Jiaoxi Township is located in the northeastern corner of Yilan County and is internationally famous for its hot springs. The history of this area stretches back over four centuries to the time of the Kavalan and Atayal peoples. It wasn't until 1796, when immigrants led by Wu Sha from Fujian began clearing and developing the land, that Jiaoxi gradually grew into an important town in northern Yilan.
This area's prosperity is deeply intertwined with the development of its hot springs. The town's growth has always revolved around its thermal waters, from the early days when residents simply built enclosures for bathing, through the Japanese colonial era when public bathhouses and inns were established for commercial use, to its recent designation as a Special Hot Spring Tourism Zone. Notably, the local community even utilizes the thermal water for various agriculture and aquaculture practices, making the springs not just a leisure resource but a vital economic lifeline for the area's prosperity.
The Jiaoxi Hot Springs are a sodium bicarbonate spring, a rare type of flatland hot spring in Taiwan. This water is rich in minerals, including sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and carbonate ions. It is clear, odorless, and emerges from the ground at a temperature of approximately 58 Celsus degree.
Due to its smooth, soft, and non-sticky quality on the skin, this spring is affectionately known as the "Beauty Soup." High mineral content means that whether the water is used for soaking, bathing, or processed for drinking as mineral water, it offers significant health benefits, making a visit to the Jiaoxi springs a must-do itinerary item for travelers to Yilan. Today, centered around the Jiaoxi Train Station, the surrounding area provides an abundance of soaking options. Nearly a hundred hotels, resorts, and public bathhouses are concentrated here, forming a vibrant "Hot Spring Village" ready to welcome every traveler seeking thermal healing.
