At Rehai in Tengchong, near the Myanmar border, the Dagunguo spring boils out of the ground at about 97°C and vendors cook eggs in the steam vents beside it. China sits on thousands of hot springs, and for centuries emperors built bathing palaces around them. Today the springs feed big resorts with dozens of open-air pools, busiest in winter, when Chinese families come to soak in the cold.
Chongqing was named China’s “hot spring capital” in 2011 and has more than 40 spa resorts, Conghua outside Guangzhou is the classic weekend soak for the south, and Sanya on Hainan has the beach resort spas.
The everyday wellness culture is older and cheaper. Every city has foot massage parlours open late into the night, and in the mornings the parks fill with people doing tai chi, which you can join for free at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing or learn properly at schools in the Wudang Mountains.
At a Glance#
- Volcanic hot springs: Rehai in Tengchong, Yunnan, with boiling pools and bathing complexes.
- Spa resorts: more than 40 in Chongqing, Conghua near Guangzhou, and Qixianling in the hills of Hainan.
- Snow and steam: outdoor hot springs near Changbaishan in the northeast, combined with skiing.
- Tai chi: free morning sessions in Beijing parks such as the Temple of Heaven and Jingshan Park, and residential schools in the Wudang Mountains.
- Retreats: boutique stays at Mount Mogan near Hangzhou, and yoga and slow-living guesthouses around Dali.
- Costs: about 100 to 200 yuan for an hour of foot massage in a big city; hot spring resort day tickets about 100 to 300 yuan, less at simple local parks.
Tengchong and Yunnan#
Tengchong in western Yunnan is a volcanic area with dozens of extinct cones and the Rehai geothermal park, whose name means “sea of heat”. The park’s boardwalks pass steaming streams, bubbling pools and the boiling Dagunguo spring; entry is about 50 to 60 yuan, and the bathing pools, including the Bath Valley complex at the top of the hill, cost extra. Several hotels in town pipe in hot spring water. Tengchong has an airport with flights from Kunming, and it also has the old Heshun village, making a good two or three day stop.
Around Kunming, the Anning hot springs are a long-established bathing resort. In Lijiang and Shangri-La, high-end hotels have spas with Tibetan and Naxi herbal treatments, a good way to end a day at altitude.
Chongqing and Guangzhou#
Chongqing has springs on both sides of the city, from the old North Hot Spring in Beibei to resorts in the hills to the south. The modern resorts are huge complexes with dozens of outdoor pools at different temperatures, some infused with herbs, tea or wine, plus saunas, buffets and rooms. Most sell day tickets, and many have a hotel attached. The winter months, from November to February, are the season, when the city’s damp chill makes a hot soak especially welcome.
In the south, Conghua, an hour north of Guangzhou, is the best-known hot spring area in Guangdong, and its springs feed several resort hotels with pools in the forested hills. It is an easy weekend escape from Guangzhou or Shenzhen.
Hainan and the northeast#
Sanya on Hainan is China’s beach spa capital, with international resort chains around Yalong Bay and Haitang Bay offering full spas, from Thai-style massage to Chinese herbal treatments. Inland, the Qixianling hot springs at Baoting are surrounded by rainforest and have several resort hotels with private pools.
In the far northeast, the resorts at the foot of Changbaishan in Jilin combine skiing with outdoor hot springs in the snow; see our skiing in China guide. Near Beijing, the Xiaotangshan springs to the north of the city, once used by Qing emperors, now feed spa resorts that are popular in winter.
Massage and traditional medicine#
Foot massage (zuliao) is the most common wellness treat in China. Parlours, often with reclining chairs and a herbal foot soak first, open from midday to past midnight in every city, and an hour costs about 100 to 200 yuan in Beijing or Shanghai, less in smaller cities. Tuina is Chinese therapeutic massage, firmer than a spa massage, and often comes with cupping or moxibustion. Many traditional Chinese medicine hospitals offer acupuncture and tuina to visitors; choose a licensed hospital or clinic rather than a street parlour if you want a real treatment.
Tai chi and martial arts#
In any Chinese city, go to a park before 8am and you will find tai chi groups, sword routines, qigong and dancing. The Temple of Heaven and Jingshan Park in Beijing and the Bund in Shanghai are good places to watch, and most groups do not mind you joining at the back.
To study properly, the Wudang Mountains in Hubei, a Taoist sacred range said to be the birthplace of tai chi, have academies that teach foreign students for a week to a year, with daily training, lodging and meals; long courses cost roughly $1,000 to $1,400 a month. The Shaolin Monastery in Henan is the home of kung fu and the town at its foot is full of martial arts schools, and Yangshuo has tai chi and kung fu schools that take beginners for a few days. Our temples guide covers the sacred mountains, including Mount Qingcheng and Mount Emei.
Retreats and luxury spas#
Mount Mogan, a bamboo-covered hill station about an hour from Hangzhou, was a summer retreat for Shanghai’s foreign residents in the early 20th century and is now full of boutique guesthouses and eco-resorts with spas, yoga and hiking. Around Dali and Erhai Lake, guesthouses run yoga retreats and slow-living weeks, mostly for Chinese guests. The big cities have world-class hotel spas, and some luxury resorts sit next to heritage sites, such as at the Summer Palace in Beijing and in the tea hills of Hangzhou.
Costs and etiquette#
- Hot spring resorts: day tickets cost about 100 to 300 yuan, less at simple local parks and more at weekends and in winter.
- Foot massage: about 100 to 200 yuan for 60 to 90 minutes in big cities, less elsewhere. Tipping is not expected.
- Swimwear: Chinese hot springs are mixed and swimsuits are required, unlike Japanese onsen. Resorts sell or rent swimsuits, and some pools ask for a swim cap.
- Booking: buy resort tickets on Trip.com or the resort’s WeChat account, often cheaper than at the gate. Avoid the Spring Festival and National Day holidays, when resorts are packed.
- Health: take care in very hot pools if you have heart or blood pressure problems, and drink water between soaks.
Book a foot massage on your first night after a long flight or train ride. It is cheap, available late, and one of the easiest local experiences to try without speaking Chinese.
For wellness elsewhere in the region, from Japanese onsen to Balinese spas, see the Asia wellness and spa guide and the world wellness guide.
Best places for spas and wellness in China#
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More Things to Do#
China spa FAQs#
Where are the best hot springs in China?
Tengchong in Yunnan has the most spectacular volcanic springs, Chongqing has the most resorts, and Conghua near Guangzhou is the classic in the south. In winter, the springs around Changbaishan in the northeast let you soak outdoors in the snow.
Do you wear a swimsuit in Chinese hot springs?
Yes. Unlike Japanese onsen, Chinese hot spring resorts are mixed and swimsuits are required. Most resorts sell or rent them, and some pools also ask for a swim cap.
How much is a foot massage in China?
About 100 to 200 yuan for an hour in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, often including a herbal foot soak. Smaller cities are cheaper, and tipping is not expected.
Where can I learn tai chi in China?
Anyone can join the morning groups in city parks such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. For proper training, schools in the Wudang Mountains in Hubei teach foreigners on courses of a week or more, and Yangshuo has schools for short stays.
Is traditional Chinese medicine safe for tourists?
Massage, tuina and cupping at a reputable clinic are generally safe. Go to a licensed TCM hospital or clinic for acupuncture, check what any herbal remedy contains, and avoid herbs if you take other medication.