aeeble

A natural riverine wetland, this area is fed by abundant cold springs and artesian wells that gather into ponds of exceptionally pure, crystal-clear water. It is famous for growing water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica); the township office and farmers’ association host the annual “Water Spinach Festival.” Stretching from the Fanziliao Creek levee in the east to the drainage ditch beside Xinzhai Village in the west, and from the Mingjian Township boundary in the north to Tianliao Lane (County Road 24) in the south, the Xinzhai cold springs have been used for cultivating premium water spinach ever since the Plains indigenous peoples settled and farmed here three centuries ago. During the Japanese colonial period the authorities gave the springs special attention, completing a swimming facility on 15 September 1929 and a public bathhouse on 5 January 1941, turning the spot into a thriving hot-spring resort. Throughout the area, spring outcrops and spring-fed ponds are common, providing habitat for fish, shrimp, and other aquatic life. The water remains so pure and cold that residents use it for growing water spinach, cold-spring swimming pools, and communal laundry sites.