Located in Bogdaer Town, Wenquan County, Bole City, Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Bogdaer Holy Spring Scenic Area is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area takes hot spring resources as its core feature, boasting natural hot spring groups such as the "Holy Spring," "Heavenly Spring," "Fairy Spring," and "Marvelous Spring." The springs are rich in minerals like sulfur, lithium, and boron, with water temperatures consistently ranging between 35°C and 60°C, providing auxiliary therapeutic effects for various diseases. The area is equipped with facilities including hot spring sanatoriums, resort hotels, and outdoor hot spring pools. Among them, the outdoor hot spring area covers approximately 20,000 square meters and can accommodate 500 people for bathing simultaneously. With a total area of about 41 square kilometers, the scenic area integrates hot spring wellness, ecological sightseeing, and folk culture experiences.
History and Culture
The Bogdaer Holy Spring has a long-standing history. As early as the Sui and Tang Dynasties, local herders discovered the healing properties of the hot springs, regarding them as "holy springs" and forming a sacrificial tradition. During the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong bestowed the name "Bogdaer" (Mongolian for "Spring of the Sacred Mountain") on these hot springs and erected a stele to commemorate them. The existing Qing Dynasty stele is still preserved within the scenic area.
Wenquan County, where the scenic area is situated, is a multi-ethnic settlement. Ethnic minorities such as the Mongols and Kazakhs have preserved rich folk cultures here. Every summer, the scenic area hosts events like the Naadam Congress and Hot Spring Cultural Festival, showcasing traditional folk programs such as songs, dances, horse racing, and wrestling, which reflect the unique local cultural customs.
Main Attractions
Holy Spring Core Area
The Holy Spring Core Area is the central attraction of the scenic area, comprising multiple natural hot spring pools and physiotherapy zones. The main spring eye of the "Holy Spring" has a water temperature of 60°C and a daily water inflow of approximately 3,000 cubic meters. The clear and transparent spring water is rich in sulfides, demonstrating significant therapeutic effects on arthritis and skin diseases. The core area features an indoor hot spring hall and outdoor bathing pools. The outdoor pool area, with a total area of about 12,000 square meters, is equipped with medicinal baths and flower petal pools with different curative effects.
Bogdaer Forest Park
Located on the northern side of the scenic area, Bogdaer Forest Park covers an area of about 8 square kilometers and is an ecological scenic area integrating forests, streams, and waterfalls. The park is home to tall trees such as spruce and fir, with a forest coverage rate exceeding 75%. The "Spiritual Spring Waterfall" in the park has a drop of about 20 meters, with clear water and a cool environment in summer, making it an ideal place for hiking, sightseeing, and summer retreat.
Arshan Obo
Arshan Obo is a Mongolian sacrificial site within the scenic area, built during the Qing Dynasty. It is piled up with stones and soil, approximately 5 meters in height, with prayer flags hanging around it. Every lunar May, local herders hold Obo sacrificial ceremonies here, where visitors can participate in blessing activities and experience traditional Mongolian culture.
Food
Wenquan Cold-Water Fish
The rivers and lakes in Wenquan County are abundant in cold-water fish such as whitefish and rainbow trout. Restaurants in the scenic area specialize in cooking fresh cold-water fish. Recommended dishes include steamed whitefish (with delicate meat rich in Omega-3 fatty acids) and braised rainbow trout (with firm texture and few bones), with an average consumption of about 80-120 yuan per person.
Mongolian Hand-Pulled Meat
A traditional Mongolian dish, hand-pulled meat is made by boiling large pieces of mutton from grassland castrated rams. The meat is tender and served with salt, mashed garlic, or leek flowers. Authentic hand-pulled meat can be experienced at pastoral homestays around the scenic area, with an average consumption of about 60-100 yuan per person, often paired with milk tea and dairy products.
Recommended Surrounding Cuisine
Around the scenic area, visitors can taste Kazakh-style horse milk wine (with an alcohol content of about 3-5 degrees, sweet and sour), borsak (fried pastries served with milk tea), and Xinjiang specialties such as baked buns (with mutton filling and crispy skin) and nang pit grilled meat (about 10-15 yuan per skewer, with large and fragrant meat chunks).
Admission
The scenic area is free to enter. Charges for hot spring bathing are as follows: outdoor hot spring pool tickets cost 80 yuan per person, indoor hot spring hall tickets cost 120 yuan per person, and medicinal bath packages range from 150-200 yuan per person (including services like back scrubbing). Subject to actual prices at the scenic area.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open 24 hours a day. Hot spring bathing areas are open from 9:00 to 24:00 in summer (May 1 - October 31) and from 10:00 to 22:00 in winter (November 1 - April 30).
Itinerary Recommendations
Recommended route: Arrive at the scenic area in the morning and first visit Arshan Obo (30 minutes) to learn about Mongolian sacrificial culture; then proceed to the Holy Spring Core Area to experience hot spring bathing (2-3 hours), choosing from outdoor medicinal baths or indoor physiotherapy pools; have lunch at a scenic area restaurant to taste cold-water fish or hand-pulled meat; spend the afternoon hiking in Bogdaer Forest Park (2-3 hours) to admire the Spiritual Spring Waterfall and forest landscapes; return to the hot spring area in the evening to rest or bathe again.
Transportation
- Aviation: First fly to Bole Alashankou Airport, then take an airport bus or taxi to Wenquan County (about 1.5 hours by car, bus fare 30 yuan). From the county seat to the scenic area, taking a taxi costs approximately 10 yuan.
- Road: Take a bus from Bole City Bus Station to Wenquan County (8:00-19:00 daily, every 30 minutes, fare 25 yuan). Upon arrival, transfer to a scenic area shuttle bus (fare 5 yuan, 15 minutes by car) or take a taxi.
- Self-driving: Depart from Bole City, drive southwest along G305 National Highway for about 60 kilometers, and enter according to scenic area signs. Free parking is available.
Must-See Attractions
- Holy Spring Core Area: Experience natural hot spring therapy in a 12,000-square-meter outdoor bathing area with water temperatures of 35°C-60°C and rich minerals.
- Bogdaer Forest Park: An 8-square-kilometer forest ecological area with a 20-meter-drop Spiritual Spring Waterfall, where the summer average temperature is 22°C, ideal for hiking.
- Arshan Obo: A Qing Dynasty Mongolian sacrificial site, 5 meters high, where visitors can participate in blessing ceremonies and experience folk culture.
Travel Tips
- Avoid going to the hot springs on an empty stomach or after drinking. It is recommended to bring swimwear and a towel (rental is also available in the scenic area for 20-30 yuan).
- There are many mosquitoes in the forest park, so prepare mosquito repellent. Wear sun-protective clothing and hats due to strong summer UV rays.
- When participating in Obo sacrifices, follow local customs: walk around the Obo three times clockwise and offer hada (silk scarves) or stones for blessing.
- It is recommended to buy Wenquan County specialties such as cold-water fish jerky (about 50 yuan per catty) and dairy products (milk curds 30 yuan per bag) as souvenirs.
Notes
- The hot spring area has slippery floors, so wear non-slip slippers. The elderly and children must be accompanied.
- Patients with hypertension or heart disease should bathe under medical guidance, and single bathing time should not exceed 20 minutes.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the forest park. Follow designated routes when hiking and avoid unopened areas.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some parts of the scenic area. It is recommended to inform family members of your itinerary in advance.
- Nighttime temperatures in the scenic area can drop to -15°C in winter. Keep warm immediately after bathing to prevent colds.