Baoshan Volcano and Hot Sea Scenic Area is located in Tengchong City, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area consists of two parts: the Volcano Scenic Area and the Hot Sea Scenic Area, covering a total area of approximately 221.36 square kilometers. Integrating scientific research and popularization, sightseeing, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism, the scenic area is characterized by its spectacular volcanic landforms and rich geothermal landscapes. It houses 97 volcanoes, over 80 hot springs, and experiences frequent seismic activities.
History and Culture
In the 12th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1639), Xu Xiake, a traveler of the Ming Dynasty, arrived in Tengchong and made it the final stop of his journey. He traveled in Tengchong for 40 days, investigating the geothermal resources and volcanic groups in this area, and left more than 30,000 words in "Tengyue Travel Notes", which was included in "Xu Xiake's Travel Notes". Baoshan has a long history and culture. The ancient Ailao people created the unique Ailao culture on this land, and after thousands of years of tempering, it has formed Baoshan's distinctive borderland culture.
Major Attractions
Da Kong Mountain (Great Hollow Mountain)
With an altitude of approximately 2,050 meters, it is a truncated conical volcanic cone. The base diameter of the volcanic cone is about 700 meters, the relative height is 100 meters, the diameter of the crater is about 200 meters, and the depth is 50 meters. The top of the mountain is relatively flat with a broad view, and there is a path of 598 steps leading to the top.
Xiao Kong Mountain (Small Hollow Mountain)
It has an altitude of 1,957 meters and is a truncated conical volcanic cone. The base diameter of the volcanic cone is about 350 meters, the relative height is 30 meters, the diameter of the crater is about 250 meters, and the depth is 60 meters. The most recent eruption of this volcano occurred about 100 meters east of it, forming a parasitic volcano with a base diameter of 200 meters and a height of approximately 50 meters.
Shenzhu Valley (Divine Pillar Valley)
Located on the banks of the Longchuan River, about 12 kilometers east of Da Kong Mountain, it is distributed in more than 10 places including the basins of the Longchuan River, Daying River, and Binlang River, covering a total area of 2 square kilometers. It was formed 40,000 years ago. The pillars are up to 100 meters high, with varying sizes—the largest has a diameter of about 3 meters, while the smallest is only 4 centimeters. Most of them are hexagonal prisms, making it the largest, best-preserved, and youngest columnar joint landscape discovered so far in China.
Heiyu River (Black Fish River)
Located about 3,000 meters south of Shenzhu Valley, it is a low-temperature hot spring formed when underground rivers were blocked by lava from volcanic eruptions and gushed out to the surface under pressure. It gets its name because tens of thousands of small black fish flow out of its outlet every year from summer to autumn. The river has a large flow rate of 1,400 cubic meters per second. Its outlet is divided into two streams, which merge and flow into the Longchuan River.
Rehai Big Boiling Pot (Hot Sea Big Boiling Pot)
As one of the most representative attractions in the Hot Sea Scenic Area, it is a hot spring pool that boils all year round, with a water temperature as high as 96°C, and is a landmark landscape of the Hot Sea Scenic Area.
Huaitai Well (Conception Well), Zimei Spring (Sister Spring), Zhenzhu Spring (Pearl Spring)
These hot springs are named after their unique shapes and functions, each with its own characteristics and worth visiting.
Huaitai Well consists of two similar wells—the left one is Longjing (Dragon Well) and the right one is Fengjing (Phoenix Well). It is famous for the folk legend that "drinking the spring water can help with conception", and the stone railings are carved with patterns of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.
Zimei Spring, also known as Yanjing Spring (Glasses Spring), gets its name because it resembles a pair of glasses.
Zhenzhu Spring has hundreds of fumaroles, from which strings of bubbles curl up. Transparent and colorful, they form an indescribably wonderful pearl-like spectacle.
Guming Spring (Drum-sounding Spring), Shizitou Spring (Lion Head Spring), Hamazui Spring (Toad Mouth Spring)
These hot springs are popular among tourists for their unique gushing methods and sounds.
Guming Spring is a boiling spring pit and fumarole, with the largest water flow among all hot springs in the Hot Sea. Due to the spring water changing its course multiple times, many cavities have been formed. As it is an intermittent spring, the cavities resonate during the intermittent gushing of the spring water, producing a thudding sound like the beating of drums on an ancient battlefield—hence the name Guming Spring.
Shizitou Spring gets its name because it looks like an open-mouthed lion with flowing mane.
Hamazui Spring is named for its resemblance to an "open-mouthed toad". It is the only pulsating boiling fountain in China. From a distance, it looks like a big toad. As an intermittent spring, it spouts water regularly like a group of toads spitting water, so it is also called "Toad Spitting Water".
Zaotang River Gorge
Here, you can experience the steaming natural hot springs and feel the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.
Tour Routes
One-day Tour: In the morning, go to the Volcano Scenic Area to visit attractions such as Da Kong Mountain and Xiao Kong Mountain, and you can choose to take a hot air balloon to overlook the volcanic group; in the afternoon, head to the Hot Sea Scenic Area to enjoy geothermal landscapes like the Rehai Big Boiling Pot and Huaitai Well, and you can also soak in the hot springs to relax.
Two-day Tour: On the first day, visit the Volcano Scenic Area, tour the Volcano Geology Museum to learn about the formation and geological changes of volcanoes, hike along the Heiyu River to experience the mystery of underground rivers, and stay in a hotel near the scenic area at night. On the second day, go to the Hot Sea Scenic Area to slowly appreciate various geothermal landscapes, and enjoy a hot spring SPA in Yugu Hot Spring or Meinvchi (Beauty Pool) to feel the gift of nature.
Travel Tips
- Make a time-slot reservation in advance on platforms such as the official WeChat public account to avoid queuing during peak hours.
- When visiting the Hot Sea Scenic Area, do not touch the hot spring water casually to prevent scalding.
- If you want to experience the hot springs, you can bring your own swimming suit, swimming cap and other items.
- In the Volcano Scenic Area, you can choose to take a hot air balloon to better enjoy the panoramic view of the volcanic group, but you need to pay attention to the weather conditions—hot air balloon rides may be unavailable in severe weather such as strong winds.
Notes
- Some roads in the scenic area may be rough. During the tour, pay attention to your steps and wear comfortable shoes.
- Abide by the scenic area regulations and do not smoke in non-smoking areas.
- Take good care of the elderly and children to prevent them from getting lost or having accidents.
- Protect the environment, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.
Transportation
- Self-driving: It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Tengchong City to the Volcano Scenic Area, and about 15 minutes to reach the Hot Sea Scenic Area.
- Special Line Bus: Take the Volcano Special Line Bus at Tengchong Tourism Passenger Station to go directly to the Volcano Scenic Area, and the bus fare is 4 yuan.
- Regular Bus: Take Bus No. 2 at Tengchong Tourism Passenger Station or along the extended section of Rehai Road to go directly to the Hot Sea Scenic Area, and the bus fare is 3 yuan.
Opening Hours
Volcano Scenic Area Opening Hours: 08:00 - 18:00. Hot Sea Scenic Area Opening Hours: 08:00 - 19:00.
Ticket Information
Ticket for Tengchong Hot Sea Scenic Area: Adult Ticket 50 yuan
Ticket for Tengchong Volcano Scenic Area: Adult Ticket 35 yuan
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "腾冲火山热海" on WeChat to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.