Netizens have dubbed Pengpeng (also spelled Bong Bong) Hot Springs the most user-friendly wild hot springs in Taiwan. They are located near the Atayal indigenous community of Knbung in Datong Township, Yilan County. After parking one’s car, it is only a 15-minute walk to the springs, nestled amid mountains and a waterfall. The local Atayal indigenous people, whose lives are interdependent with the Pengpeng River, invite you to come and experience their culture.
Taiwan has abundant geothermal energy and hot springs, and especially a large number of “wild” open-air hot springs hidden away close to watercourses in mountain valleys. These secret springs, which have a fascinating aura of the rough and primitive, attract many people with a taste for adventure.
Su’ao is a colorful harbor town with its back to the mountains and its face to the sea. It has developed in the foothills of Mt. Qixing with the Pacific Ocean on one side. Its “Su’ao mirage” was once considered one of the eight wonders of the Lanyang Plain. Today it is a transit hub for road, rail and sea transportation.
Immerse yourself in a cold spring with a temperature of 22°C (which it stays at throughout the year), then quietly remain there without moving, and your body will begin to feel hot. As bubbles cover your skin, you may get a sensation that has been described as being like soaking in soda pop. Have you ever had this experience?
“Taiwan’s vibrant hot-spring culture has fostered the development of a saltwater hot spring on Green Island rivaling those of the Japanese island of Kyushu and the Italian island of Sicily.
Stepping into the Long Nice Hot Spring in Taipei’s Beitou District is like returning to a traditional public bath of 100 years ago. There is none of the elaborate decor of modern hot springs facilities, only a simple wooden structure and wafting steam, making this a comfortable place for ordinary people to take a routine hot springs bath.
“The mountainous district of Beitou in Taipei is one of the two places in the world whose turquoise-colored hot springs are known to contain radium. Beitou’s hot springs are richly varied in terms of their chemical compositions. With its traditions of itinerant musical performances and high-end cuisine, the place also boasts a vibrant cultural history that sprang from its famous spas.
In Taiwan, rice wine is essential for both home-cooked meals and banquets, a constant companion through life, from birth to death.
Did you know that betelnuts, besides being a stimulant, can be used to convey affection? Did you know that in Taiwan betelnuts have long been given as gifts to draw people closer together? Did you know that betelnuts can be used in religious rituals, and even in divination? Did you know that there are many more things to know about betelnuts?
Is there any food in your culture which can be used in myriad ways and is not only for eating, but also conveys the meaning “best wishes” as well as being closely connected to major life events like birth and death?
