Zunhua Hot Springs

Zunhua Hot Springs

The Tangquan Hot Spring Resort is located in Tangquan Township, Zunhua City. It earned the name "Tangquan" (literally “Soup Spring”) because its waters bubble year-round like boiling soup. It boasts one of the former Eight Scenic Spots of the Eastern Qing Tombs — Bathing in the Sun at Tangquan. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, adorned with grand halls and temples, and blessed with breathtaking scenery, it is a renowned tourist destination both in China and abroad.

The hot spring pools are constructed from large stone jars. In winter, the steam rising from the water forms drifting clouds that linger in the sky. When the sun shines brightly overhead and rainbows arc across the sky, looking down into the pool reveals the sun’s reflection glowing from the bottom, with sunlight streaming through the mist — this is the legendary scene known as “Bathing in the Sun at Tangquan,” one of the former Eight Scenic Spots of the Eastern Qing Tombs. In spring and autumn, the pool water is crystal clear, with countless bubbles rising slowly from the depths like strings of pearls. If you drop a silver coin into the water, it will flutter and spin downward like a butterfly, creating a marvelous spectacle.

The temperature of the hot springs ranges from 62 to 68 degrees Celsius. Rich in 14 types of beneficial trace elements and minerals such as fluorine and sulfur, the waters offer significant therapeutic and health benefits, earning them the title “The Number One Spring of East Beijing.” Since the Tang Dynasty, these springs have been used for imperial bathing. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, once bathed here to treat an illness and bestowed the construction of the “Futang Temple” as well as the establishment of the “Futang Guesthouse.” Empress Dowager Xiao (Xiao Zhuo) of the Liao Dynasty often visited here during her winter hunting trips and had the “Dressing Tower” built. Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty camped here during hunting expeditions and constructed the “Guanyin Hall,” naming it the “Futang Nunnery.” During the Ming Dynasty, General Qi Jiguang of the Jizhen Army built the “Wine-Cup Flowing Pavilion” and the main hot spring pool here, and erected a “hexagonal stone stele” inscribed with descriptions of the scenic hot springs at the time. The floor of the Wine-Cup Flowing Pavilion features a carved, winding stone channel through which hot spring water flows gently. If a wine cup is placed in the channel, it will rotate with the flow of water, quickly warming the wine — hence the pavilion is also called the “Rotating Cup Pavilion.” It was a favorite spot for literati to enjoy wine, poetry, and prose in the breeze. After the Qing Dynasty established its capital in Beijing, this site became the first hot spring discovered by the Manchu rulers after entering the pass. Both Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangxi developed the Tangquan area, leaving behind many architectural relics and enchanting legends.