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Heat springs eternal
By Li Jing (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2004-05-27 15:40
 You walk out along a rock path before arriving at your destination: a
steaming pool of naturally heated water. A babbling stream runs past and behind
you is the trickle of hot water entering via a small waterfall. Along with the
odour of sulphor emanating from the spring, you can smell nature all around.
Almost immediately you feel the tension leave your body.
Surprisingly
enough, this refreshing hot spring experience can be found not so far from
downtown Beijing. Traffic permitting, it takes just 30 minutes to reach a group
of hot spring resorts which are located around Xiaotangshan. There, an annual
Spring Culture Festival is underway.
Xiaotangshan has been famous for its
hot springs for more than 300 years. Local legend has it that the imperial
family of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) went there to relax.
The spring
bathing culture has been well developed recently in Xiaotangshan. Most hot
springs are now privately run. The best are those bathing facilities that are
complimented by beautiful traditional structures.
 You can easily spend a whole day relaxing at some of the best-developed
spas. Many provide lodging as well if a day is not enough for you.
Dozens of hot spring exit points have been discovered and many resorts
have been built close by.
The springs come in a variety of shapes and
sizes. Some are clear, others can be milky-white, brownish, or even blackish,
depending on the minerals they contain.
Indoor and outdoor spring pools are
available in many villas.
For those who don't want to stay at just one
spring site, most offer one- or two-day visiting options which include scenic
spots like the Ming Tombs, Juyongguan Pass, Shisanling Reservoir, the Silver
Pagoda, Chinese Aviation Museum, and several high-rated golf courses.
In
addition to the benefits of relaxation and cleanliness, others believe in the
healing powers of hot springs.
Of course, relaxation is essential for
health and healing. However, most spring resorts also claim to treat and relieve
a multitude of specific ailments.
For a foreign visitor, this is perhaps
one of the most memorable cultural experiences and it will certainly spoil you.
Here are some famous resorts or villas offering hot spring entertainment
in Xiaotangshan.
About 30 kilometres north of downtown, Xiaotangshan was
a lake before the Cretaceous period (that's around 65 million years ago). The
lake sank with the passing of time.
The temperature of water here ranges
from 29 C to 90 C. People have used hot spring water in therapeutic baths for
more than 200 years to treat rheumatism and other
ailments.
Jiuhua Hot Spring Villa
This was one of
the earliest resorts to open.
The site eventually developed into a
well-known resort in Beijing because it attracted not only the wealthy but also
indigent health seekers from around China, thanks to the special treatments and
various Chinese medicated diets offered there.
By using and protecting
the hot springs and their watersheds, the resort continues to provide visitors
with activities such as hiking, picnicking and scenic drives.
Price:
About 900 yuan (US$108) per person per day, including dining, accommodation, hot
spring bathing and any other entertainment.
How to get there: Drive north
from Anhui Overpass in the North Fourth Ring Road. It is 25 kilometres north of
the overpass.
Tel: 6178-2288
Fulaigong (Floral Palace) Hot
Spring Resort
About 5 kilometres east of Jiuhua Hot Spring
Villa, this is a four-star resort that was opened early last year with both
outdoor and indoor hot spring pools.
The most popular activity is to
bathe in spring water with peach blossoms in it. That is a tradition favoured by
emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Xiaotangshan High-tech
Agriculture Garden, Yinshan Pagoda Forest, International Golf Course and China
Aviation Museum are located around the resort.
Location: 200 metres north
of Daliushu Huandao, Xiaotangshan Town, Changping District.
Tel:
6178-5588 ext 85007.
Longmai Hot Spring Resort
It
lies just one kilometre east of the Floral Palace.
Hotel services are
available. Chinese traditional medicine bathing is an attractive draw for
visitors.
How to get there: Drive along Jingtang Road to Daliushu
Huandao, then turn right.
Tel: 6178-1021
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