Liaoning Spa Culture

3 min read

Bathing for relaxation, for cleanliness, or for health is a part of many cultures, and what can be found in China and specifically in Liaoning has many special characteristics. We have looked at some of the similarities to the West. We have examined what makes the waters in Liaoning so beneficial and unique. We have explained what special properties the ingredients have in the medicinal baths found at the hot springs. We have given some insight to what makes TCM an alternative to Western therapy and a welcome addition to the spa experience. With this information the goal is to serve the traveler in how to fully understand and better experience a trip to one of the many Liaoning hot springs.

The volcanic mud at Tanggangzi is one of the main attractions to the hospital.

The Hot Springs Experience

In Liaoning, other leisure activities are filling in and around hot springs resorts to attract luxury travelers. As mentioned earlier and with more details later, golf and skiing are becoming extremely popular. Rural and agricultural tourism, which on face value sounds inexpensive, does sneak its way into luxury travel and is gaining popularity. Both ice and red wine chateaus are being built all over the province complete with hotels and wine tasting tours.A weekend up in the hot springs countryside offers more than just sitting in a pool of hot water.

The idea of going to a hot springs resort brings up many different pictures in a person’s mind. Stretched out in a bubbling, steaming pool overlooking a grand vista while the sun sets over an orchard of grapes. Curled up inside a warm hut with steam billowing over the surrounding rock enclosure onto freshly fallen snow. You and the lads puffing away on cigars laughing and joking after closing a big deal, the one that will surely get you that bonus. After a long day of carving up the slopes sitting back and letting the warmthpermeate your tired and sore muscles. Each one of these visions pulled from the many pamphlets and television commercials was created, believe it or not, with a bit of truth behind them.

The idea of hot springs in China is really about two distinct yet very well matched parts.

One being the health and recuperation of your body. The previous chapters have devoted a lot of space to explaining why this is important and in this chapter the focus will be more on the importance of relaxation and the theory behind it. The second side to the coin so to speak is leisure. Leisure is a new thing in China. Not that leisure has never existed in China but for argument’s sake, when most people in the West think of China, leisure and entertainment are not the first things that pop into one’s mind. To be honest, leisure requires one thing above all else and that is money, or the more friendly sounding term, disposable income.

This disposable income is new for China. For the past 30 years China has been opening up and the one thing that has opened up faster and wider is the wallet of the Chinese consumer.

Out in the countryside of Liaoning natural hot springs flow through the villages.