Places to bathe
Gwoji Hotel
hotel international charges nt$450 for a soak in their baths. in the public pool area, there are three hot one outdoor and one cold pool, a sauna and steam bath. it is a very relaxing and well maintained facility. the hotel is located on the right, about two minutes after crossing the main bridge into town.
Long Men
龍門. the first store on the left near the tourist area adjacent to the nashih riverea. first time visitors are greeted with a cool, one-time offer of two-hours in a hot spring room for nt$200. the facilities include tv, music and whirlpool option. the spring also offer rooms for further relaxation.
Yunding Hotel
雲頂 nt$500 will get you a soak in the outdoor pools at yunding hotel top of the clouds. while the main building itself is a bit tacky, the outlay of baths has obviously been inspired by the spacious and luxurious resorts in bali and thailand. nb: the hotel has two bathing areas, which they alternate for women and men. call to make sure that the large baths are available for you on the day that you plan to go. the small bathing area is nowhere near as impressive as its larger neighbor. yunding hotel is located right at the very top of the town - turn right after crossing the second bridge and keep going up. the hotel is painted purple.
free hot springs
The free hot springs are on the other side of the Nanshih River from the tourist street in downtown Wulai. Just cross the bridge, turn right, and walk up the road. Soon, on the right, you will see a stairway that takes you down to the river. Walk along the river and you will soon arrive at a rustic outdoor public hot springs area, with changing rooms, several pools, and even a sauna. You can also take a dip in the river when the water level is low and the current is weak. NB: As this area is in the open, swimming wear must be worn.
Pause Landis
璞石麗緻溫泉會館 (http://pauselandis.networ...). this hot spring hotel has several open air themed rooms. their public baths are also open-air overlooking the cliff side across a river. the establishment is clean and well designed with a modern and zen-like feel.
Famous for its natural hot water springs, along with Beitou, Wulai is the place in the Taipei area to soak away the winter cold and damp. In fact, the name Wulai is the aboriginal tribe Atayal's term for hot springs. The springs at Wulai are clear and odorless. Public hot spring etiquette requires that bathers thoroughly wash and rinse off their bodies before entering the bath, do not wear clothing including swimwear in the bath and tie up their hair so that it does not touch the water. Finally, people with high blood pressure, heart disease or open wounds should not enter the baths.
hiking
There are a number of excellent hiking trails in the mountains around Wulai.