Emerging Spa

Emerging Spa

As an emerging spa trend, SPA has become a global fashion phenomenon, especially in developed regions of Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Riding the wave of modern people’s desire for health, nature, and mental well-being, SPA has sparked a revolution in beauty and fitness. The term “SPA” originates from the Latin phrase “Solus Por Aqua,” where “Solus” means health, “Por” means through, and “Aqua” means water. Together, they mean achieving health through water. A more standardized Chinese translation would be “spa therapy” or “hot spring therapy.”

It is said that as early as 1500 BC, Indians used water to treat fevers. By 500 BC, the Greeks built numerous medical schools near hot springs or bathhouses and strongly advocated the therapeutic benefits of hydrotherapy. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates recommended hydrotherapy for treating a range of illnesses, including rheumatism, jaundice, paralysis, muscle spasms, and joint diseases. During the Roman era, the Romans took public bathhouses to the extreme, using different water temperatures to categorize baths into very hot, warm, and cold pools. Ordinary people used hydrotherapy to treat everything from hangovers to mental disorders.

In the 16th century, a mineral-rich spa town in Belgium called “Spau” had abundant natural resources, including beautiful forests and pure spring water. Residents of all ages would gather in open spaces near mountain springs in their spare time to soak in the waters, relieve fatigue, and enjoy the cleansing effects of nature. Later, residents discovered that soaking in the hot springs also had therapeutic effects for pain and illness, which quickly became a widespread trend. Thus, the term “SPA” was coined, and this place also became the birthplace of modern SPA.

Subsequently, health centers and resort destinations sprang up around hot springs across Europe, and hotels, leisure activities, and treatments flourished, gradually becoming popular worldwide. In China, there are also historical records about the medicinal effects of hot springs. For example, Emperor Qin Shi Huang built the “Lishan Tang” to treat sores and wounds. The Han Dynasty’s Zhang Heng mentioned in his hot spring inscription: “When ill, the hot spring bath is beneficial.” The “Commentary on the Water Classic” also records: “Warm springs emerge from the rocks of Darong, curing all kinds of illnesses.”

Exact location: Within Yongqing County

Transportation: City buses can take you directly to the spa within the county.