Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

Visitors will be able to experience Taipei's hot spring culture when they take the MRT! Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC) announced special "hot spring" trains for the Xinbeitou Line. The company also refurnished parts of MRT Beitou Station and MRT Xinbeitou Station to promote the 2009 Taipei Hot Spring Festival.
During his address at the festival's opening ceremony on October 23, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin pointed out that the scale of the event has expanded over the years, becoming more and more internationalized. He praised the local hot springs association for doing a superb job in developing local tourism and expressed his gratitude to legislators and city councilors for their support.
Hau stressed that the hot springs are important assets for Taipei and serve as major tourist attractions. The hot spring town is not only the best in Taiwan; it is also comparable with many of the world's top hot spring resorts. The City hopes to strengthen the link between hot spring bathing and local tourism, attracting more tourists to Beitou.
In addition to the soothing hot springs, the district is also known for beautiful cherry blossoms in the springtime, noted the mayor. To enhance the image of Beitou as a tourist destination, TRTC renovated parts of MRT Beitou Station and MRT Xinbeitou Station, making place for sculptures and advertisement promoting these natural resources.
Furthermore, passengers can also learn more about Beitou by taking the "hot spring" trains, which run between MRT Beitou Station and MRT Xinbeitou Station. These trains are furnished with wooden-bucket-shaped kiosk and LCD panels providing useful information about Beitou, from great food to local facilities.
The Taipei Hot Springs Association announced that the 2009 Taipei Hot Spring Festival will last until November 29. They invite the public to bring families and friends to Beitou and experience its unique hot spring culture.