Jianshi Hot Spring (Part 1)

If you have access to one of these, this popular family spot is easily in reach between Taoyuan and Hsinchu, in Jianshi.

Although the road is VERY rocky with fragments piling up in uneven heaps after rains, it doesn't stop 4x4 owners to practice their skills going down. I don't own an SUV but that just means I had to park my scooter higher up the mountain and walk down - something even SUV owners do as the road pays testimony to the difficulty of maneuvering even a off-road vehicle down.

At the bottom of the road lies a hot spring next to the river. AND it's free. Well, not really hot, but warm enough to count as a hot spring. After bathing in the icy river first the heat of the hot spring is very welcome. So, on week-ends groups camp here, barbecue and enjoy the environment.

A short time at Wuling Farm

We arrived at Wuling Farm (武陵農場) rather late and set up camp. Most people were already having a barbecue going – using gas, as fires were not allowed. My companions were excellent cooks and we had a delicious meal.

In one tent four of our male companions played Mahjong. I am not a skilled player and still play too slowly to join the seasoned gents. The temperature dropped to freezing and I slept in jeans and a jacket, and still the sleeping bag was proving inadequate.

Breakfast consisted of congee, a watery rice meal, but for me a traditional Western breakfast of toast and fried egg was made. After breakfast we set off to look at the nearby flower garden and herbal garden. The flowers were all dead and the herbal garden so neglected that it was difficult to distinguish between herb and weed.

Several campers headed in the same direction, and we learned that there was an ablution block which was less used and thus noticeable cleaner. A raised wooded walk path took us back to our camp past Hydrangeas being pollinated by giant bees. Even early in the morning one could see workers tending the tea plantations further up the mountain slopes.

Many early travelers had trouble navigating the grassy cover that was our camping floor as it was wet and wheels could not get a grip on the slippery growth. We avoided the wet, and now mushy areas when we drove out of the camping grounds.