Getting into hot water: Tai'an, Taiwan

Get a good soak during the holidays and let the steaming hot water soothe away all the stress of the daily grind in the cities. Seek out the recuperative cures at China’s most well-known hot springs holiday destinations. We take you on a quick tour.

Editor's note: From Sichuan to Tengchong, from Lhasa to Inner Mongolia to Taiwan's Miaoli County, China's hot spring centers offer plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax. Whichever direction you may choose to go, there is always a warm welcome waiting.

Tai'an, Taiwan Tai'an in Taiwan's Miaoli county has always been popular for its numerous hot springs, mainly situated along the Wenshuixi River in a village called Jinshui. Here visitors can luxuriate in high-quality hot springs while feasting their eyes on beautiful landscapes. Local-flavored dishes and ethnic culture are extra attractions.

The hot springs at Tai'an have a long history. Unlike sulfurous hot springs, which are often turbid and pungent, the sodium bicarbonate springs here are milky white and translucent.

Apart from the usual recuperative benefits, the hot springs here are also believed to have cosmetic qualities, hence their name, the "Beauty Springs". All kinds of value-added facilities include outdoor pools, plus intricately landscaped gardens full of artificial rock hills and waterfalls. Specially designed lighting turns them into a fairyland at night.

Most of the bathrooms at hotels or inns here are directly connected to spring water, so you can simply turn on the tap and enjoy a carefree spa in the room.