Explore Taiwan's Unique Low-Altitude Primeval Forest Enjoy Hot Spring

The Daban Gen Forest Hot Spring Hotel is located in the Daba Creek area of Sanxia, New Taipei City. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the hotel by taxi from Taoyuan Airport, passing through Sanxia Old Street where travelers can stop for a visit. The hotel covers an area of 20 hectares and was originally Taiwan's largest tea factory during the Japanese colonial period, nearly a century ago. The hotel offers various room types, including luxurious hot spring rooms and family rooms equipped with slides.

Taiwan's only low-altitude primeval tropical rainforest, located at the Daban Gen Forest Hot Spring Hotel.

Taiwan's Only Low-Altitude Primeval Tropical Rainforest

Upon arriving at the hot spring hotel, you’ll be surrounded by rolling green hills. The hotel is situated in Taiwan's only low-altitude primeval tropical rainforest, with an elevation of just over 300 meters. It features over 500 species of plants, more than 4,000 insect species, and over 30 bird species, including ferns that date back to the dinosaur era and the globally protected eight-color bird. After dropping off your luggage in the hot spring room, you can immediately dive into the primeval banyan forest area to enjoy the phytoncides at levels as high as 20,000 PPM.

Taiwan's only low-altitude primeval tropical rainforest, located at the Daban Gen Forest Hot Spring Hotel.

The primeval forest has three trails: the First Loop (30 minutes), the Second Loop (90 minutes), and the Third Loop (120 minutes). These trails connect with one another, starting from the First Loop and leading to the Second and Third Loops. The trails are well-maintained and clearly marked, making them safe and easy to navigate without getting lost. You can choose according to your ability and interests. The Third Loop has steeper sections, but handrails are provided to assist hikers.

The Third Loop trail, which is steeper and features handrails to assist hikers. Elementary students happily sketching on the Daban Gen Rainbow Bridge.

Choosing to hike the Third Loop, we began at the First and Second Loops, where the terrain was gentle and suitable for parents hiking with children to learn about nature. During our trek, we encountered a teacher leading elementary students to paint at the forest's rainbow suspension bridge.

The Jiuding banyan, one of Taiwan's two treasure-level banyan kings, towering at 170 meters.

The Rare Daban Gen Banyan Tree with Over 200 Years of History

Along the way, we witnessed two "treasure-level" rare banyan trees, the Jiuding banyan and the Ganhuan banyan, both over 200 years old. Their roots grow into gigantic "buttress roots" to anchor themselves in the soil often washed away by rain. The Jiuding banyan is one of Taiwan's two banyan kings, reaching a height of 170 meters, while the other is the silver-leaf banyan in Kenting National Park. Standing beside the banyan king makes one feel exceptionally small. The forest is also filled with giant vines over a century old, as thick as a man's thigh, perfect for photo opportunities. The forest recreation area features moving and roaring dinosaur models, making it a favorite photo spot for both adults and children.

The forest is filled with giant vines over a century old, thick as a man's thigh. Dinosaurs emerge from the dense forest, becoming popular photo spots for both adults and children.

Visitors can see "heavy oil engine" when they visit the Daban Gen Tea Industry Historical Museum.

After hiking, we visited the Daban Gen Tea Industry Historical Museum, where we appreciated the nearly century-old tea production heritage. In 1923, during the Japanese colonial period, the Mitsui Company built the Mitsui Daba Tea Factory here, introducing the most advanced "heavy oil engine" of the time, producing 650,000 pounds of black tea annually, dominating northern Taiwan. The machinery is preserved and displayed in the museum.

Soak in the Carbonated Hot Springs, Known as "Beauty Baths"

The hotel features an outdoor SPA hot spring, known as the beauty bath, leaving skin smooth after soaking.

The hotel features an outdoor SPA hot spring facility, the only one in the area. The hot spring water is sourced from deep underground and is carbonated, making it excellent for the skin, hence the name "beauty bath." Guests must wear swimsuits to enter the hot spring pools, which come in various temperatures along with SPA therapy facilities. Enjoying a soak under the moonlight with a gentle breeze, combined with hydrotherapy, alleviates shoulder pain and provides full-body relaxation.

Luxurious hot spring rooms at the hotel feature private hot spring baths.

Dinner Highlights: Classic Gourmet Shrimp and Scallop Trio

In this forest setting, you won’t have to worry about dining options; the hot spring hotel has multiple restaurants. The Prince Western Restaurant offers semi-buffet set menus ranging from TWD 980 to TWD 1880, with main dishes including steak, pork chops, lamb chops, fried spring chicken, salmon, large shrimp, and fresh scallops. This time, I chose the classic gourmet shrimp and scallop trio, savoring Taiwanese shrimp, Japanese scallops, and top-grade American steak in one sitting.

The Prince Western Restaurant's semi-buffet selection includes the classic gourmet shrimp and scallop trio.

The Liyan Chinese Restaurant serves authentic local cuisine, featuring dishes like free-range chicken, steamed mountain spring grouper, traditional old wine egg noodles, golden pickled vegetables, and Daban Gen tofu; don’t miss the melt-in-your-mouth boneless beef steak.

The semi-buffet offers unlimited salads, appetizers, desserts, and more. Traditional old wine egg noodles. Signature dish: Daban Gen tofu. Golden pickled vegetables.

Daban Gen Forest Hot Spring Hotel

Address: No. 79, Chajiao Li, Sanxia District, New Taipei City

Phone: +886-(0)2-2674-9228

Transportation: From Taoyuan Airport a taxi ride takes about 20 minutes; alternatively, take bus 1968 from the airport to Enzhugong Hospital Station and then transfer to a taxi to the Daban Gen Forest Hot Spring Hotel.

Website: https://www.thegreatroots.com/en/