Fanfan Hot Spring 梵梵溫泉

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Fanfan Hot Spring is a popular hot spring in Yingshi Village, Datong Township, Yilan County. It is one of the most easily accessible wild hot springs in Taiwan, so it sees many visitors year round. If you are in the area, you should consider taking a dip here.

Background:
The area around Fanfan Hot Spring has been inhabited by the Atayal tribe for thousands of years. Originally the river where the hot springs lay was called Bonbon by the local indigenous people, but later the spelling was changed to "Fanfan" because of Han Chinese people in the area who misheard the name. 
Fanfan Hot Springs is part of the Xueshan Mountain Range, which was pushed up from the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plate. The hot springs come from heated water caused from metamorphic rocks under pressure deep within the earth.

Hours:
24/7

Tours and Activities:
You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Taipingshan, Turtle Island, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. 

Accommodation:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
We have stayed at and recommend Ying Shih Guest House, a resort in Datong Township near Taipingshan and Fan Fan Hot Spring (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Jiaosi Hotspring Hotel, a hotel with hot springs in each room (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here). 
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get there:
By Bus: From Yilan Bus Station, take bus 1744 about one hour to Fanfan Station. The hot springs are about a 20 minute walk away. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
By Car/Scooter: From downtown Yilan, take provincial higway 7 southwest to Siji Elementary School Yingshi Branch, in Yingshi village. There is parking at the elementary school. The hot springs are about a 15 minute walk away. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. ​

Map:
Please see below:

Our Journey:

I have been to Fanfan Hot Spring once in 2020. It was a nice experience, but there were a lot of people there. Because it is so easily accessible and well known, it attracts a lot of people.

Check out our drone video above for an overview of the area.

Or check out the 360 degree spherical panorama above.

To be honest, Fanfan hot spring was just a pit stop on the way to Taipingshan. We stayed at the Yingshi Mountain Village resort and visited the springs in the morning. 

Yingshi Village seems mainly to be an indigenous village with a small population. There is a catholic church near the elementary school.

You want to park at Siji Elementary school, Yingshi Branch, not the original Siji Elementary school. 

There is a large basketball court and soccer feild here. 

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There are also public bathrooms which were locked when we were there. 

View of the Fanfan riverside.

View of the soccer field and Yingshi Village. 

Another view of the river bed.

There is a dirt road along the river so you can drive a car here if you know where the entrance is. 

There was a makeshift bamboo bridge there when we visited.

There were also lots of people camping nearby.

Lot's of people parked nearby to be close to the hot springs.

Rules for the hot springs and fines. 

The old B section of the hot springs which has been washed out.

Old section of the hot spring not in use.

This is the hardest part of the walk, you might have to hold onto a rope.

Lots of people were camping near the springs here. 

Another view of the tents.

Here there are many pools of varying temperature.

Some people enjoying the riverside views.

There are other pools near the river that mix in colder river water. 

More empty pools. 

Pool with just river water. 

Tadpoles. 

View from the air. 

Another view of the many pools.

Another view of the pools from the air.

View looking down river. 

If you have time, you should check out Taipingshan, an amazing mountain paradise with an abandoned logging railroad. Check out our full guide to Taipingshan here. 

You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as surfing, kayaking, horse riding, river tracing, river rafting, river tubing, pack rafting, water biking, snorkeling, canoeing, and many others through Klook here or KKday here. 

​You can see our full guide to Yilan here. 
Check out our full guide to Taiwan's Northern Coast here and our full guide Taiwan's East Coast here. 

You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here. ​

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