Nestled in the foothills south of Taipei, The Great Roots is a protected forest estate with natural hot springs, canopy walks, and quietly elegant Taiwanese hospitality. For two days in November, it will host TAAI 2026 as a retreat-style venue for focused academic exchange.
On-site Check-in is open 08:00–17:00 on November 20 and 21 at the 5F Lishan Hall open courtyard. The free conference shuttle requires online booking; see the shuttle timetable.
The resort occupies about 20 hectares of protected forest in the Dabao River valley of Sanxia (figure from the Taiwan Tourism Administration), on the grounds of a century-old tea estate that has long been managed as a research forest. Pines, cypresses, and subtropical broadleaf species thrive here, and their essential oils (phytoncides) give the air a distinctive, restorative edge.
The conference spaces (a 400-seat auditorium, four breakout rooms, a 5F exhibition area for coffee breaks, and a 2F exhibition area for posters) are purpose-built but understated, timber-framed, and open to the canopy. The resort has its own hot-spring facilities. Hot-spring access is not included in conference registration. Hot-spring prices and hours follow the resort’s official page (external site, opens in a new tab).
How the rooms on the timetable map to the resort's own halls. See the room guide on the Program page.
Photos: The Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort (external site, opens in a new tab), used with credit.
Also on site: the Poster Area is the 2F Liquan Hall exhibition area; check-in is in the 5F Lishan Hall open courtyard; coffee breaks and the Day 1 lunch are in the 5F Lishan Hall exhibition area; the Welcome Banquet (Day 1) and the Day 2 luncheon are in 1F Lichi Hall.
1. From Banqiao HSR Station to The Great Roots Resort, ~ 50 minutes
2. From Taipei University Station (Sanying Line) to The Great Roots Resort, ~ 25 minutes
See the shuttle timetable Book online (free) (opens in a new tab)
Take the Bannan Line MRT from Banqiao HSR Station to Taipei University Station (Sanying Line), ~ 35 minutes, then transfer to a 25-minute taxi or rideshare to the resort. Total travel time ~ 60 minutes.
Via Highway 3 to the Sanying interchange, then local roads through Sanxia Old Street. Free on-site parking for attendees. ~ 50 minutes from Taipei city center without traffic.
| Shuttle | Route | Departs → Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Morning, Nov. 20 & 21, 2026 · To the resort | ||
| Bus 1 | Taipei University Station (Sanying Line) → The Great Roots Resort | 08:30 → 08:55 |
| Bus 2 | Banqiao HSR Station → The Great Roots Resort | 08:40 → 09:30 |
| Evening, Nov. 20, 2026 (Day 1) · Return | ||
| Bus 3 | The Great Roots Resort → Taipei University Station (Sanying Line) | 20:20 → 20:45 |
| Bus 4 | The Great Roots Resort → Banqiao HSR Station | 20:20 → 21:10 |
| Afternoon, Nov. 21, 2026 (Day 2) · Return | ||
| Bus 5 | The Great Roots Resort → Taipei University Station (Sanying Line) | 17:20 → 17:45 |
| Bus 6 | The Great Roots Resort → Banqiao HSR Station | 17:20 → 18:10 |
The shuttle is free. Reserve online with just an email address (no account needed). Up to 4 people per booking, with a waitlist when a bus is full. Reservations and cancellations close before departure; see the booking page for the exact cut-off and rules.
The Great Roots has 96 forest-facing rooms, ranging from standard doubles to hot-spring suites with private outdoor tubs. A special TAAI 2026 conference rate is held until 17 November 2026. Book directly through the hotel's reservation page and enter the promo code TAAI2026.
Photos: The Great Roots Forestry Spa Resort (external site, opens in a new tab), used with credit.
Per room for the night of 20 Nov. Includes breakfast, taxes and fees. Payable at booking. Twin and Quad rooms: a cancellation fee applies (see the hotel's policies). Deluxe Double: non-refundable. Twin and Quad rooms at the conference rate are fully booked; Deluxe Double rooms are still available. All room rates include the resort’s outdoor hot-spring SPA, forest park entry, and the gym.
Book with promo code TAAI2026 →Ten minutes from the venue, the historic Sanxia Old Street has a cluster of boutique guesthouses and minsus (B&Bs) in restored brick townhouses. Good for attendees who'd like a taste of old Taiwanese hospitality.
You've travelled this far. A few recommendations from the organizing committee for things to do in the neighborhood, or a weekend add-on in Taipei.
Qing-dynasty red-brick arcade, Qingshui Zushi Temple (a masterwork of wood and stone carving), and the famous hefty "gold-cow" croissants.
Riverside heritage town, old military residence gardens, and reliably excellent tofu lunches. Thirty minutes by car.
For an extended stay: Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, night markets at Raohe and Shilin, and the hot-spring district of Beitou.
