Busy schedule wearing down your joints? What better way to work out those kinks in our shoulders than a nice hot spring getaway? Unwind, relax, meditate amongst billowy puffs of steam, and before long you’ll reappear a whole new person.
As winter gears up for a full-on chilly assault this month, TKHUNT checks out six hot spring resorts in Jiangsu Province.
Yushui Hot Spring Hotel 御水温泉度假酒店
Nestled in a bamboo forest near Changzhou, the sprawling Yushui Hot Spring has 52 outdoor pools and a spa that offers a variety of treatments such as Swedish massages and detox health sessions. The pools are located less than 50 metres from the (unaffiliated) Yushui Hot Spring Hotel. The hotel labels itself as a five-star establishment but that’s not quite the case, not in terms of service standards anyway. The rooms do not come with hot spring access but they do have pretty good views of the surroundings. Besides getting soaked in the mineral rich waters, you can also take a stroll through the tranquil bamboo forest and around Tianmu Lake.
Add: Tianmu Lake South Hill Bamboo Sea, Liyang, Jiangsu
Links Hot Spring Resort
The Links Hot Spring Resort in Rudong, about a two-hour road trip north of Shanghai, offers travellers a quiet reprieve from winter chills with their nine hot spring baths. In contrast to most hot spring resorts around China, this one does not add gimmicky ingredients into the water, preferring natural hot spring water of varying temperatures – there are three main dip sites indoors, joined by a further six outside as well as an outdoor swimming pool. Inside the hotel is a Turkish-style hammam bathhouse and spa treatment rooms. The resort also has an expansive golf course and is said to be popular with bird-watchers, so bring your clubs or binoculars. The remote nature of the resort means you’re rarely disturbed.
Add: West Side of Kuagang Bridge, Yangkou, Rudong county, Jiangsu province
Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa 南京香樟华苹温泉度假别墅
If you’re looking to escape the cold in China for the sunny island of Bali but don’t actually want to take the five-and-a-half-hour flight there, then you might want to consider settling for an intimate and luxurious Balinese-style getaway on the outskirts of Nanjing instead. The Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villa & Spa, located just 90 minutes from Shanghai, provides guests with a private villa experience that includes an attached hot spring bath drawing thermal water from the famous Tangshan Mountains, said to have been used exclusively by Chinese royalty during ancient times. Such luxury does not come cheap, but it’s an indulgent, high-class experience that really does transport you away from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, if not quite all the way to Bali. They also organise a host of activities, including a tour of the Sun Yatsen Mausoleum and cycling around the charming nearby farms.
Add: 12 Wenquan Lu, Sizhuang, Tangshan, Jiangning District, Nanjing
Dino Valley Hot Springs
Dino Valley Hot Springs is located in Changzhou, only an hour’s ride by train from Shanghai. It’s part of the Global Dinosaur Town, consisting of the hot springs, a dinosaur-themed amusement park, and a hotel, among others. There are a variety of pools available, amongst which one ‘Fish Kisses’ pool has been particularly popular – it’s a deep pool filled with little fish that peck away at your dead skin, certainly a more interesting alternative to body scrubs and exfoliating. It’d be good to make an overnight trip for this one, the theme park will be especially popular with families towing along little ones.
Add: 58 Hehai Dong Lu, Xinbei District, Changzhou
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wuxi 无锡希尔顿逸林酒店
Situated mere minutes away from the Lingshan Yuanyi hot springs, this resort offers shuttle service to and from Wuxi railway station at scheduled times, making it a rather convenient vacation go-to spot. Also a stone’s throw away is the Lingshan Grand Buddha statue, a rather famous heritage site well worth a visit. The hot spring itself is staged beside a picturesque lake, boasting up to 72 pools of various sizes. It’s an open-air venue, divided into different areas – a special hot spring area, a jungle-style area, a more luxurious zone with beautiful views, as well as swimming facilities for adults and children.
Add: 19 Gaolang Lu, New District, Wuxi, Jiangsu
Regalia Resort & Spa Nanjing Tangshan 汤山御庭精品酒店
Located on top of the Tangshan Mountains, Regalia Resort & Spa offers a win-win combination of scenic views and secluded natural hot springs. There are 35 villas with private hot spring tubs, and 23 other private hot spring rooms for those that aren’t keen about staying at the resort but still wish to indulge in a dip.
Add: 8 Quanyun Lu, Jiangning District, Nanjing
