Su'ao Cold Spring Park Introduction
The unique "World's First Strange Spring," Su-ao Cold Spring, is located in the northern part of Su-ao Township, alongside Jiaoxi Hot Springs as two natural underground treasures of the Lanyang Plain. It is said that in the past, the local people often found insects dead in the cold spring water and mistook it for poison, causing them to avoid the area. During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan's first governor, Katsuro Yamaguchi, bathed in the Su-ao Cold Spring while on an expedition to Nanao. After the bath, he felt an incredible coolness and was invigorated. Also, a Japanese army officer, Nobuyuki Takenaka, experienced a surge of energy after drinking the cold spring water during his military travels. After retiring, Takenaka settled in Su-ao Township and began studying the spring's composition, confirming that it was not only non-toxic but also had special therapeutic effects, which continue to be a source of pride for the residents of Su-ao. It is said that regular baths in Su-ao Cold Spring benefit the skin, earning it the title of a natural beauty secret among local women. It also aids in conditions related to the stomach and lungs, as well as kidney stones, bladder stones, gout, diabetes, and various chronic obesity issues. Interestingly, in addition to confirming the therapeutic effects, Takenaka noticed the cold spring's rich carbon dioxide content and unique cooling taste, establishing Taiwan's first soda factory, "Qixing Cool Soda Factory," at the foot of Qixing Mountain, producing the popular "marble soda." Japanese businessman Shinichi Nakamura also utilized the cold spring's properties to set up a factory by the paddy bridge to make "yokan." Although "marble soda" is no longer produced, "yokan" remains a representative specialty of Su-ao Cold Spring. Characteristically, Su-ao Cold Spring is a "low-temperature mineral spring" with a constant temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, formed due to the abundant rainfall in Yilan and the thick limestone terrain in Su-ao. The spring water is colorless, odorless, and transparent, with bubbles frequently surfacing from the ground, making it a carbonated spring suitable for bathing and drinking. The bubbles that continuously emerge from the bottom create a unique experience, akin to soaking in sugar-free soda.
