Hot spring resorts

When winter in Beijing leaves us cold, Time Out heads to the burbs for an alfresco steam at a hot spring resort. Bring your bathers, a swimming cap and a sense of fun

Just 40 kilometres out of the city is a cluster of hot spring resorts and - depending on which one you go to and who you take with you -  your visit can be anything from a quiet day of retreat and relaxation, a chance to frolic with friends or, if you book into a private room with hot tub, a romantic weekend away.

Soaking in steamy 38°C outdoor pools isn't the only fun to be had in the suburbs, activities range from bowling, ping pong and horse riding, to the slightly more obscure  -  playing on a warm fake beach or basking on slabs of hot marble.

The majority of Beijing's hot spring resorts are located in Changping's Xiaotangshan, an area awarded the catchy title of China's Hot Spring Village last year, and the place where Qing dynasty emperors reputedly used to sooth their aches and pains.The best known of Xiaotangshan's resorts is Jiuhua, a four-star hotel which has 20 outdoor hot springs pools as well as a couple of indoor ones. 'The water is extremely warm and the surrounding scenery is so beautiful, very traditionally Chinese. They also play nice music, it's all very relaxing,' says Cycle China's Jeff Gao who regularly heads out to the springs.

Not far from Jiuhua is Longmai resort, a good place to go for an eclectic activity-filled day out. Not only does Longmai have indoor hot spring pools, but also ping-pong tables and huge swimming pool with waterslides, wave machines, and inner-tubing. There is a long strip of heated fake sand which you can either lie on or bury yourself in, an activity that may be reminiscent of childhood visits to the beach, but as a purported cure for arthritis is  targeted at a different age group altogether.

For 200RMB you can enjoy access to a private hot spring tub room for two hours, where you can choose to soak yourself in Chinese medicine, either to beautify or to cure bodily ailments. The management warns that you will need to come to bathe frequently at the spas in order to see the improvements though – but they would say that, wouldn't they?

With spring water that comes from Xiaotangshan, Shunyi's Chunhuiyuan resort is nearer to the city and a bargain at 98RMB for a day's unlimited use of the hot tubs. They have outdoor and indoor hot spring pools and offer a range of different massages and beauty treatments starting for 100RMB.

The resorts

Chunguiyuan hotspring resort Gaoliying village (tel 6945 4433). 9am-12am. 98RMB. 春晖园温泉度假村 顺义区高丽营镇于庄 

Jiuhua hot spring resort Jiuhuashanzhuang, Xiaotangshan, Changping (tel 6178 2288). 8.30am-2am. 120RMB for three hours in the outdoor hotsprings, 128RMB for unlimited use of the indoor pools. 九华温泉(九华山庄) 昌平区小汤山镇  

Longmai Hot Spring Resort Xiaotangshan, Changping district (tel 6178 1021). 9am-12am. 100RMB for a one day visit.
昌平区小汤山 龙脉温泉度假村

Poppy Toland