FIRST-PERSON
The 22 natural hot springs contain calcium, magnesium and sodium bicarbonate
JADE HOT SPRINGS Chinese couples, groups of young men and women and families enjoyed the pools together A
n hour’s flight west from Kunming is the city of Tengchong. Tis active geothermal corner of China, only
30km from Myanmar, is a vacation desti- nation for Chinese nationals, but very few westerners. As part of a three-day tour I stopped off at the Jade Hot Springs – an alluring tree-lined valley with rising plumes of steam– in Tengchong Geological Park. Te park, known as the ‘rehai’ or ‘hot sea’,
is rife with boiling pools, fumaroles, steam- ing ground and sinters. People have been taking the waters here since the early 1600s, but the current facility featuring a spa and a bathhouse dates from 2004. Tere are various entry plans to the attrac-
tion and our cny255 (us$41, €31, £26) ticket entitled us to a tour of the geological features, a simple dinner and a visit to the spa to soak in the hot springs. Among the geological features were the Frog’s Mouth Fumaroles which spurt hot steamed water into the air, and side-by-side ‘pregnancy hot springs’; legend has it that drinking from one will begat boys, and the other girls. Te spa entrance, clearly marked in Eng-
lish, leads into a two-storey tall atrium where guests are directed to a check-in desk followed by a very functional, basic locker room – summed up by the curtain- less shower stalls. Bathing suits and slippers on, we made our way down various hall- ways and stairs with occasional signage and although it was only a two-minute walk it felt like a bit of a journey. Te 22 natural hot springs contain calcium,
magnesium, sodium bicarbonate, among other minerals, and the effects of hydrostatic pressure, warm water and mineral chemistry are said to aid various ailments from diges-
The spa is located in the alluring tree-lined valley of Tengchong Geological Park, which features boiling pools, fumaroles, steaming ground and sinters
tive and respiratory complaints to insomnia and rheumatoid arthritis. I didn’t sense any changes in my body aſter the baths – either here or at Brilliant Resort – but it was an enjoyable experience. I tried the Aloe Pool to soſten the sebum and increase skin nutri- tion; the Cedar Pool to clear the brain; and the Coffee Pool, containing small grains of coffee over the bottom to promote skin metabolism and relieve fatigue. Te pools don’t seem to be arranged in
any particular order, but are conveniently very close to each other. Each pool has a name or theme, and the temperatures rang- ing from 33-45˚C are posted in LED lights
– just as well, as the attendants only spoke Chinese! Yet there were thoughtful touches such as trays of water and tall wooden racks for robes and towels throughout. While there, Chinese couples, groups of
both young men and women, and families shared the pools. We visited during the mid- autumn festival, a national public holiday, so it might have been busier than usual. Other features include a reflexology
room and spa treatment rooms and caba- nas spread throughout the complex. Tere were around 12 treatments on offer rang- ing from a Volcanic Stone Foot Spa soak & pumice for cny58 (us$9, €7, £6) to an Essential Oil Massage and Soak priced at cny588 (us$93, €72, £60). No facials were
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offered and there was a distinct lack of retail. As is oſten the case in more remote mar- kets, there was very little marketing of the spa services – no printed menus in any lan- guage, no mention by staff or promotional materials in lockers or lounge areas, and details such as products used or length of service were not available. Aſter dressing, we returned to the atrium,
where a television showed local news amid a random collection of chairs and tables. Tere was rubbish on the floor, itself none too clean, and clients smoking, so not quite up to international spa standards, but we felt very relaxed and, in contrast, very clean!
OPPOSITES ATTRACT
I really enjoyed both experiences, although they were quite different. Both resorts repre- sented significant capital investments, even in China, and I imagine that between legal and financial hurdles it would be very dif- ficult for an international operator to open something on a similar scale. Brilliant Resort is better equipped to
handle international visitors and is more luxurious than much of the accommodation in the Yunnan province. Jade Hot Springs, while scenic and adventurous, would have been a difficult experience to navigate with- out Chinese-speaking guides. l
SPA BUSINESS 1 2012 ©Cybertrek 2012
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