HK Independent Traveller Blog

One of Taiwan's attractions is certainly its hot springs ( onsen ). Three hot spring areas near Taipei are Beitou , Wulai and Yangmingshan .  It was my friends' first visit to Taiwan.  I think we should enjoy hot spring at least once. We opt for Beitou as it is easy to reach from Taipei. Beitou is a city of hot spring and history. It  had once one of the largest hot spring spas under Japanese rule. The area was initially army nursing homes, and then opened as Beitou Park in 1911. The park's current size is 1/3 of the former size, is still a lovely wooded space, filled with old stone bridges and heritage buildings. Hot spring stream runs through the centre. We travelled from Alishan to Taipei Railway Station , switched to Beitou and then Xinbeitou MRT station . Taipei station was full of people.  Once we were in the MRT to Beitou we could enjoy the ride in the less crowded train compartment. Passengers heading to Xinbeitou need to change at Bei...

Marshal Zen Garden was built during the Japanese-colonised period of the 1920's.  It was renowned for the hot spring and was used as the entertainment hub of the Japanese pilots during the end of the World War II. In the 1960's, it was used to confine Marshal Chang Xue-liang and his wife Zhao Di. We checked in in our hotel Double Inn and was driven there.  The environment is very soothing with a lot of green, flowers and typical Japanese set up. We first enjoyed our afternoon tea after travelling straight from Alishan to Chiayi to Taipei. You can visit the Zen Garden if you hold a booking of  the tour, hot spring or restaurant. It was very nice to enjoy the afternoon in its tea house  小六茶舖. It's cosy and the food was superb, good value for the money. NTD900 for two. Marshal Chang and his wife were detained at the Zen Garden for decades.  Though it was years ago, the exhibition of his room, photos and his life made me feel...