Getting into hot water: Aershan, Inner Mongolia

Aershan, Inner Mongolia

Besides the mesmerizing landscape, Aershan is a famous hot-spring destination. Mu Jun / For China Daily

The Yangbajing section of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway is full of geothermal resources and harbors some of Tibet' s best spas. Gan Zhanglin / For China Daily

The Haishen Shengquan Tourist Resort in the Aershan city is a famous spa destination in China.

It is located in the Aershan National Geopark, under the administration of the Hinggan League in Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Four hot-spring regions have been found here, and the 76 springs in total have been categorized into cold springs, warm springs, hot springs, and high-heat springs.

Some 48 springs are scattered along a grassland area about 500 meters long and 70 meters wide, with water temperatures ranging from 2 to 48 C. The waters are rich in trace elements and are believed to be highly beneficial to health.

It is said that different springs offer cures for different ailments, including rheumatic arthritis, trichophytia, high acid gastritis and neurodermatitis, among others.

There are several options for spas here. The one with the best facilities is the Spring Museum of China, which is also the most expensive — about 300 yuan per head. There are public baths in the museum, so tourists need to bring swimsuits.

Another spa is called Jinjianggou Valley, an outdoor bath that is close to a forest park. It offers the cheapest spas, at 80 yuan each. There are also simple but cheap hotels nearby.

Adapted from an original story which first appeared in Traveler magazine.