Taipei's Beitou District, situated in the hilly northern tip of the city, has offered a relaxing refuge for city residents for over a century. The springs were first developed for tourism around the turn of the 20th century, when Taiwan was still under Japanese administration. The springs are surrounded by the major peaks of Yangmingshan National Park—Shamao Mountain, Datun Mountain and Qixing Mountain, creating a lush green setting with forest fresh air. The air is also laced with a noticeable sulfur smell—a telltale sign of the mineral-rich springs that await.