Guguan Hot Springs is located in Heping District, Taichung City, nestled in the mountains and forests. It is known as a “hidden hot spring retreat in the forest,” where you can soak in hot springs while being surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery and fresh air. The spring water here is a high-quality sodium bicarbonate spring, clear and colorless, and is often referred to as “beauty soup.” It is said to soften keratin, whiten the skin, relieve fatigue, and promote blood circulation.
The history of Guguan Hot Springs dates back to the Japanese colonial period. It was once a health retreat for Japanese royalty and senior officials, and to this day, retains features of traditional Japanese hot spring culture. Besides soaking in the springs, there are many natural and cultural attractions nearby, such as the spectacular river valley views of Shaolai Suspension Bridge, the challenging Guguan Seven Heroes hiking trails, the wild beauty of Longgu Waterfall, and Tianleng Village, which showcases Atayal culture and cuisine.
Local specialty foods are also worth trying, including bamboo tube rice, wild boar meat, mountain vegetables from the Atayal cuisine, hot spring-boiled eggs, and freshly caught river fish prepared grilled or steamed that makes the trip even more satisfying and memorable.
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How to Get to Taichung Hot Spring-Guguan Hot Spring?
By car: Departing from downtown Taichung, follow National Highway No. 4 and transfer to Provincial Highway 8 to reach Guguan. The drive takes about 1.5 hours.
By public transport: Take the Taiwan Railways to Taichung Station, then transfer to a bus heading for Guguan (e.g., Fengyuan Bus). The ride takes about 2 hours.
Forest Hot Spring Resorts in Taiwan
Uni-Resort Ku-Kuan
Uni-Resort Ku-Kuan offers both Japanese and Western-style rooms. When booking, take note that both room types are available with either a street view or a river view. While everyone has different preferences, I personally lean toward the river view—just putting it out there, haha.
In addition to regular guest rooms, the resort also offers luxury glamping and forest lofts that allow you to get closer to nature. The glamping tents come with a bathroom, shower, private hot spring bath, fridge, and more which is perfect for lazy campers. The forest lofts are ideal for families, allowing you to enjoy an entire loft all to yourselves!
The resort’s public hot spring area, 5 Elements Spring, features different temperatures and unique themes: a herbal wellness bath, a coffee-scented spring, a grassy bath with fresh green aromas, a floral spring filled with fragrance, and finally, the crystal-clear Beauty Pool, known for calming the nerves! Sdon’t miss it!
Address: No. 188, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung 42444, Taiwan
Price Range: 💰💰💰💰💰
Official Website: https://gu.uni-resort.com.tw/en/
Mingao Hot Spring Resort
Mingao Hot Spring Resort is located in the Guguan Hot Spring Scenic Area, right next to the Dajia River. As one of the earliest developed hot spring resorts, some of the rooms and facilities are quite dated, so it’s worth paying attention to room selection when booking. On the plus side, the resort is well-located—within walking distance of the Fengyuan Bus Guguan Terminal, Guguan Hot Spring Culture Center, Shaolai Trail, and Baxianshan Forest Recreation Area.
The resort does not offer public outdoor hot springs, but all guest rooms are equipped with Guguan’s signature clear and odorless sodium bicarbonate spring water. It also uses cold spring water from Baxianshan for bathing and drinking. If you’re just here for the hot springs, the resort also offers two-person private bathhouses for a quick, relaxing experience.
Address: No. 92, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung 424, Taiwan
Price Range: 💰💰
Official Website: https://www.mingao.com.tw/?lang=en
Bali Nature Spa Hot Spring Resort
Bali Nature Spa Hot Spring Resort is a Southeast Asian-style resort inspired by Balinese design. With tropical plants, wooden tiles, white walls, and thatched pavilions, the entire space exudes a romantic and relaxing vacation vibe. The resort has 49 suites, each with a private hot spring bath ranging from 4 to 10 pings (14–35 m²).
The resort does not offer public hot springs and all hot springs are private and attached to the guest rooms. If you’re not planning to stay overnight, you can still book a private bathhouse session through the official website and enjoy a scheduled soak.
Address: No. 10, Wenquan Alley, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung 424, Taiwan
Price Range: 💰💰💰💰💰
Official Website: https://www.villa-spa.com.tw/
HOSHINOYA Guguan
Operated by the renowned Hoshino Resorts group, HOSHINOYA Guguan is known for its refined design and luxurious experience. Each guest room features large floor-to-ceiling windows for ample natural light, and most are duplexes—with the bedroom and living space on the first floor and a semi-open-air hot spring bath with great ventilation on the second floor. Soaking in the bath feels like bathing in the middle of a forest. It’s definitely a high-end choice, but one that’s worth every penny.
Whether it’s the private bath in your room or the public bath, all hot springs here use non-recycled natural water. The indoor baths are crafted from Japanese cypress, giving off a soothing woody aroma. The outdoor baths stretch into the forest, allowing guests to relax in changing seasonal landscapes. True to Japanese tradition, HOSHINOYA Guguan offers gender-separated nude bathing, so you can truly relax and enjoy the purest form of hot spring therapy with no swimsuits required.
Address: No. 16, Wenquan Alley, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Heping District, Taichung 424, Taiwan
Price Range: 💰💰💰💰💰💰
Official Website: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/hoshinoyaguguan/
Lu Quan Hot Spring Resort
Lu Quan Hot Spring uses natural sodium bicarbonate spring water—neutral, clear, and even drinkable. Its public hot spring area features this natural water and includes a cold spring for contrast bathing. Guests can enjoy unlimited access to the public baths, while non-guests can purchase tickets for either public baths or private bathhouses.
The rooms at Lu Quan Hot Spring are spacious and comfortable, offering excellent value for money. The high-end suites include massage chairs, while even the standard rooms boast generous space. The overall style is modern and clean, blending contemporary design with the relaxing comfort of a hot spring resort.
Address: No. 115, Section 1, Dongguan Road, Wenquan Alley, Heping District, Taichung 424, Taiwan
Price Range: 💰💰💰💰
Official Website: http://www.luquanhotspring.com.tw/
photo credited from official website
Final Thoughts for Guguan Hot Springs
Compared to hot springs in places like Beitou or Wulai in Taipei, Guguan Hot Springs is located in Taichung, where prices are lower and making it a high-CP (cost-performance) choice. It’s the perfect getaway to relax your body and soul while immersing yourself in nature. Soak in the warm “beauty soup,” feel the healing power of hot springs, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and enjoy the surrounding green hills and flowing streams. When you’re tired, indulge in mountain delicacies like hot spring eggs and river fish and enjoy the nature’s ultimate gift.
Ready to go? Grab your favorite person and head to Guguan Hot Springs!
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