Attractions

Located next to Beitou Hot Spring Park, Geothermal Valley is one of the sources of Beitou Hot Spring. Because of its perpetual sulfurous haze, which resembles a horrifying hell, it is often referred to as "Hell Valley" or "Ghost Lake." The hot springs here have the highest temperature in the Datun volcanic group, and the misty scenery of sulfuric smoke is like a dream, resembling a fairyland. It was once one of the Eight Scenic Spots and Twelve Sights of Taiwan during the Japanese colonial era.

The rocks in Geothermal Valley contain the radioactive element "radium," called "Beitou Stone," which is the only mineral named after a place in Taiwan among thousands of minerals in the world. Currently, only Beitou in Taiwan and Tamagawa in Japan have this kind of mineral. In recent years, in order to restore Beitou Stone, the Beitou Stone Protection Area was established. Visiting here, besides experiencing the sentiment of a hot spring town, allows for a deeper understanding of this unique mineral.

The spring water in Geothermal Valley is an acidic hydrochloric spring with a temperature range of 80 to 100 degrees Celsius. The spring water, sometimes referred to as "blue sulfur spring" and "sulfurous water," has a high pH and is caustic.  In the past, tourists often boiled "hot spring eggs" in Geothermal Valley using the high-temperature spring water. However, in recent years, in order to protect the water quality of the hot springs and avoid accidents caused by tourists falling, it has been prohibited for people to boil eggs in Geothermal Valley! When visiting Geothermal Valley, do not bring food with you to avoid disappointment!

The Beitou Branch of Taipei Public Library is Taiwan's first green building library, located in the lush and ecologically rich Beitou Park, adjacent to the Hot Spring Museum. It consists of one underground floor and two above-ground floors, with a total area of ​​2148.77 square meters. The auditory experience of outdoor bird melodies while reading indoors enhances the ambiance and enjoyment of the activity.

The library houses over ten thousand books, with "ecological conservation" as its collection feature. The abundant knowledge treasure trove makes book lovers feel like they are in a literary paradise. Outdoors, there are wooden walkways, tables, and chairs, in addition to reading platforms that enable readers to take in the breeze while engrossed in the world of literature amidst the natural environment, in addition to chairs and desks that are thoughtfully crafted to complement the architecture of the indoor reading area. When you want to take a break, walk outside and see the lush green forest and the ecological lotus pond. It not only relaxes the eyes but also relaxes the mind and body.

The roof is a lightweight ecological roof with solar photovoltaic panels that can generate 16 kilowatts of electricity. It also adopts a large number of balcony deep shading and vertical wooden grilles to reduce the entry of radiant heat into the interior and achieve energy-saving effects. The green roof and sloping grass slope design can naturally retain moisture, drain to rainwater collection tanks, and then reuse the collected water for plant irrigation and toilet flushing, achieving both greening and reducing water resource waste.

The Beitou Hot Spring Museum was formerly the "Beitou Public Bathhouse," planned by the Governor of Taihoku chō, Imura Daikichi, during the Japanese colonial period, and supervised by architect Moriyama Matsunosuke. Completed on June 17, 1913 (the 2nd year of Taisho), it is a two-story building in a mix of Western and Japanese styles and was the largest public bathhouse in East Asia at the time. The first-floor bath area is made of brick, and the second-floor rest area is made of wood, with the entrance located on the second floor.

The bathhouse utilized the public health funds of Taihoku chō at that time and was modeled after the Izu-yama hot spring bathhouse in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The second-floor rest area features a pavilion, a shoe-changing entrance, and a tatami hall where visitors can chill off after soaking in the hot springs. Adjacent to the lobby is an extended platform called the "Observation Tower," where visitors can admire the views of Beitou Mountain. In addition, snacks and beverages are also sold indoors, and sometimes cultural and artistic performances are arranged.

A century-old bath.  Taiwan's hot spring: Warmth of the spring.  Warmth of the people.

Deep within the Xinbeitou hot spring village in Taipei, Long Nice Hot Spring is a natural and unpretentious hot spring bathhouse that conceals a wealth of history and enlightening anecdotes.

The architecture of the Long Nice Hot Spring Bathhouse continues to exemplify a rare and consistent folk aesthetic. It is the oldest establishment in the Xinbeitou hot spring region that retains a Japanese-style hot spring bathhouse and is the most comfortable location for the general public to relax and rejuvenate.

Aside from its steadfast dedication to supplying the purest, most authentic sulfur spring water of superior quality, Long Nice Hot Spring's allure stems from the ambiance and sentiments that have been preserved over the years.

During the Japanese colonial period, in order to develop the hot spring tourism industry in the Xinbeitou area, the Xinbeitou branch line was built. After the establishment of the "Xinbeitou Platform" in 1916 (Taisho 5), it was renamed "Xinbeitou Station." The name "Xinbeitou" was derived from here. Xinbeitou Station is the only station in all of Taipei City that is still operational after a century of operation along the Tamsui Line. The station building is constructed entirely of wood. Notable architectural elements include the engraved brackets beneath the eaves and the 3+1 combination dormer windows that were installed in 1937 as a result of the station building's expansion.

A villa constructed in the interwar period, the Beitou Plum Garden was designed in the Japanese-Western style and was completed in the late 1930s.
Its incorporation of a wooden frame structure from Japan and an RC structure in the manner of the West demonstrates the architecture and technology of the time.

The Plum Garden is located at the end of century-old Beitou Park, with an outdoor courtyard surrounded by greenery, built along the Beitou Stream. The battlement-style Qilian stone wall is no longer mined today. The words "Plum Garden" on the gate pillar are in the calligraphy of the calligrapher, Yu Youren. There is a loft and an underground air-raid shelter. There used to be a hot spring bath in the house, showing the typical historical features of the Beitou hot spring area. It was designated a "Taipei City Historic Building" in 2006 on account of its architectural merits and regard for historical preservation.

Beitou Children's Park is located opposite the Xinbeitou Hot Spring Museum. The most famous feature here is the century-old millstone slide.

In 2020, the park underwent a regeneration project, retaining the original appearance of the century-old monument and adding new inclusive playground equipment to create a new playground for children.

Since the opening of the park area in December 1999 mirrored the turn of the millennium, it is also referred to as the "Millennium Hot Spring." Covering an area of ​​about 1000 square meters, the overall design of the park is Japanese-style, mainly using natural materials such as natural stone and wood. The roofs of the ticket booth and the toilet are made of black kawara, exuding a Japanese-Polish atmosphere.

The source of the park's spring water comes from the Geothermal Valley, which is commonly known as "Green Sulfur Spring" by the general public. The six public pools are scattered according to the terrain, four of which are hot spring pools and two are cold water pools. The water temperature decreases according to the elevation of the pool location, with temperatures ranging from 38 to 45 degrees Celsius, allowing guests to choose the suitable hot spring pool freely according to their preferences.