Tengchong Hot Sea Scenic Area is located in Qingshui Town, Tengchong City, Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, about 12 kilometers away from the urban area. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and an important part of the Baoshan (Tengchong) Volcano and Hot Sea Scenic Area. The scenic area covers a total area of approximately 9 square kilometers, belonging to the core area of the Volcanic Geothermal National Geological Park. It is renowned for its rich geothermal resources, featuring 14 geological wonders such as boiling springs, hot springs, and fumaroles, among which more than 10 hot springs have water temperatures exceeding 90°C. The buildings in the scenic area are built along the mountains, retaining the architectural style of western Yunnan residences, and are equipped with approximately 4 kilometers of tourist trails, facilitating visitors to observe geothermal landscapes up close.
Historical Culture
The development and utilization of Tengchong Hot Sea can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. According to records in Tengyue Prefecture Annals, local residents have used hot springs for cooking and bathing for over 400 years. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, Rehai was listed as one of the twelve scenic spots in Tengyue, named "Hot Spring Spring Bath". The existing "Zaotang River Waterfall" cliff inscription in the scenic area, inscribed by Li Gengyuan, a famous scholar from Tengchong during the Republic of China period, bears witness to the cultural history of Rehai. Additionally, ethnic groups such as the Dai and Han living around Rehai have long formed a unique hot spring culture, such as the "Hot Spring Meeting" folk activity held every Qingming Festival.
Main Attractions
Big Rolling Pot
The core attraction of Rehai, this is a circular boiling spring with a diameter of 6.12 meters and a depth of 1.5 meters, with a water temperature of 96.6°C, churning like boiling water day and night. A "hot spring egg cooking" experience area is set up by the spring, where visitors can steam eggs and peanuts in bamboo baskets in the grooves by the spring, which can be ready to eat in about 15 minutes. This is a characteristic experience project of the scenic area.
Rehai Beauty Pool Hot Spring
Composed of multiple open-air hot spring pools, the spring water originates from underground hot springs, rich in minerals such as sulfur, with a water temperature of 42-45°C. The hot spring area covers approximately 2,000 square meters, featuring six pools such as "Fairy Pool," "Jade Pool," and "Jadeite Pool," surrounded by green trees, making it suitable for leisure and health preservation.
Huaitai Well
Two adjacent hot spring pools named for their spring eyes resembling female breasts. The left pool has a water temperature of 88°C, and the right pool has a water temperature of 91°C. The spring water is rich in trace elements, and folklore says that drinking or bathing in it can help with fertility, making it a famous "auspicious spring" in Rehai.
Pearl Spring
A circular spring pool with a diameter of about 2 meters, named for the continuous upward flow of bubbles from the bottom of the pool like strings of pearls. The average water temperature of the spring is 82°C, and the bubbles are mainly formed by carbon dioxide gas. A viewing platform is set up by the pool, allowing clear observation of the peculiar phenomenon of bubble eruptions.
Food
Hot Spring Steamed Eggs
A characteristic snack of the scenic area, these are free-range eggs steamed in the boiling spring of the Big Rolling Pot, with tender egg whites and fragrant, waxy yolks. They cost 5 yuan for 3 eggs and are a must-try food experience for visitors.
Tengchong Ersi
A traditional snack in Tengchong, made from rice and shaped into threads, served with pork bone soup, chicken, pickled vegetables, and other ingredients. It is sold in scenic area restaurants for about 15-20 yuan per bowl, with a soft and glutinous texture.
Xi Dou Fen (Thin Bean Paste)
A paste-like snack made from boiled pea flour, served with fried dough sticks and grilled Erkuai (a type of rice cake). It is sold at stalls around the scenic area for 5-8 yuan per bowl, with a rich local flavor.
Clay Pot Hotpot
A characteristic hotpot in western Yunnan, stewing ingredients such as pork ribs, chicken, tofu, and green vegetables in a clay pot. A small portion in restaurants near the scenic area costs about 80-100 yuan, suitable for 2-3 people, with a delicious soup base.
Admission
Adult ticket: 50 yuan/person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "腾冲火山热海" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
Open year-round, daily from 7:30-19:00 (last entry at 18:00);
Beauty Pool Hot Spring opening hours: 9:00-22:00.
Tour Routes
Classic tour route:
1. Scenic area entrance → Toad's Mouth (fumarole) → Zaotang River Waterfall → Pearl Spring → Sister Springs → Huaitai Well → Fairy Bathing Pool → Big Rolling Pot (approximately 2.5 hours);
Leisure route:
2. Take the sightseeing car to Big Rolling Pot → Experience hot spring egg cooking → Walk downhill to visit Huaitai Well and Pearl Spring → End at Beauty Pool Hot Spring (about 1 hour of hot spring bathing);
Photography route:
3. Enter the park at 7:30 in the morning → First photograph the steaming scene of Big Rolling Pot → Capture the bubbles at Pearl Spring and the water mist of the waterfall along the trail → Shoot the light and shadow of Beauty Pool Hot Spring in the afternoon (best shooting times: 1 hour after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset).
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No. 2 from Tengchong urban area to Rehai Scenic Area Station, fare 2 yuan, journey time about 30 minutes;
- Taxi: About 30 yuan from the urban area to the scenic area, 15 minutes by car;
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Tengchong Hot Sea Scenic Area," with a parking fee of 10 yuan per day for small vehicles in the scenic area parking lot;
- Tourist special line: Tengchong Tourist Bus Station has direct special line buses to Rehai, fare 10 yuan, departure times 8:00-17:00 (every hour).
Must-Visit Attractions
- Big Rolling Pot: A landmark of Rehai, experience hot spring egg cooking and feel the shock of high-temperature hot springs, recommended to spend 40 minutes;
- Beauty Pool Hot Spring: Enjoy sulfur hot spring health preservation, recommended to visit in the afternoon to avoid midday heat, suggested bathing time 1 hour;
- Huaitai Well: Learn about folklore and photograph unique spring eye landscapes, recommended to spend 20 minutes;
- Pearl Spring: Observe geological wonders and capture dynamic images of bubbles rising, recommended to spend 15 minutes.
Tour Tips
- Best seasons: All-year-round, winter (November-February) is more suitable for hot spring bathing, with temperatures of 10-18°C;
- Dress suggestion: Wear non-slip sports shoes, as most trails in the scenic area are stone-paved; prepare swimwear and towels for hot spring experiences;
- Time arrangement: Visit attractions in the morning and soak in hot springs in the afternoon, avoiding soaking on an empty stomach or immediately after meals;
- Photography tips: The Big Rolling Pot area has heavy fog, so protect cameras from water; soft morning light is suitable for photographing hot spring mist;
- Specialty shopping: The scenic area exit sells specialties such as volcanic stone ornaments and Tengxuan (handmade paper), with room for bargaining. Recommended: volcanic stone teacups (about 30-50 yuan each).
Notes
- High temperatures in hot spring areas – do not touch spring eyes or enter closed areas to avoid burns;
- Shower before soaking in hot springs, adapt to the water temperature before entering the pool, and do not soak for more than 15 minutes at a time to prevent dizziness;
- No smoking or littering in the scenic area – keep the trails clean;
- Children must be supervised at all times. Children’s hot spring water temperature should not exceed 40°C, and soaking time should not exceed 10 minutes;
- In case of extreme weather such as heavy rain or earthquakes, the scenic area may close temporarily. Check the weather forecast before traveling.