Yaoshuitan Hot Springs

Yaoshuitan Hot Springs

Introduction Located within the Maji Canyon in Huangzhong County, about 40 kilometers south of Xining City, a clear spring flows out from a mountain bend on the southwestern side of Yaoshuitan. The water temperature ranges between 20°C and 45°C, and the water is yellowish-green with a strong sulfur smell. When you dip your hand into the water, it feels smooth and waxy like fat, and when you take your hand out, it feels as if being gently caressed. The water has a pungent smell when sipped, but it is not difficult to swallow. Some local farmers even use this hot spring water to cook noodles, which turn out unusually delicious. This is the renowned Yaoshuitan Hot Springs on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Advanced scientific analysis of the water quality has revealed that it contains large amounts of essential trace elements for the human body, such as lithium, magnesium, strontium, chromium, manganese, boron, and silicic acid. It has high medicinal value—taken internally, it benefits the digestive system, and used for external bathing, it is effective against conditions such as ringworm, scabies, urticaria, and arthritis. Hence, it is called the “Medicinal Spring of the Gods.”

In recent years, farmers from Shangxin Village near Yaoshuitan have built a sanatorium hotel utilizing the hot springs. The facility includes a swimming pool, bathrooms, and guest rooms, and receives tens of thousands of visitors from various ethnic groups every year. After swimming, one can walk along the stream in the grassy field and see a string of pearl-like springs on both sides of the creek.　

Xining, Qinghai