Is The Beautiful Beitou District Worth Visiting In Taipei?

Beitou is a popular tourist destination for both international travelers and domestic travelers alike due to its famous hot springs. Located in the northernmost part of Taipei, Beitou can feel like a completely separate city than Taipei. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Taipei, Beitou can be just the place for you.

The History of the Beitou District

What makes Beitou so popular and famous is its hot springs. The hot springs have long been used by whomever has occupied the area.

The aboriginal people of Taiwan whom lived in the area had long used the hot springs prior to any foreigners.

Once trade to Taiwan opened up, German merchants established a hot spring club at one point in Beitou.

The hot springs were recognized, utilized and, ultimately commericalized, during Japanese rule (1895-1945). The first hot spring hotel (Tianguan Hot Spring Hotel) was built in 1896 and the first public hot spring bath (Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath) was constructed in 1913.

Japanese rule in Taiwan ended in 1945 and was handed back to China. Beitou fell under Taipei jurisdiction in 1968. The area declined for a period of time in the 1980s before it slowly started to rebuild itself and gain popularity once again.

Today, there are over 30 hot spring resorts in the district, one of the largest concentrations of hot spring resorts in the world.

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

The Beitou Hot Spring Museum was originally built as a public bathhouse and was constructed in 1913. After Japanese rule ended in Taiwan in 1945 the building was used in a variety of different ways but was eventually abandoned. The corrosive nature of the local hot springs had taken hold of the building and done its damage. It wasn’t until 1995 when Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior declared the building a historical site. In 1998, a major renovation of the building took place and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum was created.

This little museum is free of charge and provides the history of the hot springs in Beitou, from it’s humble beginnings to its fall, and then its restoration and rise to the popular tourist destination it has now become.

It still retains some of the original bathing rooms, which is pretty interesting to see and to learn about!

Beitou Library

Located right next to the Hot Spring Museum is the Beitou Library. The first “green” library in Taiwan, this distinctive looking building is notable for its architecture, which at a quick glance resembles a giant treehouse.

The library is adorned with a number of large windows that provides a lot of natural lighting throughout the buidling and helps to curb the use of electricity. Part of the roof is covered in solar panels which helps to store and utilize electricity for the building. The sloping roof’s drainage system is used to water the library’s plants and flush the toilets.

Since you can’t take pictures inside the library I didn’t venture in, just walked around it and checked it out. It’s a really cool looking, interesting builidng which happens to be a library.

Thermal Valley

Also known as Hell Valley, Thermal Valley, is a popular attraction in the area. It’s one of the sources that supplies the area’s hot springs. The average temperature of the water sits at a “cool” 80-100 degree celsius year round which produces a mystifying sulfur steam within the valley. There’s a nice little paved path that takes you around the valley where you can enjoy different viewpoints of the steam rising. It’s a really little walk watching the steam rise up from the depths of this blue /green spring water.

Visit A Spa Resort

If you’re visiting an area known for their hot springs then you gotta visit a spa resort right? ABSOLUTELY. There’s a wide range of spas you can visit in Beitou, ranging from the boujee and luxurious to the budget types. So it all depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what kind of experience you want to have.

I opted for more of a budget option. I really just wanted to relax for a couple hours for the experience and wasn’t looking to lounge for an entire day or even half a day. I was able to find a place that suited my needs for a reasonable cost – 1670 NTD, $51.98 USD for two hours.

It really was a perfect amount of time to relax and enjoy a nice soak at the tail end of my visit to Beitou. The water from the hot springs as one would imagine is piping hot and it’s really comforting to just relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.

Is Beitou Worth Visiting?

If you’re visiting Taipei and want to have a totally different experience then what you’ve had in the city then 100% Beitou is worth a visit. Individually, the sights are cool, especially the Thermal Valley, but none by themselves would really warrant a time-consuming trip from the center of Taipei to get to and visit. But the sights, combined with a stay at spa, make a trip to Beitou well worth it.

Even though it’s technically part of Taipei, it just doesn’t feel like Taipei at all. Just a completely different vibe, much more laid back and less hectic. You feel like you’re in a totally different city. I really enjoyed it and would consider staying there for a night or two during my next trip to Taiwan just to fully unwind and relax at one of the spa resorts.