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Opened in
1998, Jiuhua was Beijing area's first outdoor hot
spring, and today it remains the largest. A respect
for history is evident in its Qing dynasty
architecture and décor. Jiuhua feels less like a hot
spring, and more like an emperor's summer garden.
One of its highlights is a pool which includes a
waterfall cascading down a rock staircase, leading
up to a smaller, hotter pool. Bridges and winding
pathways slither around a variety of water basins. A
feeling of openness reigns over the space,
particularly over the massive outdoor swimming pool.
A couple of pools have televisions to help guests
whittle away the hours. The indoor pool area is a
blue oasis, while the upstairs houses the requisite
KTV floor. Oddly sandwiched between them is the
Tibetan floor spa, housing Tibetan masseurs, baths
and Buddha statues.
But the key thing that separates Jiuhua from the
rest is its waters, which can be so saturated with
herbs that at 30 cm deep, everything fades into
sepia opacity. The different herbal scents were much
more noticeable than those at other spas, all of
them quite pleasant. Jiuhua was the first Beijing
area spring to add medicinal herbs to its mineral
waters, and people can choose their pool according
to the conditions they desire. English signage may
be strangely translated, but you'll get some idea of
what's in each pool and what the health benefits
are. Medicinal ingredients include goodies like tree
bark and ginseng. Even the saunas offer their own
varieties of herbal goodness. For purists, there are
plenty of pools filled with clear spring water as
well.
The mornings are a time when elderly customers in
particular, like to frequent the spring, beating the
crowds for some communal chitchat and a soak. Here
alone will you feel that many people really do come
here primarily for health reasons. Also, a
traditional Chinese medicine doctor is always on
hand to check patrons' health, prescribe medicines,
and possibly assign a certain amount of time in
specific pools.
This winter, a package deal is available for Jundu
Shan ski resort and Jiuhua together.
Steamy and Dreamy:
Bask in the environment of a massive Chinese hot
spring like none other. Let those herbs permeate
your skin and joints, while you and a bunch of old
folks cheer on the national team, as shown on the
outdoor TV. And don't miss your massage, which is
included in this base price.
The Cold Reality:
The Jiuhua Resort area is so big that a monorail is
needed to travel its perimeter, so on weekends, and
even late into the evenings it can get busy. On one
occasion, 5000 people went through in a day. This
isn't the place to get zenned out, but that could
still work for you if you want a raging party
instead of a relaxing party. (Source: Xinhua Net)
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