Taiwan Hidden Gems - Beipu Cold Spring 北埔冷泉

Sunday September 21st I went on my first off-the-beaten-path adventure in Taiwan

View of the waterfall on the stone bridge

A visit to Taiwan during the summer can be a sweltering experience, but relief can be found by venturing into the mountains. For true respite from the heat, you have to seek out the island's natural cold springs (or basically just swimming holes). While searching online for river tracing routes, I stumbled upon Beipu Cold Springs. The photos were immediately captivating, and a quick Google search for the location led to a weekend trip plan.

Whether you're coming from Hsinchu (a 50-minute Uber ride), Zhudong (a quick 20-minute drive), or even central Taipei (about 90 minutes), Beipu Cold Spring is a convenient day trip destination.

Beipu Cold Springs are situated in Hsinchu County, approximately a 50-minute drive from my house, the Uber cost 700 NTD ($30 USD) . The route primarily follows Highway 3 (East) to Beipu township, then heads south. The area is well-marked with signs in both English and Chinese, making navigation straightforward. Upon reaching Daping Road (大坪路), it's a direct drive to the cold springs.

The springs run parallel to the road, offering a long stretch of accessible spots to relax by or in the water. Along Daping Road, there's a designated area where you can pay 100 NT (about US $3) per person for a BBQ-style picnic spot by the water.

At the very end of the road, a large waterfall area awaits, complete with a pool for swimming. The size of the pool varies depending on the season. I heard that the depth varies; it is now September, and the pool was fairly shallow enough for a swim, but earlier in the season, others have said it's much fuller. The spring isn't any colder than a natural waterfall, but it isn't warm either.

The curvy roads weave through the mountains until you get to Beipu, and then pass by some farms and follow the river. You pull up next to some small food stalls and the public bathrooms that face the falls. To access the main area, a swaying drawbridge is available, which can be a bit scary but is very safe. There is also a stone bridge just 20 feet away from that. The other side of the bridge is where the small man-made pools are, and some access to the river and main access to the waterfall. Two shallow pools are here for kids or people who want to relax. Just past the pools is a rocky path to the falls, where you can swim with more space and go under the falls. There are a lot of rocks and big rocks, so there is no diving or jumping. The depth never went deeper than my shoulders (im 5'8" btw).

Swimming in the waterfall was so refreshing, since it's the hot time here in Taiwan. I didn't feel stared at like I had before while swimming in Asia. There were many people at the cold spring, but it was not crowded because there was a lot of space, and not as many in the water, but there were a lot of people in the pools on the edge. I have also noticed that people in Taiwan are so friendly to all, including foreigners. Already, we have had so many people smile and welcome us. At the Cold Spring, we took photos for some aunties, and an old man gave Charlie a very forceful thumbs-up twice. The woman who called us a taxi also helped us with no hesitation and no English. I was also surprised, even though the taxi came from about 30 minutes away, he only charged us for the way back, not the travel time to get us. I really feel so at home in Taiwan!

The Roadside offers grilled sausages, squid, and chicken, and there is a small store for floaties, nets, and snacks. Behind this store is a lower entrance to the river where kids and families catch small fish and splash around.

As we took an Uber here, we expected to be able to take one back, but that wasn't the case. We asked the owner of the small store for help, and she had a few numbers of yellow taxis, and we were on our way back to Hsinchu!

Overall, I love places that locals go, and you don't see posted all over the internet for people to flock to. One reason it's a hidden gem is that it isn't next to Taipei or super easily accessible, but that is what makes the adventure worth it. I am not a tourist here in Taiwan. I am a master's student, and I want to leave Taiwan feeling like I saw things that aren't on everyone's travel list. I want to feel like I know the island, or tried to get to know its inner parts that may be cool or a let down, but something off the beaten path and beautiful.

Anyways - in one week I will be on the East coast in Toucheng - a small surfing town, and I will update you then! Also, at the end of October, I am going to hike a mountain in Maoli County

https://share.google/tmiwjezBgISA5u8VW - Map where to go

Beipu Cold Spring tourism website