Experience The Healing Waters Of Jiaoxi Hot Springs

Set in the lush landscape of northeastern Taiwan, Jiaoxi Hot Springs (also known as Jiaosi Hot Springs) is a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. Jiaoxi is known for its mineral-rich waters and the peaceful atmosphere of its hot springs, making it a tranquil escape that’s just under an hour from Taipei. It’s easy to visit as a day trip, or, stay a few days to enjoy a resort with a hot spring bath in your room. This post covers how to get to Jiaoxi, what to expect there, and where to stay if you decide to stay longer.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs

Taiwan is rich with thermal springs as it sits over the meeting point of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. There are also several fault lines throughout Taiwan. The tectonic activity, from the movement of the plates and the fault lines, heats the underground water, which dissolves minerals from the rocks.

The hot spring water in Jiaoxi is very rich in minerals from this process, including sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and carbonic acid ions. Both the heat and the minerals combined help to relieve skin issues, soften it, relax muscles, improve circulation, and maybe even help boost your immune system. Soaking is also is very calming, reducing stress.

On top of this, since these are sodium bicarbonate hot springs, the water doesn’t have a sulphur smell and it’s crystal clear.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park

Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park is the perfect place to experience the hot springs here. It’s located in Yilan County, in northeastern Taiwan.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park has a free area to soak your feet in the hot spring water and a hot spring bath in the forest that is like a Japanese onsen.

I arrived late afternoon from Taipei and there were groups of people enjoying the free foot baths near the entrance.

I wanted to see the forest bathing area though, so I followed the signs deeper into the park to the forest bath.

Dusk was approaching rapidly, so even though this park is located off the main road, directly behind the Jiaoxi Bus Station, the woods became thicker as I walked, making it feel more intimate. Several lanterns were also on, giving it a very calming and glamorous ambiance.

The forest baths, at the back of the park, are divided into a bathing area for women on the right and a bathing area for men on the left. The area to pay is located between the two. In front of it all, there’s lovely Asian-style landscaping with pools of water, rocks, and trees, accented by lanterns.

My cost to enter was 210 NT$ (about $6.50 as of December 2024). Cash only. This included a bathing cap (which is required). I had brought my towel with me. I forget if you can rent here, but you may be able to.

The baths here are Japanese onsen style. They date back to Japanese rule in Taiwan, which was between WWI and WWII. The Japanese, known for their onsen baths, quickly realized the potential of this area. This style of bathing means no bathing suits. Or naked bathing.

I wasn’t expecting this, but I really wanted to try the hot spring, so I decided to proceed. Especially as the area looked so pretty with the lights on in the forest. I definitely recommend coming here after dusk. It really adds a magical touch.

There are lockers near the entrance of the bathing area. They cost a few Taiwanese coins. I changed out of my clothes, put them in my locker and walked over to the one of the baths.

I suddenly felt a little nervous as the bath area felt pretty intimate and I was the only non-Taiwanese person here. Plus, I was walking around naked. A local was kind enough to guide me to the area where you shower in first, which you do to keep the spring water clean. She didn’t speak English, but it was pretty easy to figure out what she meant.

The first bath I chose was a large square bath in a wooden hut with open sides. I think they call it a chalet. I felt like I was bathing in nature, but was protected by the building at the same time. It felt amazing to soak in the (very) warm water with nature as a backdrop. And although I was the only foreigner in the bath, I felt that I was accepted.

There are several hot spring pools on both the women’s and men’s sides. I tried a few others and found them to have varying temperatures. The chalet was the hottest of them all. There’s also a children’s pool and a cold pool. See the map of Jiaoxi Hot Springs below for a better idea of the layout as I was not able to take photos inside.

I felt so relaxed after my hot spring bath and my skin felt so soft. I could definitely get addicted to this.

One thing to note about Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park is that it’s located near the center of town. When you arrive, your first view of the park may not be the zen landscape you imagine for an onsen type experience, but when you head into the park and deeper into the woods, it quite nice. Especially at dusk. It’s also very affordable and the perfect thing to do on a rainy day in Taiwan (which there are many of).

How To Get To Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park

If you’re not driving, the best way to get here is via Bus 1915C. It takes about 50 minutes (unless there’s traffic). The bus leaves from two main places. I took the bus from the Technology Building Station MRT. You can also catch it from the Taipei Main Station (Zhengzhou).

To get to the former, take the brown line of the metro to Technology Building Station. Exit the station, turn right, and cross the street. Look for the ticket station at the bus stop as you must buy a paper ticket inside the building. I tried boarding the bus directly when I first arrived, like you do with most buses in Taiwan, but they kept waving me inside the building. I was not able to use my Easy Pass card. I’m not sure why. I was able to use my credit card.

You can buy single or a round trip ticket. My round trip ticket was a little over 200 NT$, which is less than $6.50. They will also give you a seat number.

When the bus pulls into the Jiaoxi Bus Station, exit the bus and walk the few steps to the park. You will know you’re in the right place when you see the giant white metal bunny.

You can also take the a train from Taipei Station, but the train takes an hour and a half to two hours or more, depending on the specific train. See railway.gov.tw for details. The faster train time may be faster than the bus if you plan to travel during rush hour. The train station in Jiaoxi is a little further from the Hot Springs, but not too far, it’s about a 10-minute walk.

Where To Stay In Jiaoxi

If you choose to stay in Jiaoxi, there are several resorts that have onsen-style baths in your room. For the ultimate experience, make sure to book a room with a view from the bath. The three below are listed by price, with the most expensive first.

• The rooms at MU Jiaoxi Hotel have a hot spring bath in your room. Some rooms have a balcony. There is also a pool and a fitness center, a restaurant and a bar. It’s a 5-minute walk from the hotel to Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park.
• The rooms at Evergreen Resort Hotel Jiaosi also have hot spring baths in the room. Look for the hot spring rooms with mountain views for the best experience. There is also a fitness center and restaurant. It’s less than a 5-minute walk to Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park.
• Peace Area Hot Spring Hotel is another place that offers a hot spring experience in your room. It’s the least expensive of the three, but they do get some negative reviews. Most negative comments note that the water is not as warm as desired and that there is no elevator. This hotel is about a 5-minute walk to Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park.

Want To See More Of Taiwan?

I’ve wanted to visit Taiwan for a while now and glad I’ve finally made it there. It may be small, but it’s packed with fascinating history, incredible food, a lot of nature to explore, and the nicest people I think I’ve ever met traveling.

I will be writing more on Taiwan soon, but one of its can’t-miss destinations is Jiufen Old Street in northeastern Taiwan. It’s only about an hour or so from Taipei and easy to visit as a day trip to see its historic old streets built on a sloping hill with amazing coastal views. There’s tons of charm here with its brilliant red lanterns, lots of food stalls to try tempting Taiwanese food, and many traditional teahouses.

If you like hiking, I recommend hiking Teapot Mountain. The views from the summit are spectacular. It’s not far from Jiufen, so perfect to do as part of a trip there, or, it can also be done as a day trip from Taipei.

Safe Travels!

Julie