Czechbear
Yes, i tell you right away: it is my favourite place in all of Taiwan. Being someone like a "hot-and-cold-springs fan", in the warmer season, this is the place to go, to cool down, when the summer heat strikes.The place for you to rest and forget about all stress, especially, when you appreciate the romantic landscape, fully free access to the site and almost a feeling of a place just for you and the friends you take with you - that, if you arrive by sunset. An asset in the so overpopulated Taiwan.Enjoy the hour of dusk, when the water is at its warmest and last visitors vanish, fearing the demons of darkness. (Note: Persisiting superstition in local population can sometimes bring advantages to those visitors, who care more about the rational, than the irrational).Road directions from Beipu (the township on national highway # 3) are well marked at all crossroads on your way, which may take some 20 minutes by car. Before crossing the river (possible on foot only) - by one of the two bridges (suspension bridge is more fun), you can use a well kept free area of toilets and showers just at the opposite side of the road. There is no space for a genuine parking lot, so just park along the road, like others do. At daytime weekends, vendors sell food and refreshments; however, they vanish before dusk (probably, to avoid the night demons, ghosts and any imaginable kinds of evil spirits)... They actually disappear even faster, than their customers !Contrary to guidebooks descriptions, the water in the pools is not 12 to 15 degrees centigrade cold, but somewhere in the mid-twenties: not very warm, however warm enough, to stay for a while; some stay quite long and still don´t feel cold. If you come earlier during the day, enjoy the close by riverbed - with boulders, where locals sit and spend their leisure time, chatting, building dams, playing and picniking. The spectacular 7 (or 8 ?) meter high curtain of falling water adds to the magic of the Daping river valley, here not yet leaving the mountains and still flowing fast, as the local rivers do. There is easy access to the riverbed and the water is not very deep.In the surrounding area, where the Hakka people live, there are numerous other sights to discover. The cold spring can be a welcome relaxing activity at late afternoon, when you are done with visiting the sights and you feel need to soothe your body & mind. Let them have it right here.