rock ClimbingWater SkiingKani Kimono RentalEscape ExperienceBeitou Museum, and more on Klook here or KKday here

Tours:

You can check out tours to Beitou such as a Beitou and Yangmingshan Day TourBeitou and Yeliu Day TourBeitou and Tamsui Day TourBeitou and National Palace Museum TourBeitou Muslim Friendly TourBeitou Arts and Culture TourFlower Season Tour, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also check out the Beitou Fun Package from KKday which includes a one-day transportation coupon, hot spring coupon, and coupon for over 8 souvenir shops in Beitou.

Where to Stay:

High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com hereTripadvisor here, or Agoda here). 
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com hereTripadvisor hereAgoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com hereTripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com hereTripadvisor hereAgoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get there:

By MRT: 
Take the MRT to Xinbeitou MRT station. From there you can also take the S9 or S26 bus further up the mountain if needed. You can book tickets to travel to Taipei via inter-city bus on Klook here
By Car/Scooter: 
From downtown Taipei, take Provincial Highway 2 north to New Beitou MRT Station. Many of the hotels here provide free parking for guests. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out Klook here, or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here

Map:

Please see a list of places we will cover in the map below:

 

Map Key:
Blue: Tourist Sites
Red: Hot Spring Hotels
Purple: Restaurants and other Hot Spring Baths
Green: Other sites of interest

What to see and do in Beitou?

Please note that the following list of places is still a work in progress. We will be updating the below places with more information as time goes on.

Beitou Batoushan Rock Climbing

Batoushan overlooking Beitou is a popular place for rock climbing in the area.
You can book a rock climbing experience here on Klook here or KKday here

Beitou Park

I found a waterfall and a beach here at Beitou Park, in the middle of Beitou’s hot spring district. Sadly the public is not allowed in the river. The hot spring water here is beneficial for algae that turn the rocks green.

Beitou Museum

The Beitou Museum is housed in a historic Japanese building in the Beitou hills. It is a great place to understand more about the rich culture and history of the Beitou area.
You can book discount tickets to the Beitou Museum on Klook here or KKday here.

Marshal Zen Garden 雙喜湯屋

Marshall Zen Garden is a coffee shop and hot spring hotel in the hills of Beitou with great views of the surrounding area. It is a great place to enjoy the scenery in Beitou.
You can get a discount ticket for a hot spring bath and two meals at Zen Garden on KKday here.

Beitou Public Hot Spring

Beitou Public Hot Spring is a less expensive version to enjoy the hot spring waters in Beitou, when compared to booking a hot spring hotel. This open roof hot spring is popular with locals and elderly who visit often.

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Be sure to check out Beitou Hot Spring Museum, previously the Beitou Public Bathhouse, originally built in 1913 by the Japanese. Stay tuned for our blog to come.

Historic New Beitou Station

You can also check out the Historic Beitou Station here. You can book a Beitou Arts and Culture Tour on KKday here.

Japanese Koto Experience

You can book a Japanese Koto experience on Klook here or KKday here.

Ketagalan Culture Center 凱達格蘭文化館

View inside the Ketagalan Culture Center 凱達格蘭文化館 in Beitou which has a pretty good overview of all the aboriginal tribes in Taiwan and a nice collection of artifacts. Best of all, admission is free.

Puji Temple

In 1905 funds were raised to to construct Puji Temple, dedicated to the goddess of hot springs, Kannon, to bless the local hot spring industry. The temple still stands as a popular tourist attraction in the area.

Hotels in Beitou

Wondering where to stay in Beitou? We have prepared a Beitou Hot Spring Guide. Stay tuned for details.

Places to Eat in Beitou

There are many great eateries and restaurants around Beitou, within walking distance of the MRT station. In my next guide, I will create a map and guide of places to eat in Beitou. Stay tuned for more.

Beitou Public Library

View from inside the Beitou Public Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in the country.

Longfeng Valley Hot Spring 龍鳳谷溫泉

Longfeng Valley in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic sulfur hot spring area with 
 hiking trails, steam vents, sulfur deposits, and large natural hot springs. Longfeng Valley remains as a mostly untouched natural pool that retains its natural beauty without man-made structures surrounding it. It is a unique and interesting stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan…(read more)

Lover’s Waterfall 情人瀑布

Another easily accessible waterfall in the park is Lover’s Waterfall, right across the street from Sulfur Valley.

Sulfur Valley 硫磺谷

Sulfur Valley (Liuhuang Valley) in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic sulfur hot spring area with hiking trails, steam vents, sulfur deposits, and large natural hot springs. Sulfur Valley contains a trail that circles the area and also has a free public spring to soak your feet in. It is a unique and interesting stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan…(read more)

You can book a rock climbing experience at Sulphur Valley on Klook here or KKday here

Chungshan Building 中山樓

You may recognize the Chungshan Building from the back of the 100 NT dollar bill. Originally built as a meeting place for the now defunct National Assembly, the building is now rarely used for events. The fact that is the only building in the world built right on top of a sulfur vent means that it is hard to maintain, and many parts of the building are under constant repair. However it is full of precocious art and beautiful architecture, and it is open daily for tours…(read more)
Price: 80 NT
You can book a private tour to the Chungshan building on Klook here. ​

Hours: 
Tour times are 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3 PM daily and the tour lasts about an hour and a half. I highly recommend it. Be sure to get there about 10 minutes early. 
Be wary that for some national holidays the building is closed to the public. 

Zhuzihu竹子湖

Zhuzihu is a small valley in Beitou District of Taipei between Qixing Mountian and Datun Mountian. The valley is especially fertile due to the rich volcanic soil and abundant rain, and the entire area is full of recreational farms which have become popular tourist destinations. You should definitely stop by on your trip to Yangmingshan…(read more)

Xiaoyoukeng 小油坑

Xiaoyoukeng in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic steam vent area with hiking trails, fumaroles, sulfur deposits, and natural hot springs. Even though the name means “small sulfur hole,” it is perhaps the largest and most easily accessible volcanic steam vent area in Taiwan. One could say that it is the Yellowstone of Taiwan.  It is a quiet and pleasant stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan…(read more)

Yangmingshan National Park 陽明山國家公園懶人包

Yangmingshan National Park is a mountainous area in Taipei and New Taipei, known for its volcanic activity, hiking trails, wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and sulfur vents. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei…(read more)

Guandu

Guandu is another awesome place in Beitou District that is just a short trip via MRT from New Beitou Hot Spring Area. Here you can enjoy Guandu Wharf, Guandu Temple, and Guandu Nature Preserve.

Activities and Places we Missed:

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our blogs to come!

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