Ruisui Hot Springs

Ruisui's water carries dissolved iron and comes out clear, then oxidises in the air to a rust-yellow that stains the tubs and everything else, which is rare in Taiwan and is the reason the springs are known. Local belief holds that bathing in it helps couples conceive boys, a claim with no basis that the hotels are happy to repeat. The town sits in the rift valley with rafting on the Xiuguluan river running from nearby.

What you'll find

• The iron water - clear at source, oxidising to rust colour in the baths.
• The staining - the mineral deposit on tubs and channels through the bathhouses.
• The rift valley - rice and betel country between the two ranges.
• The Xiuguluan rafting - whitewater trips starting nearby in season.

When to go

October to April is the hot-spring season. Rafting on the Xiuguluan runs from around April to October. Weekends bring visitors from Hualien.

Good to know

The iron stains swimwear and towels permanently; dark or old clothing is sensible. Bathhouse standards vary. The fertility claim is folklore and is marketed hard.

Nearby

Mataian wetland is north, and Antong is south.

Key facts