Su'ao Cold Spring Park Introduction
The uniquely blessed "World's First Miraculous Spring," Su'ao Cold Spring, is located in the northern part of Su'ao Township and ranks alongside Jiaoxi Hot Springs as two natural underground treasures of the Lanyang Plain. It is said that the early residents of the Su'ao area often found insects dead in the cold spring water, mistakenly believing that the water was poisonous and thus avoided it. During the Japanese occupation period, Taiwan's first governor, Sakuma Samata, bathed in Su'ao Cold Spring while on an expedition to Nanao, and after the bath, he felt extremely refreshing and invigorated. Additionally, a Japanese soldier named Takeuchi Nobusuke, after drinking the cold spring water during a military trip, found himself full of energy! After retiring, Takeuchi settled in Su'ao Township and began studying the components of the cold spring, eventually proving that the cold spring 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 today. It is said that regular immersion in Su'ao Cold Spring is beneficial for the skin and is regarded by local women as a natural beauty secret, providing benefits for stomach and lung ailments, as well as aiding conditions like kidney stones, bladder stones, gout, diabetes, and various chronic obesity issues. Interestingly, not only did Takeuchi confirm the therapeutic effects of the cold spring, but he also recognized the high carbon dioxide content and unique refreshing taste of the spring water, leading him to establish Taiwan’s first soda factory, "Qixing Liang (Soda) Factory," at the foot of Qixing Mountain, producing the widely popular "marble soda." The Japanese businessman Nakamura Shinichi also utilized the qualities of the cold spring to set up a factory near Baimeiqiao for making "yokan." Currently, although "marble soda" is no longer produced, "yokan" remains a representative specialty of Su'ao Cold Spring. The Su'ao Cold Spring is characterized as a "low-temperature mineral spring" with a constant temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. It is formed by the abundant rainfall in Yilan and the thick limestone layers of the Su'ao area. The water is colorless, odorless, and transparent, frequently bubbling from the ground, making it a carbonated spring suitable for bathing and drinking. The continuous emergence of fine bubbles at the bottom creates a sensation akin to soaking in sugar-free soda, which is quite special.
