The Hotspring Rundown
Hotsprings:
Here is a short rundown of some of the best (and non-best) hotsprings in town. We have included price, characteristics and our own CQScene rating. Keep in mind that groupon-like websites often offer prices 30-50 kuai cheaper. Be smart.
Ronghui Hotspring:
Ronghui is the go-to hotspring for many foreigners in town. Reasonable price, tons of pools and top-notch service. Everyone loves the inside pool with its numerous massage chairs and massage showers. Perfect for a day of laziness, even though it is quite hard to get properly fucked up or relax with a nice cigarette. The no-smoking policy is heavily enforced but everyone still tries, same goes for alcohol, which is only served inside.
In Shapingba district, Lishuwan #1 Qingxi Lu (next to the Radisson) 沙坪坝梨树湾清溪路1号
Price: 139元 (weekdays) / 159元 (weekend), 15% discount with ICBC card.
What’s hot?: Wave pool, indoor area and waterslides in the summer.
What’s not?: Hard to get a cab when you leave, awful chicken burgers.
CQScene rating : ****
Wonderful surroundings in the heart of Nanping, cheap price and two kickass caves filled with pools make this a choice destination. The central area boasts a lazy river and a sports pool where you can play basketball, sit on a raft or throw balls at people. There are intimate covered baths scattered around the mountain. Yeah, there’s a mountain.
Price: 98元
What’s hot?: Cave with pools and a sauna, waterslide, spa complex.
What’s not?: Frequently broken massage chairs, no diving.
CQScene rating : ****
In Nanping, enter through the Crowne Plaza on Xiaoyue Lu, up from Nanbin Lu南坪区晓月路皇冠酒店
Haitang Xiaoyue:
Tianci Huatang:
It’s further out there than University City, it doesn’t offer that much in terms of variety, but Tianci Huatang Hotspring has a certain little something. Rent out one of the small villas with a view over the main pool for a baller experience or lift some weights in their outdoor gym.
The air is noticeably cleaner over there, so if going to a hotspring is some kind of health experience for you, this is the one you’re looking for.
In Bishan, #1 Wenquan Lu 重庆璧山温泉路1号
Price: 60元
What’s hot?: Riverside baths and private rooms, cheap, cheap, cheap.
What’s not?: Hella far, not a whole lot of different pools.
CQScene rating : ***½
Tongjing Hotspring
If you feel like taking a two hour bus ride out of town, this is the place for you. The air is clean, the pools are big (even the fish pool) and there are tons of cool activities to do outside. You can go cave exploring, ziplining and nature-walking. Beware, however, the crowds are merciless on the weekends and the hotel in the hotspring is ridiculously expensive. Book one of the cheaper hotels down the road and buy a combination hotspring/cave exploration ticket.
In the Tongjing Scenic Area, north of Yubei #66 Jingquan Lu 重庆渝北区统景镇景泉路66号
Price: 100元, 90元 if you book in advance.
What’s hot?: Giant fish pool, getting carried around in golf carts, and cave explorations.
What’s not?: Overcrowded, dirty changing rooms.
CQScene rating : ***
