The 2010 Taiwan Hot Spring and Fine-Cuisine Carnival

It all started a very long time ago with the Rim of Fire. Taiwan is a charter member of this far-flung Pacific club, as a direct result blessed with magnificent mountainous scenery and upon score of dramatic hot-spring locations.

Then came the native peoples, who in mountain-river settings sporting hot-spring waters such as today’s Zhiben, inland from the southeast coast, and Wulai, just south of Taipei, would come to gravelly riverbeds, dig shallow pits, allow them to fill up with hot mineral waters and cooling river water, and drop in for a soothing soak, healing aches and wounds and washing away the worries of the day.

Then came the Japanese, who ruled the islands of Taiwan and Penghu from 1895 to 1945. They brought their love of soaking and the rustic hot-spring inn with them – the legend being that the soaking tradition was learned from watching snow monkeys come down from the hills for warming baths in winter – and the Taiwanese took to the experience with alacrity, since then creating a hot-springs culture all their own.

Today there is the Taiwan Hot Springs and Fine-Cuisine Carnival, an annual celebration of the hot-springs culture and the unique culinary traditions that have emerged as a much-anticipated bonus to any outing to a hot-spring resort. All major resorts get in on the fun, offering compelling discount offers to get people – notably you – to come see why each thinks they offer the best, the quintessential, the nonpareil soaking experience in this land.

What’s Up?

The carnival is overseen by the Tourism Bureau, and stretches about four months from October to the end of January or early February, these cooler months being prime time for local hot-spring excursions. Each resort area arranges a series of local attractions emphasizing local themes and the specific joys of crisp-autumn/cool winter bathing, with special tours coordinated with the accommodation and fine-cuisine offers. There is also coordination with the Taiwan Railways Administration and Taiwan Tour Bus enterprises to remove all your transportation concerns.

In addition to in-room bathing and both indoor and alfresco hot-spring soaking pools, many resorts also offer other methods of body treatment such as water-jet massages, sauna and steam-room visits, oriental-style massages, aromatherapy, and more.

The emphasis in the fine-cuisine department is on healthy dining. To match the health benefits of a hot-spring visit, restaurants in such areas highlight both taste and nutrition. Today more and more creations are low in calories, sugar, and fat, with less meat and more vegetables incorporated. Many now also feature organically grown produce, Chinese medicinal herbs, and even mineral-rich vegetables raised with irrigation methods utilizing hot-spring water.

A Few Samplers

On the back or north slopes of Yangmingshan is the Tien Lai Hot Spring Resort. During the carnival the service fee is waived for the one-night-stay with two meals package.

Hot SpringYangmingshan Tien Lai Hot Spring Resort

Add: 1-7 Mingliu Rd., Zhonghe Village, Jinshan District, New Taipei City

Tel: +886-2-2408-0400, ext. 1113

Website: www.tienlai.com.tw

Ruisui sits in the pastoral, painting-beautiful East Rift Valley on Taiwan’s east side between the towering Central Mountain Range and less-towering Coastal Range. This is the island’s prime whitewater-rafting district. The Yuan Hsiang Hot Spring resort is offering free in-room private use of its special “Ruisui Milk” service, using fresh milk supplied from local pastures.

Yuan Hsiang Hot Spring

Add: 325 Wufu Rd., 5 Lin, Ruixiang Village, Ruisui Township, Hualien County

Tel: +886-3-887-6307 / 0919-356-519

Website: www.yuan-hhs.com.tw

Guguan lies in a pretty valley off the Central Cross-Island Highway, one of the world’s great roads, offering spectacular high-mountain tableaux. The GOYA Spring Resort is offering a discount of 50% on its public baths during the week and 30% on weekends/holidays.

GOYA Spring Resort

Add: 37 Lileng Lane, Sec. 1, Dongguan Rd., Boai Village, Heping District, Taichung City

Tel: +886-4-2594-1555

Website: www.go-ya.com.tw