Tucked at the highlands of Northern Taiwan, Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa offers a luxurious stay while enjoying top-notch outdoor hot springs, pools, spa facilities and refreshing mountain views.
From one cool location to another. Coming from the serene Sun Moon Lake, we took a speed train to Taipei, then transferred to our all-familiar tour coaster up to the slopes of Yamingshan north of Taiwan. With elevations up to 1,120 meters above sea level and and just an hour’s drive from Taipei city, Yamingshan is a popular national park for people to enjoy cold weather, lush environment, natural wonders and hot springs. So fitting that our home for the night is the Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa, a favorite destination to enjoy Japanese style indoor and outdoor hot springs in the Jinshan District.
Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa
With a land area spanning 6000 square meters, Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa is a full-featured hot spring park, water spa and outdoor pool resort. It’s a beautiful resort tucked up the mountains with view of nearby peaks. On a clear day, the sea beyond the northern lands of Taiwan can be seen. The hotel design has a mix of Spanish villa design, European and Japanese style themed rooms. It easily earned the Michelin Green Guide Taiwan as the “Best resort hotel in northern Taiwan”
Rooms
The resort have several room variations but plays around two main themes, European and Japanese. The European style have treehouse inspired rooms, bathe houses and even grassy hills. The Japanese Style room is modern contemporary zen.
I was fortunate enough to get a Japanese Quad Room good for 4 people with two large twin beds in a 46 square meter area. It has it’s own veranda with a personal outdoor hot spring bath. The view from my room also looks amazing. It’s a plus to have a personal Nespresso coffee maker. Wifi is weak in the room though and didn’t have much use for the cable as it was hard to navigate the channels. Each rooms provide guest with their own yukata, a traditional Japanese garment that can be used for the hot spring and pool area before getting in the pool.
Hot Springs
Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa’s main draw are its hot springs. They have a beautiful Open Air Hot Spring that opens up to a view of Yangmingshan peaks. When we arrived, it was still winter so most of the people flock this area instead of the pool for the soothing warm sulfuric waters. The hot spring waters flows from Sihuangping Springs and passes through a reverse osmoses filter which makes the waters mildly acidic and free from impurities. There are several sets of pools here and even a surface to lie down on and have a shower of hot spring water run at the back. I enjoyed an afternoon dipping down on the pool observing the light smoke lingering at the surface of the water and the light slowly waning behind the mountain peaks.
Aside from the Open Air Hot Spring, they also have a Nude Sauna which I didn’t had time to try. I did enjoy my personalized outdoor Hot Spring Bath in my veranda. it’s convenient, private and allows me to enjoy the outdoor air at the same time.
Ammenties
Tien Lai has a large area that we had to walk to the other building to have dinner and breakfast. We had our food served at one of the conference area and I really enjoyed their cuisines. Some on the spicy side which I liked but can be mellowed down by request. Quite typical for a cool place like this.
They also have a nice gym with a good round of equipment for a total body workout. An in-house spa for massage. An organic farm within the resort grounds.
Experience
Yangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa is one of those places I wish we had more time to stay. There are a lot of interesting nearby tourist spots to explore or simply enjoy the hot springs and unwind amidst the surrounding mountains and nippy air. A night’s stay can be luxurious though especially in peak seasons. Room rates starts at TWD 7,800 (Php 13,000) up to TWD 36,000 (Php 60,000) for a suite.
Day Tour Experience
If there is no time for an overnight stay, it is still possible experience the resort hot springs with an afternoon tea after. KKDay offers a Private bathhouse for 2 with afternoon tea for a quick escape from the city.
Book KKDay Yangmingshan Tien Lair Resort and Spa Experience with Afternoon TeaYangmingshan Tien Lai Resort and Spa (Book Online)
No. 1-7, Zhonghelius Road, Zhinghe
Jinshan District, New Taipei City
Ferdz Decena is an award-winning travel photographer, writer and blogger. His works has found print in publications such as Singapore Airlines’s Silver Kris, Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay, Cebu Pacific’s Smile and Seair InFlight. He has also lent his expertise to various organizations like the Oceana Philippines, Lopez Group Foundation, Save the Children and World Vision, contributing quality images for their marketing materials.
