Alashan Valley

Alashan Valley

Alashan (Hot Spring) Valley

Alashan means "hot spring" in Mongolian. It is located within the Jintasi Grassland Nature Reserve in Fuhai County, along a small tributary of the Zhuo'er River in the central part of the Altai Mountains. It is 190 kilometers from Fuhai County town, stretches 25 kilometers in length, and sits at an altitude of 1,310 meters. The hot spring area is covered with dense forests. The shady slopes are mainly populated with red pine and spruce, while the sunny slopes feature a mix of white poplar and green poplar, interspersed with oddly shaped rocks, resembling a natural colorful mural. Alashan Hot Springs have a long history and were historically known as the "Land of a Thousand Springs." There are numerous remnants of ancient human life and traces of primitive religious culture, with some traditional customs still practiced to this day.

The hot spring sources are primarily distributed on the southern hillside of the valley. The springs are scattered across the landscape in diverse and unique forms. The most representative ones include: Hot Spring, Liver Spring, Foot-Soaking Spring, Heart Spring, Fountain Spring (also called the Youth Spring), Women’s Spring, Kidney Spring, Bubble Spring (also called Prayer Spring), Hair Spring, Stomach Spring, Breast Spring, Snake Spring, Blood Spring, and more than twenty other springs. Each spring has its distinct characteristics, most of which are thermal springs with temperatures ranging between 30°C and 60°C.

Hot Spring, also known as Sacred Spring, has warm water reaching 60°C. The water is clear, soft, and smooth, capable of removing surface sebum and dirt from the skin. After bathing in this spring, one feels their skin become smooth and delicate all over.

Fountain Spring, also called Youth Spring or Boy Spring, features clear water that gushes out from a hole halfway up the mountain, reaching a height of 60 cm—like a natural showerhead. The spring water contains various minerals. Many middle-aged and elderly men with mobility issues walk up the mountain with canes, but after bathing here, they often discard their canes and walk down just like young people. Don’t believe it? The irregularly piled-up canes on the rocks by the spring are the best proof.

Women’s Spring, also known as Pure Spring or Clean Spring, is reserved exclusively for women. It can treat gynecological diseases and restore women’s physiological functions.

Stomach Spring has normal-flowing water. Most people experience no reaction after drinking it, but those with stomach problems often vomit uncontrollably. It is said that some people who suffered from stomach issues due to long-term alcohol consumption were cured after drinking the spring water for a month.

Heart Spring, also called Cold Spring, has water flow that mimics the rhythm of a heartbeat. The area around the spring is chilling, and the water is icy, clean, and refreshingly cool—an excellent drink for cooling down and quenching thirst.

Blood Spring earned its name because it is situated within a red rock vein, and the spring water takes on a reddish hue.

Snake Spring and Frog Spring are located on the northern hillside. Snake Spring is less than five meters below Frog Spring. Frog Spring contains many frogs about the size of thumbs, forming a simple ecological food chain with the snakes in Snake Spring.

Bubble Spring, also called Prayer Spring, intermittently releases strings of bubbles from fissures in the mountain rocks. It is believed that praying or making wishes here is especially effective.

Legend has it that long ago, a hunter injured a snow leopard. The injured leopard rolled down the hillside into the spring. When the hunter chased it to the spring, the snow leopard leaped out and escaped—with its wound completely healed. Since then, people have regarded the springs here as “divine springs” and the water as “holy water.” Those suffering from long-term illnesses, regardless of the rugged mountain paths, come here to bathe and drink the water for healing. Some stubborn illnesses have miraculously been cured. Even women who had been infertile for years came to drink the spring water in hopes of conceiving.

When you are in the Hot Spring Valley, you will vividly sense a strong atmosphere of primitive religion. This is because the tree branches around each spring are adorned with colorful cloth strips, mostly white, and coins are scattered on the ground and in rock crevices. If you ask the local elders about the meaning of hanging cloth strips and scattering coins, these kind-hearted elders will tell you that the simple Mongolian people believe the divine spring water is a gift from Buddha, and that one must repay the Buddha’s grace after using the water. Therefore, they use cloth strips symbolizing hada scarves and coins to offer tribute to Buddha. When the mountain wind blows, the cloth strips flutter like silver ribbons amid the snowy landscape—it’s a truly beautiful sight.

The many springs in Alashan Valley contain various chemical elements such as carbonates, sulfur, iodine, phosphorus, lithium, and metasilicic acid. They have functions such as promoting metabolism, sedation, pain relief, and anti-inflammation. They show significant therapeutic effects on conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, stomach diseases, neuralgia, and skin disorders.

Every spring in Alashan Valley has its own name, and every rock has its own shape—even some caves are tied to beautiful folk legends. On a rock halfway up Alashan Valley, there is a cave. The entrance is fan-shaped and only wide enough for three people to lie side by side. This cave is called the “Baby-Summoning Cave,” also known as the Sage’s Cave. It is said that long ago, a highly respected Kazakh elder named Tolehait lived in this cave, drinking spring water and eating wild game, maintaining a youthful appearance despite his gray hair. One day, a hunter who got lost while chasing a deer was kindly offered food and shelter by the elder. When the elder heard the hunter lamenting that his wife had been unable to conceive after years of marriage, he instructed the hunter to bring his wife back with him. A few days later, the hunter and his wife came to the mountain. The elder told them both to bathe in the spring water and spend the night in his cave. While they slept, the elder prayed to the heavens under the moonlight. The couple stayed in the mountains for a few days and later returned home, where the wife became pregnant. Word spread quickly across the Altay grasslands. Many infertile couples traveled by horse or car to seek the elder’s help—and they too were able to have children. Thus, the cave became known as the “Baby-Summoning Cave.” The story is widely told among the Kazakh people. Whether the praying elder ever really lived in the cave is unknown, but it is true that the springs in the Altai Mountains can help improve and restore women’s fertility. The rivers originating from the southern foothills of the Altai Mountains—the Irtysh River and Ulungur River—are called the “Humanity’s Mother and Child Rivers” because they are believed to make chickens, ducks, and geese lay more eggs and help women bear more children.

Observant visitors who look up from the foot of the mountain may notice that the Baby-Summoning Cave resembles the female reproductive organ, while a protruding rock to the left of the cave resembles the male reproductive organ—referred to locally as the “Heavenly Root,” and worshipped devoutly. From the naming of the rocks and springs in the Hot Spring Valley by the indigenous people of the Altai Mountains, it is not hard to see the ancestral worship of fertility. Historical records indicate that the early inhabitants here practiced Shamanism, an animistic primitive religion. The worship concepts of Shamanism have deeply influenced the local ethnic groups, with some beliefs and customs still preserved today. Therefore, visiting Alashan Hot Springs not only allows you to immerse yourself in nature, but also offers a rare opportunity to experience the mysterious atmosphere of primitive religion.

Currently, the detailed regulatory plan for the scenic area has been completed, and investment solicitation is underway to the public. Over 12.4 million yuan has already been invested. The Hongshanzui Hot Spring Scenic Area hotel is expected to be operational in 2008, accommodating 50–60 people. The scenic walking trails and a hot spring bath facility covering 110 square meters can serve over 30 people. Additionally, six yurts have been set up on the slopes of the hot spring valley to accommodate local herders—interested tourists are welcome to join in the fun. Most importantly, in October 2007, the road from the Hongshanzui National Defense Highway to the hot spring scenic area was completed, completely resolving the transportation “bottleneck” to the hot spring site.