Dongpu Hot Spring Introduction
A newly built public footbath is located within Dongpu Plaza, where visitors can enjoy soaking their feet while admiring the landmark of the Legend of the White Deer and the mountain scenery of Dongpu. This provides tourists a more intimate way to experience Dongpu's hot springs and landscapes. The inspiration for the Legend of the White Deer landmark comes from a local Bunun legend about a water deer that was accidentally injured by hunters. While passing through Dongpu, the deer soaked in the hot springs, which healed its wound. Designer Hsiao Ching-Yang was inspired by this story to create a 3-meter long and 1.5-meter high white deer statue, symbolizing the healing properties of Dongpu's hot springs. The Dongpu Hot Spring Plaza, newly completed in 2020, features a wall made of stone slabs that symbolizes the traditional stone slab houses of the Bunun people, allowing visitors to feel the culture of this Bunun settlement as they enter the plaza. The space within the plaza can also serve as a venue for markets and other activities, fostering closer connections between the public and Dongpu.
