Anshan Hot Springs

2 min read

Tanggangzi hot spring just a short distance south of Anshan, is one of the most famous and developed rehabilitation hot springs with a bit even of a celebrity culture in Liaoning.A favorite hide-away for the Qing emperors throughout their rule, including the Last Emperor Puyi and then the last Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin. The remnants of the Dragon Villaserected by these luminaries can be visited today. They and many others since have come to Tanggangzi to bathe in the highly curative waters.

The natural springs here run up to 72 degrees Celsius and are clean and clear. So clean that many even drink the water for its curative potential. Rich in trace elements, specifically magnesium and potassium, the waters have been found to be effective against arthritis, rheumatism, and many other muscle ailments. Additionally, as with many other hot springs in Liaoning Province, many skin diseases and skin-related aliments are treated with dips in the hot spring water.

In 1950, just after the founding of modern China, the Tanggangzi Hospital and later rehabilitation center was founded. Starting off small, the center has grown to house over1,300 beds. There are over 60 different treatments including TCM therapies, aqua therapy, sports therapies, diabetes-related therapies and orthopedic therapy. Along with the hot springs, the mineral-rich mud is a popular application. The volcanic mud is high in trace elements and being buried in the mud or taking mud baths is a popular treatment for patients of the hospital and tourists alike.

The Tanggangzi Hospital has gained such a reputation that it has set up branded treatment centers outside of Liaoning Province. The hospital in Anshan treats over 9,000 long-term patients a year suffering from chronic ailments while the short-term tourists can number over 400,000 a year. Guests have come from all over China and hot springs enthusiasts and medical tourists have come from the US, Germany, Russia, Japan and South Korea.