The Ultimate Guide to Hot Springs in Guguan, Taichung

Experiencing the hot springs in Guguan has been on my bucket list since the first year of uni. Hot springs are a must during the winter time; what’s better than sliding into hot spring water while breathing in the cold, crisp air?

When it comes to hot springs, most people automatically think of Japan. Not many people know that Taiwan also has many amazing hot springs, and Guguan is surely one of the places to go.

Previously named Meiji Onsen, Guguan Hot Spring is at an altitude of 800 meters in an area rich in indigenous Atayal tribe culture. Their hot springs overlook the Daya river, which makes for a splendid view.

How to get to Guguan

If you’re already in Taichung, the easiest (and my prefered) way to get to Guguan is by bus. There are a few buses that you can take from the city center up to Guguan. You can take 153 if you’re coming from the HSR station, and 850 if you’re coming from the Taichung train station. 850 is the one I took because it has a station near where I live. 153 will stop by the Shin Kong Mistukoshi department store, which is where a lot of people get on. Bus 207 is also available if you live near Fengyuan.

P.S. Click on the numbers for the bus route!

The bus ride to Guguan takes a little over 2 hours.Taking the earliest buses will get you to Guguan a lot faster as there won’t be much traffic, and you’ll be able to get the most out of your day! We took the bus at 7:20 am and arrived at 9, which was the perfect time as the shops were just starting to open up.

You could also drive to Guguan, but the time will be more or less the same as taking the bus up. There will be parking spaces for around 30 NTD per hour also depending on the day and season you’re traveling.

Best Season to Visit Guguan

The winter is without a doubt the BEST time to visit hot springs in Guguan. We went around 5-11 degrees Celsius, which was just cold enough to enjoy hot springs. It might feel even better if the temperature was a little bit lower, but I think then I’d be too cold to get out of the hot spring! 🥶

Spring is also a beautiful time to visit Guguan because it will still be chilly enough, and you will be just in time for cherry blossom season. Many people like to go around this time because the photos you can take are insanely gorgeous.

Things to do in Guguan

Guguan Suspended Bridge

I love a good suspended bridge because the view from above is always so incredible. Be sure to read the instruction signs before you get on one though! This bridge said max. 10 people and there were probably over 20 people on there at one point. It was very shaky, which definitely scared the crap out of me.

Shao Lai Trail

You can easily find this trail whilst strolling around Guguan. It 1.5 km long and generally considered quite easy by hikers who visit. Personally, I thought it wasn’t too bad, but there are a lot of stairs which you have to climb and I’m not the biggest fan of hiking trails with a lot of stairs. It does make for a good cardio workout though, I definitely felt the burn. It’s also a really nice way to warm up in the cold weather before or after going into the hot spring.

Mt. Pojinjia

You’ll find Mt. Pojinjia at the top of the Shao Lai Trail. Mt. Pojinjia is one of the “Seven Heroes of Guguan” and the fourth highest amongst them. It is 7.2 kilometers in total and it’s a one way trail- so you come back in the same direction as you went. On the official tourism guide, it says that you’ll take on average 6-7 hours, but I’m guessing it’ll be longer than that if you include snack and water breaks.

I definitely prefer Mt. Pojinjia over the Shao Lai trail because there are barely any stairs, just nature. You’ll be completely surrounded by nature, which is always the feeling I’m looking for on a hike. This hike is definitely not the easiest though. Remember to pack enough food and water, and also a trekking pole for balance because some parts of the trail are really steep. Make sure to check the weather beforehand as well, winter is an absolutely perfect time to hike Mt. Pojinjia, the weather extremely pleasant.

Try pine flavored ice!

Bai Leng popsicles （白冷冰棒）is one of the things you have to try when coming to Guguan, it is a very famous popsicle store amongst both locals and tourists. Their classic popsicle that you probably can’t find anywhere else is pine flavored (五葉松). In fact, you’ll see vendors selling freshly pressed pine juice all over the streets here.

None of my friends liked the taste of pine, they couldn’t stand it at all actually. According to them, “it tastes like tree”. (duh?) Yes, it does taste like tree, and it is made of tree. But I thought it was quite nice to be honest. A little weird upon the first bite, but it grew on me and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. That might be because I’m vegetarian though, and I’m used to eating foods that tastes like tree (ha-ha). But definitely do try this if you’re an adventurous eater who likes to try new things 😉

Exfoliate your feet with hot spring fish

Yea. I know that’s what you’re thinking right now.

Huh???

Hear me out though. Have you ever been to an Asian massage parlor and seen people in massage chairs soaking their feet in a tank of water full of fish nibbling on their skin? Yea, that. These fish love to eat dead skin. The thicker the skin on your feet the more they come to you! However, do keep in mind that this does NOT mean they like stinky or dirty feet. It is a very fun (and unusual) experience but remember to keep the hygiene of the hot spring by going in with clean feet!

Eat instant noodles

One of my friend tells me that one thing she likes to do when she’s in a hot spring is to eat instant noodles. That was pretty new and kinda odd to me, but honestly, it sounds like a fantastic idea! Can you just imagine chilling there with a stunning view while eating your favorite instant noodles out of a cup? Sounds like the ultimate vacation to me! To do this you’ll have to book a private hot spring room though, you cannot eat in public hot springs! (Keep reading for my hot spring recommendations!)

Soak up the warm sun in Mingzhi Wenquan Old Street

if you come during the winter, I suggest you to just take some time to walk around with your friends or family and soak in the warm sun. That is honestly one of the best feelings ever. The air on the mountain is so much fresher as well. The Japanese styled Mingzhi (Meiji) wenquan Old Street is the perfect place for you to wander around and take some photos.

Be sure to ring the bell three times. Legend says that the first ring is for safety and peace, the second ring is for happiness, and the third ring for a blessed life.

Have some more ice cream

I know I already had the pine flavored ice cream in the morning, but after coming out of the hot spring, I couldn’t help myself when I saw that family mart had a new flavor of fami-ice. (If you’ve been to Taiwan but haven’t tried the fami-ice at family mart, what are you doing??!) I swear, eating ice cream during the winter is such a guilty pleasure. The iciness just hits so differently. So I had a couple of icy treats on this cold cold day in Guguan, and you should definitely treat yourself to some, too.

Best Hot springs in Guguan

Four Season Resort (四季）for public hot springs

If you’re looking for a public hot springs in Guguan, then I would recommend the one at Four Season Resort. Although it may look like a very mediocre pool upon entering, there are actually many floors in this public hot spring. The first floor is usually where are the family with children hang out; it’s a little noisy, so I try to avoid that floor. The second and third floor are much quieter with prettier views as well. On the second floor you’ll find another mysterious staircase that leads you to the nude hot springs (separated by gender), which is the quietest and most peaceful area of them all. The price for entrance is 400NTD with no time limit.

Utopia Holiday Resort (神木谷）for a private experience

If you prefer a quieter experience with a very scenic view, then private hot springs are for you. There are two types of private rooms you can choose from at Utopia Holiday Resort- a small room for 1,200NTD and a bigger room with a slightly better view for 1,500NTD , and you’ll be able to have a whole private hot spring to yourself for 90 minutes.

Have you been to Guguan? What are some of your favorite places to go to for hot springs?

let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,