The Xinxing Wild Hotsprings 新興溫泉 are another wonderfully remote hotspring set in the bottom of a steep valley in Taoyuan county. It takes a while to get there, about 3 hours by motorbike from Taipei but if you like riding, you’ll love the drive out on the number 7.
The Xinxing Hotsprings
A great view of Baling on the way there
The trail down to the springs starts in the village of Galahe 嘎啦賀. We parked up there and immediately had encounter with a particularly wide four year old. After calling me ‘hairy butt’ and Ross ‘baldy’, he threw stones at us and told us there was no water in the river. We ignored him and carried on, praying that our bikes would still be there when we got back!
A four year threatens Phil with a small stone.
The road down starts to the left of the main road that runs through the village. It’s super steep and really takes it out on your knees. Halfway down, it turns into stairs and altogether it took us about 30mins to get to the bottom.
The steep road leading down to the springs.
The road gives way to a hiking trail and stairs
The springs are actually a waterfall, and like the nearby Sileng Spring, the hot water pours down and then mixes with the river water in the valley for a perfect temperature. There are a few spots where you can bathe and the pools are deep and wide enough for a few people to get all the way into the water.
Phil soaks under the hotspring waterfall
Some great looking swimming holes
The river also has some great looking swimming holes and maybe even a decent jump or two…. though January is a bit too cold for that sort of thing!
The climb back up is the only drag but at the halfway point, where the road starts again, there is a sign with a phone number for someone to come and pick you up if you’re too weary to finish it…..
The last bit to negoitate before reaching the bottom of the valley.
Practicalities
There’s nothing in the village so bring water and food with you.
This is definitely one for getting to with your own transport. See the map below for directions. Also if you drive a bike/scooter, be careful on some of the corners as they are a bit slippery with oil spills.
Hiking Taiwan 
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[…] Stu visits a wild hot spring in Xinxing. […]
Very cool blog!
I started my own hiking blog at http://www.ultimatehikingguide.blogspot.com
Check it out! I think you’ll dig it!
Great photos! I just came across your blog while looking for hiking blogs. Looking forward to your next adventures.
Cheers guys!
Hi Stuart! I’m not much of a computer-guy so only learnt of your website now. AWESOME!!! Xinxing is one of my favourite spots in TW, a gorgeous 3 hour motorbike ride from Miaoli following a variety of small quiet roads all the way from Nanchuang in Miaoli County. By bike i’d suggest people to ride down the road from the parking lot where you were pestered by the kid (had a good laugh!) as he may grow up soon and become a real threat! My bike (similar to yours on pics) has no trouble – even drove my van down their once when a friend got hurt but THAT I’ll never repeat again – it was utterly hair-raising and I’m NOT a nervous driver! To me, Xinxing is best visited in winter, as in summer the river’s flow can become dangerously strong. Rescued a woman there on my very first visit who got swept down the river by the very deceiving current. I’d also like to point out that, 1,7km on from the parking lot, you’ll find some wooden stairs to the right that takes you on a splendid short hike to three waterfalls. Where the road ends a few hundred meters on, would be an amazing place to camp, and more wild paths that wait to be explored. A TRULY brilliant place.
AWESOME work you’re doing!!! Cheers!
Cheers for that Chris. Yeah a lot of the rivers can be dangerous places in the summer, especially on those little streams in the mountains. The kid seemed harmless enough but we were worried that we’d get back and find only a shell for a bike! I’ll have a to have a look for the camping spot. That whole area around Baling, the number 7 is superb and i haven’t spent nearly enough time exploring it.
Great site and great hot springs…the people near the upper parking lot are not the friendliest. I think they wanted us to pay 100nt to park and I didn’t pay- they definitely were not happy- hadn’t read anything about paying for parking so wasn’t sure what to do?
Also, we missed Xing-Xing the first time round and drove down the 7 a little ways outside of Baling and there was a group of people bungee jumping off a bridge. They had a sign advertising prices for bungee jumping but wouldn’t let me jump- they said “sorry no jump?” Was that b/c I was a westerner or was i missing something? Why have a sign advertising prices if it wasn’t still open? just wondering…
Not sure about the parking, i’ve had that in Wulai before where locals come down and try to make a quick for you parking on the road. I usually just pay to keep them happy though. Haven’t heard anything about bungee jumping out there either! Sorry!
At the end of the road Chris Kapp mentioned, there are two routes. On the right, down some wooden stairs, a path follows above a stream, eventually crossing it and climbs up to to SueiBaiShan, a steep climb to a forested peak at 2,444 meters. From there a path descends to Smangus.
The second route is on the left and follows the remains of a concrete farm road before turning off into some bamboo forest, crossing two rivers (rope has been strung across) and a steep ascent to TangSueishan. This is probably the more worthwhile route because the peak is clear with big views all around. It is, however, a steep path and one has to weave slowly over, around and through an extensive Shenmu area which takes time.
Hey. I just started blogging, and I’m writing a small piece Xinxing as well. Do you mind if I post a link to your blog?
You’re more than welcome to link to this blog. Thanks! Nice blog by the way!
Thanks Stu. Yours as well. Next on the hit list is Lisong hotsprings. Have you been there yet?
[…] I found out about Xinxing on a blog all about outdoorsy stuff. It has all sorts of great info on hiking, biking, wild springs etc. Great resourse for natural adventures in Taiwan. Check it out here. […]
Hey guys,
just wanted to let you know that the location on the map you have here is wrong. The hot spring is more than 20 km farther away.
Can someone confirm the location? I’d like to go here but the location is different from when you search 嘎啦賀 on Google Maps.