Earth Energy Rising: Welcoming Summer at Geothermal Valley

Every Dragon Boat Festival, I often seek a place that is less bustling but allows me to feel the flow of the seasons and the breath of nature. Beyond the lively dragon boat races, if you’re willing to try something different, a visit to Beitou’s Geothermal Valley might offer you a unique experience—a primal pulse hidden deep within the earth and intertwined with the rhythms of the festival. Geothermal Valley, located behind Beitou Park, was historically known as "Hell Valley." Since the Qing Dynasty, it has been the source of Beitou’s hot springs, with sulfuric fumes and rising steam resembling the mythical emergence of dragon energy. Visiting during the Dragon Boat Festival reveals its extraordinary beauty—mountain breezes stir the white mist, which billows like clouds and smoke, while the hot springs at the valley’s bottom bubble and roar. Ancient beliefs held that the Dragon Boat Festival marked the "day of peak yang energy," and Geothermal Valley, being a place of abundant yang energy, was considered ideal for warding off evil, promoting health, and inviting blessings. Strolling along the circular trail around the valley, you’ll see wild grasses swaying and steam weaving through the forest, creating an almost otherworldly scene. Observation platforms and informational signs along the path explain the geological origins and history of the geothermal area, including research and utilization during the Japanese era. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, you might even encounter locals wearing mugwort and calamus on their hats or carrying fragrant sachets, creating a harmonious blend of seasonal traditions and natural surroundings. The heat of the Dragon Boat Festival doesn’t need to be avoided; instead, it can be harnessed for health. Nearby, simple stalls sell hot spring eggs, where eggs are naturally cooked in the geothermal stream. The aroma of the eggs, combined with the sulfuric scent, has become a signature delight of Geothermal Valley. You can sit on the stone steps, holding a warm egg, watching the mist rise slowly into the sky, and feel the ancient earth still breathing. The beauty of Geothermal Valley lies not in its bustling attractions but in its ability to awaken our primal awareness of the seasons. The Dragon Boat Festival doesn’t have to be just about dragon boat racing and eating rice dumplings; it can also be a quiet journey in sync with the earth’s warmth. In this season of rising yang energy, let’s draw strength from the geothermal heat, dispel summer fatigue, and embrace auspiciousness, completing a profound dialogue with nature in every breath.