When it comes to Kenting, most travellers' first impression is sunshine,沙滩 and bikinis, but few know that just a 30-minute drive from Kenting's main street, in the Sichongxi hot spring area, a completely different scene is quietly unfolding—there are no crowds of people here like dumplings in a pot, but rather tranquil hot spring pools and unexpectedly exquisite vegetarian cuisine.
The charm of Sichongxi hot spring doesn't lie in flashy hardware facilities, but in that leisurely rhythm that "slows down by more than a beat." While Kenting's beaches are greeting waves of visitors with cheers, on the mountain trails of Sichongxi what drifts by is the scent of sulphur and unknown herbal aromas. For travellers who've grown tired of water sports and want to find a balance between water and fire, what this place offers is a "restrained" version of a resort experience.
The Encounter of Salt and Pepper Vanilla Oyster Mushrooms and Bucket Chicken
The catering scene in the Sichongxi hot spring area has its own unique geographical logic. While it's not far from the main fishing villages of the Hengchun Peninsula (such as Donggang and Haikou), the ingredients tend toward mountain vegetables and locally farmed produce. Interestingly, there aren't many restaurants in Sichongxi, but each has its own "territory."
The hidden gem known only to locals is a few small eateries on the side roads outside the hot spring area, specialising in the "bucket chicken + freshly picked wild vegetables" combination. The特色 of these eateries is: the bucket chicken uses locally free-range chickens rather than imported broiler chickens; the side dishes are locally grown vegetables from nearby hillside gardens—there's water spinach, sweet potato leaves, and wild greens I can't name. Occasionally there are creative dishes, such as "salt and pepper vanilla oyster mushrooms," which are almond slices and rosemary coated on oyster mushrooms and deep-fried, with a crispy exterior while retaining the mushrooms' springy texture, perfect with a beer. Such dishes would cost at least 250 yuan in city restaurants, but in these small shops, you can often get them for half the price.
The Hot Spring Private Room at Six in the Morning: A Secret Time Slot to Avoid Crowds
There's an open secret in the industry: the essence of Sichongxi hot spring lies in the scene at "six in the morning." By then the mist hasn't fully dispersed, thin steam floats over the hot spring pools, and having the place to yourself for a soak feels completely different from the "dumpling pot" scene at noon. To match this timing, some travellers choose to soak in the morning and then head straight to a nearby breakfast shop, also grabbing lunch there—it's a "morning session hot spring + brunch" two-in-one approach, saving both time and money.
The breakfast options are surprisingly varied. Along the hot spring road there are a few traditional breakfast stalls, serving southern Taiwan's special "rice cakes" and "cut noodles," paired with a bowl of mixed soup—you can eat to your heart's content for around 70-100 yuan. There's also a Western brunch café, whose owner had worked in cafés in Taipei for a few years before bringing this model back to Sichongxi, but at half the Taipei price—a latte costs 120 yuan, a grilled chicken breast salad costs 180 yuan, and the quality is in no way inferior to chain coffee shops.
Evening Warm Spring Experience: Hot Spring Tales Under the Stars
If you think hot springs are only a daytime activity, Sichongxi has a surprise for you. The hot springs here take on another dimension in the evening—without light pollution from the city, the starry sky is particularly clear, and soaking in the warm pool while gazing up at the stars is an experience you can't buy in the city, no matter how much you pay. Some businesses have caught on to this, and in recent years have started offering "night visit hot spring" package deals, including admission tickets and a cup of ginger tea, costing around 300-450 yuan—slightly more expensive than daytime admission alone, but the experience value is completely different.
It's worth noting that Sichongxi's hot spring water is a sodium bicarbonate spring, colourless and tasteless, and after soaking your skin feels noticeably smooth—this is considered medium-to-high quality among Taiwan's hot springs. There's a saying among operators: it's "the kind that's good for your skin"—whether it's really that miraculous, only those who've soaked in it themselves can tell.
Recommended Dining Spots (Arranged by Personal Preference)
One, "Sichongxi Hot Spring Side Snack Shop"—located opposite the hot spring primary school, the exterior looks like an ordinary corner shop converted into a small noodles stall, the proprietress is a local, selling "angelica lamb noodles" and "cut noodles," the portions are generous, a bowl costs around 80-120 yuan, it's the most economical choice. The downside is limited seating and ordinary surroundings, so be prepared.
Two, "Creative Cuisine Bistro on Hot Spring Road"—specialising in the "bucket chicken + seasonal wild vegetables" combination, advance booking required, priced at 300-500 yuan per person (including meat main course, unlimited rice refills, and three side dishes), it offers good value for money. The signature dish is rosemary chicken rolls, where chicken is rolled in rosemary leaves and roasted, with rich layers of aroma.
Three, "That Café and Light Bites Shop by the Mountain"—suitable for vegetarian travellers who don't eat meat. The owner is a vegetarian themselves, and the restaurant also offers fully vegan options. I'd recommend trying their "Italian-style roasted vegetable platter," which uses organic vegetables from local small-scale farmers, seasoned with simple spices and then roasted, preserving the vegetables' original flavours. A portion costs around 180-220 yuan, paired with a cup of freshly brewed coffee just right. The shop also has a tabby cat that often sleeps on the windowsill, a nice little bonus.
Four, "The Town's Old-established Seafood Stir-fry"—about a 15-minute drive from the hot spring area, it's the go-to for locals hosting banquets and entertaining guests, the signature dishes are "garlic prawns" and "soy bean paste fish," the prices are moderate, a all-you-can-eat spread costs around 400-600 yuan per person. I'd suggest going for a soak in the evening first, then heading straight to dinner—combining two experiences in one trip.
Practical Information
There are two main routes from Kenting to Sichongxi: one is via the Pingtung-Shipai Highway toward Fangshan connecting to County Road 199, or you can directly take Road 199 from Hengchun city centre—both routes take around 30 minutes. For public transport, you can board the "Kenting Shuttle Bus" Green Line at Kenting Bus Terminal and get off at Sichongxi stop (services are infrequent, around one bus per hour), or simply rent an electric scooter from a rental shop and ride there (about 40 minutes).
For costs: public pool admission is around 100-150 yuan, private hot spring rooms cost about 250-400 yuan per hour (pricing varies between operators), and for accommodation, hot spring motels cost 1500-2500 yuan on weekdays with weekend surcharges of around 300-500 yuan. For food budgeting, I'd suggest 150-500 yuan per person per meal, which can be adjusted according to your needs.
Opening hours: most hot spring operators are open from 8 am to 10 pm, some private hot spring rooms operate on a booking system, so I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm before setting off. For restaurants, lunch is roughly 11:00-14:00, dinner is around 17:00-20:00, and most are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Small Tips
A few easily overlooked details to note: visitor numbers in Sichongxi during winter are only half of the peak season, so if you're after a quiet personal hot spring experience, December to February is a better choice; parking spaces on weekends and public holidays are often insufficient, so it's best to set off early or park slightly farther away and walk in. Additionally, most catering establishments in Sichongxi only accept cash payments, with only a few accepting electronic payments, so do bring enough cash so you don't go hungry. Finally, if you're planning to combine this with a Kenting beach itinerary, I'd suggest scheduling the hot spring for the last day—first play in the water, then soak in the hot spring, and your skin's comfort will tell you this order is right.
