TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Tucked in a valley in Tainan's Nanxi District, Gueidan Hot Spring offers a serene mountain retreat for a quiet escape, a skin-nourishing soak, or a moment of mindfulness beneath the stars.

Gueidan is notable for its variety, featuring five types of spring water -- bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sulfurous, turbid, and clear -- each with its own distinctive characteristics. Known for its clear, odorless, mineral-rich water, the spring has become a haven for those seeking calm, according to CNA and the Tainan Water Resources Bureau.

On Wednesday, a pop-up session combined gentle yoga with singing bowl sound therapy, allowing participants to relax both body and mind. A full program is scheduled for Sept. 28, featuring hot spring bathing, yoga, and sound therapy in two 60-minute sessions, each accommodating up to 15 participants.

Unlike the region's more famous mud springs, Gueidan features weakly alkaline bicarbonate water, with pH levels of 8.08-8.55 and temperatures between 31-35.5 C. Studies suggest the water can soften skin and may ease conditions such as neuralgia, skin ailments, and arthritis, according to the Tainan Tourism Administration.

Outdoor pools allow visitors to soak under the night sky, while wooden walkways, potted trees, and walking paths provide a tranquil environment for reflection. Light refreshments are also available.

Discovered by locals years ago, the spring traces its history to the Japanese colonial period, when its sources were first identified along the Gueidan River. The area was originally a hidden natural spring and later developed into a leisure zone with onsen-style guesthouses.

Tainan is home to three major hot springs: Guanziling in Baihe District, the nearby Liuchong River Hot Spring, and Gueidan in Nanxi. Guanziling is famed for its rare mud spring water and is considered one of only a handful of such springs worldwide, earning it recognition as one of Taiwan's top four hot springs.