Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei

Overview

Explore the volcanic landforms and relaxing hot springs of Beitou and Yangmingshan on this 1-day tour! You'll learn about the history and development of hot springs in Taiwan and enjoy a relaxing hot spring foot bath.

Highlights

Key Information

Description

The tour begins at 08:00. After meeting your guide and driver at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station (BL14 /O07) Exit 2, you'll take a 30–40-minute ride to Yangmingshan National Park! On the way, you'll stop at Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch. Located in Beitou Park near Beitou Hot Spring Museum, this beautiful public library was selected by travel website When On Earth as one of its 10 coolest examples of "Green Buildings," and the online culture magazine Flavorwire as one of the 25 most beautiful public libraries in the world. Beitou Hot Spring Museum was built during the Japanese colonial era. The Tudor-style building has a brick and wood facade and black tile roofing. The ground floor contains a small and a large bath, with a piece of Hokutolite Stone weighing 800kg displayed at a corner. The second floor features a huge tatami lobby and a balcony with a special exhibition area displaying early Taiwanese film documents. It's an excellent place to learn about Beitou's rich hot spring culture and history. Geothermal Valley, which is one of the area's sources for hot spring water, is not far from the library. Because of the high temperature, the sulfuric steam fog rises from the pool’s surface, giving it the popular nicknames "Hell Valley" and "Ghost Lake." The next stop is Yangmingshan Flower Clock, the centerpiece of the Yangmingshan National Park. The flowers change depending on the season, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of blooms across the year. The nearby Yangming Shu-Wu Mansion, also known as Zhongxing Guesthouse, is the summer residence of the late Taiwanese president Chiang Kai-shek, and a reception venue for important foreign guests. Today, the mansion is a significant site for both Taiwan’s history and its natural environment. Next, Zhuzihu is a farming area hidden away in the mountains, and also the home to Yangmingshan's calla lilies and hydrangeas. Originally a lava dammed lake created by the surrounding volcanoes, the area's unique geology became suitable for farming. Besides the seasonal flowers, Zhuzihu is also well-known for the mountain vegetable cuisine. Don’t miss the chance to try the local treats there! After lunch you'll visit Yangmingshan's most popular spot – Xiaoyoukeng (literally "the little oil pit"). Feel the power of a dormant volcano and see steam leaking from the earth in a volcanic landscape. Then you'll visit Qingtiangang, a lava terrace formed from northern lava flows. The terrace was once a ranch for grazing water buffalo during the Japanese Colonial Period. Even today, you can find water buffalo in the area. The final stop is Lengshuikeng (literally “the cold water pit”), a barrier lake formed by lava flowing down the mountain. The hot spring water is colder than the other areas’ (around 40°C). This lent the area its name. At the end of the tour, you'll enjoy a hot spring foot bath to soothe your feet and relieve muscle tension. After the tour you may choose to disembark at Shilin Night Market and enjoy the local street foods, or drop off at the MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station.