When it comes to hot springs, few countries are as blessed as Taiwan. Mineral-rich, geothermally heated water gushes to the surface at more than 100 locations around the island. The exact total varies from decade to decade; the island’s geological and hydrological dynamism means that established springs have been known to run dry while new ones unexpectedly burst forth.
Taiwan’s summers may be torrid, yet winters can get surprisingly chilly. And when the mercury drops, nothing beats a refreshing, relaxing session in a hot spring, whether a makeshift outdoor pool created by dragging rocks into position or a luxury retreat serving top-notch cuisine.
Travelers based in Greater Taipei have no shortage of hot spring choices. Beyond the famous resorts of Xinbeitou and Yangmingshan National Park, New Taipei City’s Jinshan District offers even more opportunities to soak and unwind.
Jinshan’s hot springs are said to be unique for offering four distinct types of spring water. In addition to waters noticeably and naturally enriched with carbonic acid, iron oxide, and sulfur, aficionados can unwind in seawater-fed springs.
Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs is close to Jinshan’s main fishing port, the name of which (Chinese for “Sulfur Harbor”) is a holdover from the 17th and 18th centuries, when the area’s rich sulfur deposits were mined and shipped overseas. The spring facility has both outdoor footbaths and gender-segregated indoor pools for naked bathing. Visitors mingling with folks from the neighborhood may well hear the latter rave about the mental and physical benefits of regular immersion.
Free foot baths are also available at Zhongshan Hot Springs Park, a short walk from Jinshan’s characterful Jinbaoli Old Street. The park’s golden brown water owes its calmative qualities to a blend of iron chlorides, bicarbonate, and sulfur.
The Jiatou or Wanli spring, located in neighboring Wanli District, is another venue for the 2025-2026 Jinshan-Wanli Hot Springs Festival. The festival, supported by the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration, will run until March 30. Because facilities are sometimes closed for cleaning or renovation, travelers should confirm opening times before heading out.
Food is an important element of any trip to Taiwan, and hot-spring resorts take cuisine especially seriously. Because bathers do not eat much before enjoying a soak, they usually emerge with healthy appetites, ready for a memorable local meal. The Jinshan-Wanli area has several signature foods, among them duck meat from free-range, mature birds and wild sea crab caught in fall and winter.
The number one tourist magnet in Wanli District is the Yehliu geopark. Over the years, millions of visitors have marveled at the Queen’s Head, hoodoos, honeycombed outcrops, and other strangely shaped features. But the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area have a great deal to offer besides hot springs and rock formations. At Baisha Bay, it has one of the north’s finest beaches.
Baisha translates as “white sand,” and it’s no misnomer. The surface of this 1-km-long strand consists of crushed coral and pulverized marine shells.
Conditions within the picturesque bay are suitable for swimming and water sports. Those not interested in getting into the water are won over by the dramatic scenery that frames it — the volcanic-rock headland of Linshanbi to the east, Fugui Cape to the west, and the green hills that dominate the interior.
Ocean currents wash in more than powdery white sand, however. From time to time, significant quantities of trash accumulate at various points along the shoreline. To address this problem, the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area launched “I Love Clean Beach,” a program that goes well beyond picking up garbage.
Drawing inspiration from Japan’s Satoumi Initiative, which aims to build a more harmonious relationship between coastal ecosystems and those who live close to the ocean, the program is working on long-term remedies, such as environmental education and gathering comprehensive data relating to marine pollution.
This innovative and multifaceted approach to a global problem earned the initiative a spot on Green Destinations’ Top 100 Stories of 2024 list, a tourism management organization based in the Netherlands. In 2025, the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Administration was awarded the Bronze Certification as a Green Destination, further enhancing its international recognition. In recent years, Taiwan’s travel industry has embraced sustainability, working closely with local communities and government units to ensure that growth in visitor numbers directly benefits conservation and cultural preservation efforts, positioning the country as a leader in eco-friendly travel in Asia.
Another organization working to enhance the tourist experience in this part of Taiwan is the Crown Coast Tourism Union. Bringing together businesses, nonprofits, public-sector entities, and travel experts, this government-backed destination marketing organization now covers Taoyuan’s four coastal districts as well as Keelung and seven districts in New Taipei City. The union integrates local resources to provide its members with tools and training, like smart communication technologies, to better serve international visitors.
Thanks to a web of bus routes, reaching and exploring the north coast is easy. In addition to direct buses from the capital to Jinshan and Yeliu, frequent services connect coastal settlements between Tamsui and Keelung. Business travelers and conference attendees who find themselves with a free day should arm themselves with an EasyCard (a prepaid card accepted by virtually all forms of public transportation) and strike out for a national scenic area.
Greater Taipei’s proximity to Taiwan’s principal international airport, its range of accommodation options, and its abundance of places to eat make it an appealing location for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) travel.
TOURIST INFORMATION
Travelers thinking of visiting Taiwan’s north coast can gather additional information from the following websites:
North Coast & Guanyinshan National Scenic Area (multilingual)
New Taipei City Travel (New Taipei City Government) (multilingual)
Taiwan Hot Spring (Tourism Administration) (multilingual)
Crown Coast Tourism Union (English)
Tourism Administration (Ministry of Transportation and Communications) (multilingual)
Meet Taiwan (MICE) (Bilingual)
The 24-hour tourist information hotline (0800-011-765) is toll-free within Taiwan and staffed by personnel speaking English, Japanese, and Chinese.
The central government’s Tourism Administration and International Trade Administration are collaborating to encourage international travelers attending MICE events in Taiwan to explore the country through the Travel Incentive Program. In 2025, the program provides travel incentives of up to NT$2,000 per person per visit, with a maximum of NT$600,000 per proposal. The program aims to promote the development of both the MICE and tourism sectors, thereby supporting economic growth.
