Where to find the best hot springs around town

Need a break from the city this weekend? Laura Piercy and Huang Zhe scope out the best of Beijing's numerous hot springs

There’s no denying that submerging yourself in hot water is one of life’s pleasures, particularly when it’s cold outside. The beauty of China’s traditional hot springs is that they offer a host of medical benefits to boot, from kick starting your metabolism to hydrating your skin and soothing away muscle aches and pains. Read on for our guide to the best of Beijing’s nearby resorts.

The Emperor’s choice

A couple of centuries ago, the hot springs at Jiuhua Shanzhuang belonged to the Emperor, and it was concubines and imperial family members who frolicked in the outdoor pools. Today, Jiuhua is perhaps the most famous hot spring in China and almost certainly one of the most popular.

Now nicknamed Xiaotangshan (‘little hot soup mountain’), a quaint train picksyou up at the gate to deliver you to the bathing areas, all surrounded by traditional architecture, mini bamboo forests and other flora and fauna. But this is a big resort, and there’s a whopping 80 different hot springs in total, with water ranging from crystal clear to milky (or even muddy) depending on the minerals they contain.

One drawback is that the price of accommodation has risen of late. Basic double rooms cost from 288RMB up per night, but more comfortable villa suites and traditional courtyards cost considerably more.

Jiuhua Shanzhuang 400m east of the Kuliushu roundabout, Xiaotanshan, Changping district (8199 7334). Entry 90RMB Mon-Fri; 120RMB Sat-Sun. 昌平区小汤山枯 柳树环岛东400米 九华山庄

The quick fix

The Badaling Jinyu Hot Springs Resort has 32 indoor and outdoor bathing areas, and of two spaces those, 18 are hot springs. Surrounded by tropical trees and plants imported from Hainan, each pool has different benefits. Chiang Kai Shek and his missus reportedly favoured the Chongqing-style North Hot Springs for their ability to reduce bloodpressure.

Also worth trying out are the Chinese medicine baths, the flower bath, waterfall bath, and the delicious hot stone steaming baths.

Badaling Jinyu Hot Springs Resort 1 Guishui Bei Dajie, Yanqing district (6914 8833). Entry 138RMB. 延庆县妫水北街1号 北京八达岭温 泉度假村

The intimate option

One of the most atmospheric resorts near to Beijing is the Tulip Hot Springs Garden Resort. Each villa here is connected to a ‘private pool’ that has its own door and private courtyard so, despite the hot water, the atmosphere is very chilled.

The Japanese-style hot spring villas are particularly covetable with their natural, 65°C water that flows from 3,000 metres below ground.

This is also a great place for kids thanks to the resort’s 266,800sqm ‘Merry Water World’, which claims to be the largest in Beijing.

Tulip Hot Springs Garden Resort Jinzhan Tulip Hot Springs Garden Hotel, Dongwei Lu, Chaoyang district (8433 5180). Entry 98RMB Mon-Fri; 138RMB weekends. Standard rooms from 480RMB/night; villas from 800RMB/night. 朝阳区东苇路金盏郁 金香温泉花园度假村

Lush and luxurious

For many people, a soak in a hot spring is as much about the mood as it is about the soaking. Therefore, if a resort has good springs, but the aesthetics are a bit drab, then it’s just not worth going to. Thankfully the Longxi Hot Spring Resort has paid attention to design – and it’s paid off.

Decked out like a tropical rainforest, many of the pools are tucked away under coconut trees, while soothing rainforest sounds are piped in to calm your weary mind. There are over 40 different types of spring here, and they even cater to children with one spring specially adjusted to a lower temperature.

Longxi also boasts some of the best service we’ve encountered; there’s no shortage of staff racing to give you a clean towel or a glass of water (before you even have to ask). After a stint on the faux tropical beaches you can head upstairs to gorge on authentic American food or tasty South East Asian cuisine. Longxi even boasts a top-class Muslim restaurant, a real rarity for a spa resort.

Longxi Hot Spring Resort 8 Jingshun Lu, Panggezhuang, Daxing district (8928 2222). Entry 198RMB 大兴区龙各庄镇顺景路8号 龙熙温