Full Day Tour Review: Yangmingshan & Beitou From Taipei

Okay, so you’re thinking about doing that day trip to Yangmingshan and Beitou from Taipei, right? Very well! You’re probably checking out to see if it’s actually worthwhile, a bit like trying before you buy. Basically, I went on it, and here’s what I thought of the whole experience.

First Stop: Yangmingshan National Park – Volcanic Views & Hot Springs

Right then, the tour began by getting away from the city din and heading straight into Yangmingshan National Park. Actually, getting there was really a nice drive, too, especially seeing the city melt away and give way to some leafy hills. As a matter of fact, the park is basically spread out over a mountainous area, with views that definitely make you take a pause. Anyway, expect scenery that goes from green hills to steamy, volcanic areas.

Honestly, one of the sights that stood out very vividly to me was Xiaoyoukeng, or “Little Oil Pit”. This, you know, is actually a volcanic vent area where you can get rather up close and personal with sulfurous fumes. The ground, you know, rumbles just slightly, too, that is if you pay any real attention. What with steam hissing all around; too, it definitely feels pretty surreal and kind of exciting. Really! It is that something straight out of a movie setting, in a way!

The hot springs, too, those are pretty interesting! As a matter of fact, Yangmingshan is rather popular for them! Some tours, you know, include a stop at a public or private hot spring, which basically gives you a chance to soak those tired feet or go for a more complete dip. Very much like the idea? So, it is super nice, more or less, if your muscles are kind of weary from wandering around Taipei. However, for myself I only spent little bit time by foot, you know? Thus, the feet was good!

Beitou Thermal Valley: The “Hell Valley” Experience

Later that day, and you are off to Beitou, which actually is a neighborhood notable for, yet another, set of thermal hot springs. So the showstopper around here really has to be the Thermal Valley, that, you know, also gets called “Hell Valley”. Apparently it sounds a bit scary, right? That’s the mood though, too.

Alright, so this place? This place is almost where you view steaming, vivid, sulfurous springs that have created that foggy landscape, you know? Too it’s hot, also, that makes one sweat despite it being cool-ish outside, but one can only view. However, in a way the mist makes one feel kind of cooled? Maybe? Okay, to be honest I’m stretching there… Anyway, the Valley’s lookout platforms, like your average ones, grant safe and great, kind of, viewing of the geological activity going down. Seriously! A rather nice stop for pictures. However, this is literally all it is good for. As a matter of fact, they literally charge you to breathe some steamy mist and take a selfie… Kinda!

Beitou Hot Spring Museum: A Touch of History

So you want something less misty and a bit less… sweaty, a bit? Thus, the Beitou Hot Spring Museum might definitely just be your spot, very, very indeed! That used to be an ancient bathhouse; like, really built by the Japanese back way when. Therefore, the location literally kind of goes in on what they went on about then in their culture that made hot springs, that is to say their bathhouses and like your traditional architectural flourishes very very very very valued. Anyway it is really kinda just cool.

Seriously? I recommend just taking some period getting in just wandering the room. What it really means is you should admire the ancient tatami mats, windows looking so traditional and how they’ve done their design in these old chambers that seem to call up more simpler eras. Oh and! Did I say, seriously this old relic even gives very clear notes about all their processes, why they’re valued, and much about the springs surrounding the areas nearby it? Pretty damn neat, is that it’s almost something I cannot miss! Too often for a stop so seemingly old that offers just so much information.

Lunch and Local Eats: Trying Taiwanese Cuisine

I was so stoked that I had this chance so the tour offered time to lunch on our own, too! It very much did a lot that would please any of all tummies, ranging for very yummy dishes from the local region. Thus very often with hot spring spots the eating and culinary kind tend that will take place nearby these hot spring hubs have very great spots! And these? As it may imply these also go pretty good when it gets right around supper or meal time. Any sort or type of dish can actually range greatly dependent the spots that it is and also for sure dependent by price! Seriously, don’t be all frightened or hesitant so you don’t go looking all around at multiple eating locations.

Any spots so visited should be like or close with a shop which trades in the food dishes which goes in with hot spring culture – this very thing you definitely see and for some places even more in Northern Springs and Northern Bathhouses! The meals too actually range widely, that is not only is stuff which goes near any bath like eggs in a steaming area to dishes from a hot spring which is not so bad! So really, do this time to grub up everything you just can because honestly for that chance who knows when we get the change!

Geothermal Wonders and Hiking Trails

Ok if you wanna up a pace with stuff from something just visual for an experience I highly, too highly recommend to go do just maybe one or some the countless strolls along the Yangmingshan hiking grounds and courses. Basically, I am telling you these roads just kind go deep that range at that to stroll along for a relaxed hour walk up some steep to courses to walk on or steep, so even if very fast the ground’s worth the sweat so it should match everyone wanting any mood here. However! Don’t skip so that you bring safe feet garments and what is enough!

Still there’s tons also of like or near spots you want an view you do also or cannot just avoid; also those is some very photogenic springs and even if very slightly the area and nature surrounding a nearby local hill and all over that that this tour can grant, therefore you might get yourself something awesome there in sight with a wide field there for an view and a sight with anything very scenic, not just from this Taiwan tours!

It feels amazing just witnessing nature’s geothermal events and from everything with steamy smoke vents there just up too the lush hills where they will go next; very many of Yangmingshan hiking streets really give some fantastic scenic field to any persons on this guided strolling which will let all them have like no others moments and scenery that cannot never happen.

Final Thoughts: Is the Tour Worth It?

You’ll like that you can escape that chaos the crazy life goes in! Even what happens just there will just take and place or bring your own person towards an totally another state there that gets an really close look with Taiwan; seriously it has all your crazy big regions just inside the limits that happens at town and it happens within hours that goes past! Any views happen often when your heading around that region, but getting and coming so near to stuff I didn’t thought, it will shock people because of all this stuff; there may also be geothermal happenings which is awesome to hear about and a scenic thing when anyone who may goes gets there sight just by some mountain streets or the scenic route! What this may gives may bring everyone which they wanted which can grant anything relaxing while sight viewing and it will or should refresh you just fine just until things are back in Taipei proper so that it all sets the things that go normal the rest.