Chih-pen Travel Guide

Favorite thing: Chihpen Hot Spring Village is a cluster of hotels that cater to the many hot spring worshipper here in Taiwan. The range of accomodations here range from the good to the bad to the ugly.

Though, I really didnt find much in the way of natural hot springs here where you could take a dip, some of the hotels have outdoor pools in somewhat natural settings where it is pretty enjoyable to take a night time hot soak under the stars...

Favorite thing: As with most of the eastern part of Taiwan, there is a fair amount of aboriginal influence in Taitung county.

If you stay at one of the top end hotels in Chihpen, you are likely to be exposed to some sort of pre-packaged aboriginal song and dance routine.

Favorite thing: If you are more amibitious, you can continuing hiking up hill from the trail from Bai-yui Waterfall. There are a number of narrow roads and paths up here through the farms clinging to the side of the mountain.

Once you reach the top, there are excellent views, both of the Chihpen river valley, and of the Pacific coast line....

Favorite thing: For a nice uphill hike, head uphill on the narrow road just across from the Chungyi Temple. Follow this road up for about one kilometer, and on the left side of the road is the trailhead for Bai-yui (white jade) iwaterfall.

Follow this trail up a few hundred meters and it will take you to a pool at the base of the waterfall. Nice place to get away from the somewhat maddening crowds of Chihpen.