May 23, 2021

A trip to Pingdong: Voodoo Lilies, Hot Spring and Horses

Travel Date: 2021/05/01

Labour Day Holiday, my husband wanted to go to Kenting, but we found out that all the hotels were fully booked for the weekend. However, he still had a craving for seafood, so we decided to visit Donggang Harbour in Pingdong. After enjoying some delicious sashimi, we took a stroll through the streets in search of more food. While eating at a nearby shop, I caught a glimpse of a flower on TV and quickly told my husband. He mentioned that it was in Pingdong, but we didn't have a clear location, only the name of a village.





The flower was a rare voodoo lily, and I had never seen one in person before, so I was eager to visit. We made our way to the village, Xinpi (新埤), and went to the visitor center, but there was nobody there. We asked someone on the street who was uncertain but directed us towards a school. We followed their advice but found nothing there. After some internet searching, we discovered a park next to the school that might have the flowers. When we arrived, it didn't resemble a park at all; it was more like a jungle, with no proper road. We encountered three other people who were also searching for the flowers. We explored for a while, but couldn't find any blooms. Eventually, we returned to the visitor center.

Fortunately, an older man passed by who knew about the flowers. His directions were a bit complicated (go in this direction, look for the temple, take the road next to it, and then turn left somewhere). It wasn't as straightforward as he made it sound, as the temple was not very close, and there were two roads next to it. Nevertheless, we somehow managed to find the Voodoo Lily flowers at the house of the village leader. Surprisingly, the flowers had no scent in this season.




Sichongxi Hot Springs Park (四重溪溫泉公園)

After seeing the flowers, we took a short break at the beach. Later, we visited the hot springs, which surprisingly had many visitors even during the summer. Sichongxi Hot Springs Park is located in Checheng Township, Pingtung County. During the Japanese occupation, it was recognized as one of the four famous hot springs in Taiwan, along with Guanziling, Caoshan (Yangmingshan), and Beitou. The name "Sichongxi" originated from the fact that Shen Baozhen, an imperial envoy of the Qing Dynasty, passed through four streams to reach this area when inspecting the topography of Langqiao (Hengchun).

The hot spring water originates from the nearby Dingjiazhilai Mountain, with a steady supply throughout the year. The unique geological conditions here allow for the formation of carbonated hot water, which emerges from disconnected layers of the earth's crust. The water temperature ranges from 50 to 80 degrees Celsius, and it is a weakly alkaline carbonated spring with a pH value of about 7.8. The water is clear, odorless, and leaves the skin smooth after bathing. It is rich in minerals and can be consumed or used for bathing.

The Sichongxi hot springs have been a popular summer destination since the Japanese colonial period, attracting tourists and even hosting the honeymoon of Prince Xuanren, the younger brother of Emperor Showa of Japan.







York Horse Riding Club (悠客馬場)

Nearby, there is the York Horse Riding Club, which offers free entrance and has a camping ground. Horse rides are available at a cost of approximately 2000NT and there are over 20 beautiful horses to choose from.








Address:

1. York Horse Riding Club: 944屏東縣車城鄉統埔路23-1號悠客馬場 
2. Sichongxi Hot Spring: 944屏東縣車城鄉文化路1號四重溪溫泉公園

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