Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
48°C and is rich in iron, giving it a pale-brown colour and a slightly salty, rusty flavour
(so we've heard). Many Taiwanese still believe that frequent bathing in the spring water
increases a woman's chance of bearing a male child.
The hot-spring area (with a dozen or more hotels) is a few kilometres directly west of
Ruisui town (on the other side of Hwy 9). As you drive down the highway there are Eng-
lish signs pointing to the area.
Rafting
Rafting trips (Fànzhōu) can be arranged all year at the
Rueisui Rafting Service Centre
(Ruìsuì Fànzhōu Fúwù Zhōngxīn; 887 5400)
at the start of the rafting route. The standard
fee is NT$750, which includes transportation from and to Hualien, lunch, equipment and
insurance. See the East Coast National Scenic (
www.eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
) website for a
list of companies.
The peak season is May to September. About 10 companies operate during this time,
which means you can usually just show up in the morning and join a trip. Boats usually
run between 7am and noon and take 3½ hours to complete the 24km-long route down the
Xiuguluan (Hsiukuluan) River (Xiùgūluán Xī) from Ruisui to Dagangkou. For the most
part, this is leisurely rafting, unless there has been a typhoon recently.
To get to the service centre on your own, head out from Ruisui train station and con-
tinue straight along Zhongshan Rd for about 4km to 5km. A taxi will cost around
NT$100.
There's a good
campground
(per site weekday/weekend NT$300/500)
with toilets and
showers at the service centre.
Sleeping & Eating
Most hot-spring hotels have restaurants in them. Around the train station there are nu-
merous small noodle stands and restaurants, as well as convenience stores for snacks,
sandwiches and drinks.
Rueisui Hot Springs Hotel
GUESTHOUSE $$$
(Ruìsuì Wēnquán ShānZhuāng; 887 2170;
www.js-hotspring.com.tw
;
23 Hongye Village; dm/d/tw
NT$500/2400/3600)
At over 90 years old, this place lays claim to being the first and
longest-running hot spring and guesthouse in the area. Managed by a local family and of-
fering tatami-style dorm rooms and bike storage, it's a popular place for cyclists to spend
the night.
