A Healing Retreat at the Foot of Tengchong Volcanoes｜Slow Living with Private Hot Spring Access

Yujingtan Hot Spring Hotel (Tengchong Branch) Arriving at Yujingtan Hot Spring Hotel as dusk cast a soft glow over the volcanic peaks, the car window framed endless rice fields and palm trees. Suddenly, we turned onto a secluded path lined with bougainvillea, where traditional gray-tiled roofs with upturned eaves emerged faintly in the twilight—this hot spring hotel nestled beside the Volcanic Geopark felt like a love letter to nature, waiting for travelers to unravel its secrets of healing. What captivated me most was the ritual of "private hot spring access." On the terrace of the courtyard room, a granite soaking tub was encircled by bamboo fences and ferns. Each morning, the butler delivered a handwritten card, asking if I’d like to "reserve today’s hot spring moment." As the mineral-rich water rose past my collarbones, morning light filtered through banana leaves, casting golden ripples on the surface while the distant volcanic craters grew clearer—a moment that seemed to echo the geological forces of millions of years ago. The hot spring water, infused with volcanic minerals, left my skin glowing after a soak, especially when paired with the hotel’s homemade volcanic mud mask. The public hot spring area was a journey of surprises through landscaped gardens. Ascending stone steps, twelve unique pools hid among ancient trees and rockeries: milky sulfur springs steaming with warmth, rose pools floating with fresh petals, and the most enchanting "Starlight Pool," where the domed ceiling projected a galaxy at night, making it feel like soaking in the arms of the Milky Way. Each pool had bamboo shelves stocked with mosquito repellent, hair ties, and lens wipes, while the lounge offered both hot and cold luo han guo tea—thoughtful touches that turned soaking into a tenderly cradled experience. The rooms were "smart zen retreats" tucked into the mountains. Opening the wooden door, I was greeted by the scent of cedar essential oil, and the smart system adjusted lighting, curtains, and hot spring temperature with a tap. My favorite spot was the window-side tea nook, where local preserved fruits and tamarind juice were laid out each evening. Sitting on a rattan chair, I’d gaze at the volcanoes as clouds draped their peaks like soft folds. The bathroom’s volcanic stone tub came with bath salts and fizzing balls, and nights were spent sipping complimentary plum wine, listening to raindrops patter on banana leaves—dreams warmed by the hot spring’s embrace. Dining was a culinary map of Tengchong. Breakfast’s "volcanic stone-grilled bread" was a must: crispy outside, fluffy inside, dipped in local honey and paired with freshly ground soy milk. For lunch, the hotel’s volcanic rock-grilled chicken, with crackling skin and tender meat, paired perfectly with dendrobium flower tea. The most memorable was the "hot spring egg afternoon tea"—carrying just-boiled eggs in a bamboo basket to the lounge, dipping them in salt or soy sauce, as sunlight dappled the stone table through the eaves—a quintessential snapshot of Tengchong’s slow living. Nearby adventures brimmed with rustic charm: a 15-minute walk to the Volcanic Geopark, where wooden trails led to Xiaokong Mountain’s perfectly circular crater, igniting imaginations of ancient lava flows. A 30-minute drive took me to Rehai Scenic Area, where sulfur springs bubbled, and I boiled peanuts in the "Big Boiling Pot." Evenings were for Heshun Ancient Town, sipping "Jibian Oolong" on Yuanlong Pavilion’s terrace as sunset gilded the stone-paved streets, before returning for a nighttime soak—where fatigue melted away, and the soul swelled with nature’s grandeur. On my last morning, a butterfly perched by the pool, its blue iridescence mirroring the Starlight Pool’s galaxy from the night before. Yujingtan isn’t a hotel built on opulence but one woven with volcanic hot springs and mountain spirit—a sanctuary to "slow down and quiet down." If city clamor has worn you thin, come here to let the hot springs wash away fatigue, and let birdsong and mountain breezes rekindle your love for life. This, perhaps, is the most precious gift Tengchong offers every traveler.