Taiwan Good Hot Springs festival launches in Guguan on Sept. 4, with hikes and a starlit concert

Guguan will open Taiwan’s next hot-spring tourism season with lights, a parade and a plan to make hot springs a year-round attraction rather than a winter ritual.

The Tourism Administration’s 2026-2027 Taiwan Good Hot Springs program starts in the Taichung mountain area on Sept. 4. The event will bring together representatives from 19 major hot-spring destinations, domestic and international performers, and the character “OhBear” on the “Bear Loves Hot Springs” parade vehicle.

A new OhBear installation at Guguan Park will be illuminated that evening as part of the Guguan Valley Light Festival. The following day, 600 visitors will join the “Valley Tour, Starlit Melody” program, walking about 4 kilometers through Songhe Tribe. The organizers say the hike will combine Atayal cultural experiences with forest activities. A starlit concert will follow at Guguan Park, featuring Li Zhi-Ting, Wu Fei and the group Black Whirlwind.

The program’s theme, “Healing Through the Four Seasons,” aims to broaden the image of hot-spring travel. Chang Chung-yu, director of the Tri-Mountain National Scenic Area Administration, said the program will connect hot springs with spring flower viewing, summer cooling trips, autumn hiking, and winter bathing, along with mountain scenery, culture, food and lodging.

Organizers are also trying to turn event attendance into overnight stays. Free shuttles will run between Guguan and Songhe Tribe, while the first 200 registered hikers who participate in the hike and stay at designated legal lodgings can receive a NT$500 cash rebate. The wider program will continue through June next year, and the Guguan light festival will remain on until Nov. 1, with another promotional weekend scheduled for Oct. 31.

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Healing Through the Four Seasons