Sūào Cold Spring (蘇澳冷泉)

Most people are aware of hot springs which one can find all over the world, and of course are very popular in winter in countries where the temperature dips below freezing, like Japan.




But in Sūào (蘇澳), in Yilan county, a cold spring believed to have medicinal properties puts this sleepy town on the map.

We paid NT$70 per person and enjoyed a lazy morning in the cold waters, hopefully curing whatever skin ailments we may have.

There is an interesting elevated walk way, and arty sculptures to liven up the place.

The baths look old but in a good way. It is also quiet, except for the Kindergarten across the street which was practicing an upcoming musical of sorts.

The water is crystal clear and almost odorless. The bottom of the pool is packed with pebbles from which bubbles rise constantly. I almost expected to see fish swimming around. The water with the bubbles is apparently similar to soda water one can expect to buy as a beverage. So, if soda water is your choice of mixer, all you need to bring is the harder stuff.

For a water massage one can sit under one of several forceful streams spouting into the pool.

As it was a cloudy day and midweek it was not very busy and I could imagine spending the day with a book, alternating between the warm paving and cold water.

People came and left in a constant trickle and I spoke to a group of students who came all the way from Taoyuan to see the sunrise, which was a disaster because of heavy cloud cover and to enjoy the cold spring.

We left the pools, turned pink as we didn’t feel the sun burning through the clouds.

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su-ao_Cold_Spring or http://tourguide.sinotour.com/scenery774.html