Taipei: Yangmingshan/Beitou Hot Springs, wait until the cherry blossoms are in full bloom

Taipei: Yangmingshan/Beitou Hot Springs, wait until the cherry blossoms are in full bloom Taipei Citywalk, start a day of admiring cherry blossoms at Yangmingshan, experiencing Beitou Hot Springs, and checking in at Taipei 101. Yangmingshan is Taipei's backyard, and every year from February to March is the season of blooming flowers, with colorful azaleas and early cherry blossoms competing for beauty. By the end of February, the Yaezakura cherry blossoms are blooming competitively, and when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the misty clouds surround the green hills, and soaking in a sulfur hot spring is like a springtime encounter. 🌸 Flower Viewing Spots: Yangmingshan Flower Clock (Pic 2-7) Yangmingshan Fountain (Pic 1) Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot (Pic 9) 🚍 How to get there: Take the small 8 bus from the Jiantan MRT station, or take the 129/small 9 bus from the Beitou MRT station to reach the above flower viewing spots. 📝 Flower Viewing Tips: 1⃣ The Yangmingshan Flower Clock is planted along the stream with colorful azaleas, which bloom at the end of February together with the early cherry blossoms, creating a layered effect. 2⃣ The Yangmingshan Fountain is tightly surrounded by Yaezakura cherry blossoms, resembling light pink clouds, and the combination with the fountain is very photogenic. 3⃣ The cherry blossoms at the Second Parking Lot bloom earlier, and by the time of visit, it is nearing the end of the flower season. 4⃣ The bus schedule provided by Google Maps for the Yangmingshan area is not accurate; wait for the bus based on the electronic display. 5⃣ Yangmingshan also has other nice attractions such as Xiaoyoukeng and Qixing Mountain (my visit failed due to heavy fog at the mountain top). You can take the 108 bus (circular mountain bus) from the Yangmingshan bus terminal, but pay attention to the schedule as there are not many buses. ♨️ Beitou Hot Springs: Yangmingshan is an active volcano with abundant geothermal resources. The hot springs in the Beitou area are natural green sulfur springs, which are said to contain trace amounts of radium and have healing effects, one of only two in the world. In addition to hot spring hotels, you can also choose specialized hot spring shops. I chose the 'Emperor Pool Hot Spring Royal Meal Pavilion', which can be reached by the small 8/small 9 bus. The hot spring is located in the sulfur stream of Yangmingshan, surrounded by numerous spring eyes steaming with sulfur vapor. After soaking in the sulfur spring, the skin really becomes more delicate, worth a try. ⭕️ The private bathhouse requires at least two people (500 Taiwan dollars), with a 30-minute limit on holidays and 40 minutes on weekdays; the public pool is not time-limited (250), and the locker requires a 20 coin. ❗️ If you choose the mixed public pool, bring a swimsuit. ‼️ There is a restaurant inside, and if you spend more than 400 on a meal, you can soak in the public pool for free. 🗻 Sulfur Valley: After soaking in the hot springs, I checked in at Sulfur Valley (Pic 10-11), a 15-minute walk from the Emperor Pool Hot Springs. A large amount of sulfur vapor spews from the ground, accompanied by boiling and erupting spring water, making a hissing sound, a spectacular scene. 🏢 Taipei 101: After the tour, I checked in at several classic spots of Taipei 101. 1⃣ Takeuchi Izakaya (Pic 12-13), walk south for 10 minutes from Exit 2 of the Xiangshan MRT station to compress the towering skyscraper and old house into one picture, creating a beauty of old and new integration. 2⃣ Xiangshan (Pic 14-16), enter the mountain from the 'Xiangshan Trail' entrance on Google Maps, choose the right path at the first fork, and reach the photography platform in 15 minutes. But it is recommended to continue walking up for 10 minutes to the Six Giant Rocks viewing platform, where the view is more open. The mountain trail is all stone steps with handrails and street lights, making climbing effortless.