[Taipei 台北] Beitou stroll 北投小散步 : Park 公园 + Library 图书馆 + Hot Spring Museum 温泉博物馆 + Thermal Valley 地热谷 @ Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Visited in Nov 2018 & Sep 2015 >

Mention the Taipei district of Beitou 北投 and the first thing that comes to mind is undisputedly hot spring. No doubt the charming town has an abundance of hot spring facilities (both bigger hotels and smaller bath houses), as well as a free public foot soak at Beitou Park 北投公园), but there is really a lot more to see and do here.

▼ A map overview of what I have covered at Beitou so far.

▓ 1 | Xinbeitou MRT station & vicinity 新北投捷运站周边 ▓

The nearest MRT station is Xinbeitou 新北投 (and not Beitou 北投). For those who are wondering why the hassle of having to alight at Beitou and change to another train that travels to only one other station, you are not alone. If you are curious enough, check out this video by 铁道事务所 that shares some insights:
https://youtu.be/ZceDO95f4xw

The 2 MRT stations are in fact just a 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive apart. Many of the hot spring hotels provide complimentary shuttle to either or both stations.

▼ Alighting at Beitou 北投 station (R22) on the red/Tamsui-Xinyi 淡水-信義 line, the train bound for Xinbeitou 新北投 (R22a) is at the platform across. (You will not need to exit the station.)

▼ The trains that move between the two stations have a more fanciful design, including an interior that introduces Beitou's hot spring culture. Some of the carriages even have a mock wooden tub (not photographed).

From here, many hotels, eateries and the attractions of this blog are within walking distance. If you need to venture farther or uphill to hot spring resorts or say Marshal Zen Garden, you can easily hail a cab for a 5-10 minute ride. (Side note: since my last visit, a commemorative train station and a shop cluster have opened near the MRT station. Do check them out if you are here.)

Beitou 北投 is a mature and well-developed residential estate, so the liveability quotient here is very high. I personally feel this is a distinguished neighbourhood to reside in.

▼ In the direction of Beitou Park 北投公园 (and Radium Kagaya Beitou 日胜生加贺屋北投, a 1-night stay bundled with the stroll), you will be spoilt for food choices. (Side note: another popular food zone is Beitou Market 北投市场 - 10-15 minutes walk away - which I hope to visit in future.)

▼ Turn into smaller roads to find local eateries like this. (We had a takeout to enjoy in our hotel rooms.)

▼ 2 very obedient dogs waiting outside a convenience store for their owner.

▓ 2 | Beitou Park 北投公园 ▓

📍 Guangming Road & Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 台北市北投区, 光明路&中山路

檢視較大的地圖

According to Wiki, the 61,000㎡ park is the third oldest in Taipei, after Yuanshan Park 圆山公园 and 228 Peace Memorial Park 二二八和平纪念公园. Also (lesser) known as Xinbeitou Park 新北投公园, the public amenity was designed and built during the island's Japanese occupation, bearing witness to many developments in this hot spring town by the then-government.

Related read:
[Taipei 台北] 228 Peace Memorial Park & Museum 二二八和平纪念公园 & 国家纪念馆 + Land Bank Exhibition Hall 土银展示馆

Beitou Library 北投图书馆 and Beitou Hot Spring Museum 北投温泉博物馆 are iconic attractions within the park, while Thermal Valley 地热谷 is situated at the far end. You can easily cover all 4 places in the same day on foot.

If you have more time for a stroll in this park, try searching for the monuments that make up different parts of the district's history. Or check out the free public foot soak that is rather popular with residents and park-loving elders.

▓ 3 | Beitou Library 北投图书馆 (台北市立图书馆北投分馆) ▓

📍 No. 251, Guangming Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 台北市北投区, 光明路251号

檢視較大的地圖

Lauded for being Taiwan's first "green building" library (绿建筑图书馆) and opened in 2006, the eye-catching wooden architecture sits nicely within the park.

The 2100m² public facility spans 3 floors (B1, 1F & 2F), and has become an attraction on its own.

There is something very enticing about libraries - in the ambience and smell of books.

Taiwanese have maintained a healthy interest in reading and are definitely still into buying (hardcopy) books, more so than folks in my birthplace. Guess this is apparent in how bookstores and chains have been able to survive (and expand), while my native ones have either downsized or ceased operations.

▼ The white building in the background is Beitou Hot Spring Museum 北投温泉博物馆 - to be introduced later.

▼ The basement has a kids section and a nice tiered seating zone.

If you are visiting just to take photos and enjoy the ambience, do remember to be considerate to other library users : )

▓ 4 | Beitou Hot Spring Museum 北投温泉博物馆 ▓

📍 No. 2, Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 台北市北投区, 中山路2号

檢視較大的地圖

Originally Beitou Public Bathhouse 北投公共浴场, the 2-storey building was built way back in 1913 and reputedly the largest in East Asia. With 2,300sqm over 2 floors, the Japanese-Western fusion architecture has a mainly brick ground floor for baths, and a primarily wooden second floor rest area. Many of these elements and details have been preserved as exhibits.

Abandoned after WWII, a group of teachers and students rediscovered it during their field trip in 1994, and petitioned for it to be conserved. Declared a municipal monument in 1997, the premises reopened to the public as Beitou Hot Spring Museum 北投温泉博物馆 in 1998, after restoration works.

▼ For its free admission, I must say the visitor experience and curated content are rather impressive, bringing visitors back in time through the passage of nostalgia.

▼ Guests are required to change to indoor slippers.

▼ Checking out 2F first

▼ Down to the 1F

▼ This largest bath (reminiscent of a Roman bath) may not seem very big now, but must have been impressive for its times. Walking round it, one can only imagine the facility in its heyday.

I would suggest catering 1.5-2 hours for this beautiful museum, particularly if you prefer a leisurely pace to better appreciate the content and details.

▓ 5 | Thermal Valley 地热谷 ▓

📍 Zhongshan Road, Beitou District, Taipei City 台北市北投区, 中山路

檢視較大的地圖

On to the last not-to-be-missed destination for my Beitou stroll, this natural hot spring of sulfar gas vents is also locally known as 鬼湖 (literally ghost lake). Reminiscent of those found in Japan, this non-ticketed attraction has a steady stream of visitors.

▼ A small and often crowded souvenir (and beverage) store near the entrance. For travellers who like to send postcards home, this service is available here.

▼ The Beitou rock (or Hokutolite) 北投石 is a rare mineral taking centuries to form, and is the only one with Taiwanese origin among more than 4,000 minerals in the world.

▼ Approaching the sulphur vents, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the pungent smell - some say, like rotten eggs. (May take some getting used to for kids or elders, especially if not from regions with hot spring.)

Taiwan's handful of hot spring types boasts of different benefits. Most of us would probably be familiar with sulphur (硫磺) spring and its variations. Others include carbon (and variants) and natural mud.
(More hot spring information on Taiwan Tourism Bureau's website here.)

Side note: counting myself a hot spring fan, I have so far enjoyed it in:
- Taipei 台北 : Beitou 北投 and Wulai 乌来
- Yilan 宜兰 : Jiaoxi 礁溪 and Su'ao 苏澳 (the latter famed for their cold spring 冷泉)
- Taitung 台东 : Chiben 知本), and off its coast
- Green Island 绿岛 (Zhaori 朝日, being one of the 3 rare under-ocean/salt water springs in the whole world, the other 2 being Kyushu, Japan and Sicily, Italy); and
- Pingtung 屏东 : Sichonghsi 四重溪

This attraction is not huge (by comparison to those in Japan) and is a same-way in, same-way out, easy stroll for anyone - you can probably cover this in a leisurely hour or less.

▼ There is a handful of F&B outlets near the entrance, if you need a drink or snack.