Located in the Otoksay River Valley, Wenquan County, Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Otoksay Tianquan Scenic Area is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. With an altitude of 2,650 meters, the scenic area features original ecological natural landscapes and alpine hot springs, including the "Tianquan" natural hot spring group. The springs are rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, with water temperatures consistently ranging from 40°C to 55°C. The area has facilities including outdoor hot spring pools, wooden walkways, and viewing platforms, among which the outdoor hot spring area covers about 5,000 square meters and can accommodate 200 people for bathing at the same time. With a total area of approximately 20 square kilometers, the scenic area integrates canyon exploration, hot spring wellness, and forest sightseeing, with an average altitude of 1,600 meters and a summer average temperature of 20°C, making it an ideal place for summer retreat and leisure.
History and Culture
The Otoksay River Valley was a branch route of the Grassland Silk Road in ancient times and an important path for nomadic migrations and trade. According to Wenquan County Annals, local Mongolian herders have traditionally used the Tianquan hot springs for healing since ancient times, regarding them as "divine water," and formed a custom of sacrificing to the spring god every summer.
The scenic area preserves multiple ancient rock painting relics, such as the "Deer Rock Painting" and "Hunting Scene Rock Painting," which date back thousands of years and reflect the life scenes and primitive religious beliefs of ancient nomadic peoples. In addition, parts of the Qing Dynasty military station ruins along the Otoksay River witness the historical military defense of the border.
Main Attractions
Tianquan Hot Spring Area
The Tianquan Hot Spring Area is the core attraction of the scenic area, with 5 natural spring eyes and a daily water inflow of 1,500 cubic meters. The main spring eye "Tianquan" has a water temperature of 55°C and is equipped with high-temperature bathing pools, children's paddling pools, and medicinal baths, with the latter added with local wild herbs such as mugwort and codonopsis. The hot spring area is equipped with changing rooms, rest pavilions, and a wooden walkway connecting each bathing area, with a total length of about 800 meters.
Otoksay River Valley
The Otoksay River Valley is about 15 kilometers deep, with alpine meadows and primeval spruce forests on both banks, with a forest coverage rate of 68%. The valley has a "One-Line Sky" canyon landscape, with the narrowest point only 3 meters wide and steep cliffs about 50 meters high on both sides. The 5-kilometer hiking trail along the valley passes through natural wonders such as "Turtle Rock" and "Eagle Beak Cliff," ending at the "Tianjing Lake" at an altitude of 2,100 meters. The lake covers an area of about 0.3 square kilometers, and its surface reflects snow-capped mountains in summer, creating a magnificent scene.
Rock Painting Relic Area
The Rock Painting Relic Area is located on the western cliff of the valley, with more than 20 existing rock paintings. The largest rock painting is 3.5 meters long and 2 meters high, depicting groups of deer, argali, and riding hunters. The rock paintings are created by chiseling with rough lines and have been identified by archaeologists as cultural relics of nomadic peoples from the Sui and Tang dynasties. The scenic area has set up protective fences and illustrated signs, and visitors can observe them up close through telescopes.
Food
Wenquan Roasted Lamb Ribs
Local grassland lamb ribs are marinated and roasted in a nang pit, resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior, sprinkled with seasonings such as cumin and chili powder. The scenic area restaurant offers freshly roasted lamb ribs at about 180 yuan per kilogram, paired with pipazi (onions) to relieve greasiness.
Kazakh Horse Milk Wine
A traditional Kazakh beverage, horse milk wine has an alcohol content of about 3-8 degrees and is made by fermenting fresh horse milk, with a sweet and sour taste. Freshly brewed horse milk wine can be tasted at pastoral homestays around the scenic area, costing about 50 yuan per kilogram, often paired with milk curds and borsak (fried pastries).
Recommended Surrounding Cuisine
Around the scenic area, visitors can taste the traditional Mongolian food "Buryat buns," which are steamed with fillings of mutton and grassland chives. Each steamer contains 8 buns, priced at approximately 30 yuan. Additionally, there is the Xinjiang specialty "pepper and hemp chicken," made with local free-range chickens. The meat is firm and tender, and the pepper and hemp sauce is prepared with green Sichuan pepper, onions, and other ingredients. Half a chicken is priced at about 60 yuan.
Admission
The scenic area admission fee is 40 yuan per person. Hot spring bathing costs 80 yuan per person (including swimsuit rental), and the sightseeing car round trip is 20 yuan per person (optional, about 3 kilometers by car). Subject to actual prices at the scenic area.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open year-round, with daily opening hours of 8:30-20:00 (summer) and 10:00-18:00 (winter). The hot spring area is open from 9:00-19:00 (summer) and 11:00-17:00 (winter), without closure on public holidays.
Itinerary Recommendations
Recommended route: Arrive at the scenic area in the morning and take a sightseeing car to the Tianquan Hot Spring Area (30 minutes) to experience hot spring bathing (2 hours); have lunch at the scenic area restaurant to taste roasted lamb ribs or horse milk wine; spend the afternoon hiking along the valley trail (3 hours) to visit One-Line Sky, rock painting relics, and Tianjing Lake in sequence, and return by foot or sightseeing car; enjoy the sunset at the valley viewing platform in the evening to end the trip.
Transportation
- Road: From Wenquan County Town, drive about 25 kilometers southeast along County Road X210, with a 40-minute drive on a full asphalt road. The scenic area has free parking.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Otoksay Tianquan Scenic Area," starting from Bole City, take National Road G305 and turn onto County Road X210, with a total distance of about 80 kilometers and a 1.5-hour drive.
- Chartered Car: Off-road vehicles can be chartered in Wenquan County Town for a round trip of about 200 yuan, suitable for group travel.
Must-See Attractions
- Tianquan Hot Spring Area: Experience alpine hot spring therapy with 5 natural spring eyes (water temperature 40°C-55°C) and a 5,000-square-meter outdoor bathing area.
- Otoksay River Valley Hiking: A 5-kilometer wooden trail connecting canyon, forest, and lake landscapes, with a summer average temperature of 20°C and high negative oxygen ion content.
- Rock Painting Relic Area: Sui and Tang Dynasty nomadic rock painting relics, with more than 20 existing pieces, the largest being 3.5 meters long, requiring a telescope for close observation.
Travel Tips
- Bring your own swimsuit and towel before soaking in hot springs, as on-site rental is expensive (50 yuan per swimsuit set).
- Wear non-slip shoes for valley hiking, carry sun hats and sunglasses in summer, and prepare windproof jackets in winter, as the temperature difference between day and night can reach 15°C.
- Do not touch or climb the cliffs when visiting rock paintings, follow protective fence regulations, and use telescopes provided by the scenic area for observation.
- It is recommended to purchase local specialties such as "Wenquan honey" (about 80 yuan per kilogram) and "wild black fungus" (about 120 yuan per kilogram) as souvenirs.
Notes
- The hot spring area has slippery floors, so wear slippers and have family members accompany the elderly and children. Running and frolicking are prohibited.
- There is no mobile phone signal in some parts of the valley. Inform family members of your itinerary in advance, travel in groups, and avoid entering unopened areas alone.
- Protect the scenic area's ecology by refraining from picking wild plants or feeding wild animals, and dispose of garbage in designated bins.
- People with hypertension or heart disease should not soak in hot springs for more than 15 minutes, and bathing is prohibited after drinking alcohol.
- In winter, the scenic area roads may freeze, so prepare anti-skid chains for self-driving and pay attention to weather forecasts and safety tips from the scenic area.