[2025 Shuifu ] Travel Guide for Grand Canyon Hot Spring (Updated Apr)

#discoverchina Nestled in a gorge of the Jinsha River, the Western Grand Canyon Hot Springs Resort is a marvel of nature. Known for its lush mountains, dramatic waterscapes, and thrillingly steep gorges, it’s an ideal blend of adventure and relaxation. The highlight? It boasts the largest natural open-air hot spring bath in China—a rejuvenating experience amidst stunning surroundings. This is where tranquility meets the raw power of nature. 🏞️💦✨

Located in northeast Yunnan, Zhaotong offers magnificent natural scenery, rich history, and unique cuisine. It's definitely worth a visit. Let this guide lead you on a journey to Zhaotong! Highlights 1. Dashanbao: This area combines mountains, wetlands, grasslands, lakes, and waterfalls. It's also a wintering habitat for the black-necked crane, a national first-class protected animal. Stroll through the vast meadows, admire the picturesque scenery, and experience the tranquility and magnificence of nature. The best time to visit is autumn and winter, when the black-necked cranes are here. Tickets cost CNY 98. Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. 2. Huanglianhe Scenic Area: Famous for its waterfalls, the area boasts 47 waterfalls of varying sizes and shapes, such as the Fairy Waterfall and the Duge Waterfall. The waterfalls are magnificent, surrounded by lush trees. Walking through them is like entering a paradise. Tickets start from CNY 55. Opening hours: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. 3. Western Grand Canyon Hot Springs: This area features unique natural landscapes and abundant hot spring resources. There are various hot spring pools in the scenic area. Soaking in the hot springs will relax your body and mind. The hot spring water is of excellent quality and good for your skin. Tickets start from CNY 118. Opening hours: 10:00 am - 12:00 am. 4. Zhaotong Ancient City: Known as the "City of Guild Halls," it was an important post on the Southern Silk Road. It still retains Qing Dynasty architecture, blended with French style. Stroll along the ancient city's flagstone roads, visit Dou Street, and experience the historical charm and vibrant atmosphere. Free entry. Open all day. 5. Shanhai Cave: The cave features peculiar landscapes. The stalactites are stunning under the light, and technological elements add to the fun. Tickets start from CNY 88. Opening hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Local Specialties 1. Zhaotong Small Meat Skewers: These grilled beef skewers are tender, spicy, and savory. They are a signature dish of Zhaotong. Paired with a special dipping sauce, they are incredibly delicious. Masi Barbecue is a recommended restaurant that was featured on the TV show "A Bite of China." 2. Yougao Erkuai: This is the main breakfast for Zhaotong people. The yougao (fried cake) is crispy, and the erkuai (rice cake) is soft and glutinous. Spread with peanut butter, sweet sauce, and chili sauce, it offers a rich and unforgettable taste. 3. Tianma Qi Guo Ji (Gastrodia Chicken Soup): This soup is made with gastrodia and chicken. The broth is delicious and nutritious, with health benefits. Qingyiyuan Wild Mushroom Hot Pot Restaurant is a recommended place to try it. 4. Xidoufen (Pea Flour Soup): This soup is made from peas boiled into a paste. It has a light yellow color and a delicate fragrance. Sprinkled with chopped green onion, chili powder, and other seasonings, it is delicious when paired with youtiao (fried dough sticks) or yougao. Accommodation Recommendations 1. Downtown Hotels: For convenient travel, choose the Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Zhaotong. Located in the city center, it's a great place for family vacations. Vienna International Hotel (Zhaotong Hongxing Hepu Square Branch) offers convenient dining options nearby, with good service and breakfast. 2. Scenic Area B&Bs: When visiting Dashanbao, you can stay in a B&B near the scenic area, which is convenient for watching the sunrise, sunset, and black-necked cranes. However, accommodation options are limited, so it's recommended to check and book in advance. Transportation Guide 1. External Transportation: ◦ By air: Zhaotong Zhaoyang Airport has flights to and from some cities. From the airport to the city, you can take the airport bus, a taxi, or a ride-hailing service. ◦ By train: Zhaotong Railway Station has trains to and from Kunming, Chengdu, and other cities. It's recommended to check train schedules and book tickets in advance. 2. Local Transportation: ◦ By bus: Bus routes cover the main urban areas, making travel convenient. You can check route information at bus stops. Some routes support scan-to-pay. ◦ By taxi/ride-hailing: Taxis have reasonable starting fares, and ride-hailing services are convenient to use. These are common ways to get around the city. ◦ By car: Driving allows for flexible itineraries. However, parking may be difficult around scenic areas during peak season, so plan your parking in advance. Itinerary 3-Day Itinerary • Day 1: Arrive in Zhaotong in the morning. Visit Zhaotong Ancient City, stroll through the old streets, experience the historical charm, and try local snacks like yougao erkuai. In the afternoon, go to Wanghai Park to enjoy the lake view. In the evening, try Zhaotong small meat skewers and other delicacies at the Hailou Road Night Market. • Day 2: Spend the whole day at Dashanbao, enjoying the natural scenery and watching black-necked cranes (in autumn and winter). • Day 3: Visit Huanglianhe Scenic Area in the morning to see the waterfalls. Return to the city in the afternoon and prepare for your departure.

Although the room price increased during the National Day holiday, the hotel offered free high-altitude drifting and fish therapy. 🏠 Overall, it's worth a visit. 🐣 🍄 Swimming Pool: The hot spring is natural.♨️ Although there is a faint smell of sulfur, after bathing, the whole body feels smooth. 🦄 In addition to the regular large hot spring pool, there are also lemon 🍋, milk 🥛, petal, wormwood, vinegar and other special hot spring pools. 💐 Fish therapy, salt therapy and steam bath are also available. 💆 🦆 Service: The service is generally good, but the scenic area is quite large, and the waiters are a bit busy. 🐙 It is recommended to choose the VIP Building or Yunshangju for accommodation, otherwise it is far from the hot spring. ♨️🌹 ⚽️ Hygiene and Room Facilities: The hotel has been open for a long time, so the facilities are a bit old. 😰 The private hot spring has a fast water output, but the waterproof equipment is also quite primitive. 🤣 Overall, it is not as good as various luxury hotels. 🏨 It feels a bit local. 👅

At the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan, there is such a city. It is only about 20 kilometers away from Yibin, but about 200 kilometers away from its superior city Zhaotong. It is located in Yunnan but has its heart in Sichuan. This is Shuifu, a small city. At first sight, Shuifu seems like a very interesting city. The locals speak Yibin dialect but hold Yunnan ID cards. Here, you can see Sichuan's spicy noodles and taste Yunnan's grilled skewers. This somewhat low-key city has many places to visit. Let's see how to enjoy Shuifu! · 【Play】 ♥ North Gate Park: In summer, many people swim in the river here. There is a lighthouse by the river, which is quite photogenic, and you can see Shuifu Port from afar. ♥ Confluence of Two Rivers: It looks more obvious with aerial photography, but you can also clearly see the color boundary between the yellow and green waters of the Hengjiang and Jinsha Rivers from the shore. ♥ Xiangjiaba: A very grand hydropower station. There is a special viewing platform by the river to enjoy the dam scenery, but aerial photography is not allowed above the dam! ♥ Western Grand Canyon Hot Springs: Although Shuifu is the smallest county-level city in Yunnan, it has quite famous Grand Canyon Hot Springs. If you go now, the pools should all be open, but all the pools are outdoors. ♥ Yunyan Temple: On the way to Shaonvping Town, you will pass by a temple. It is not very large, but the architecture is exquisite. It is worth a visit if you have enough time. ♥ Shaonvping: It is a lake formed upstream due to the storage of Xiangjiaba. More locals come to play here, with many water entertainment projects. You can also bring your own kayak to paddle on the lake. · 【Eat】 ✔ Maguan Brother Xiaoma's Beef and Lamb Skewers: Half-cooked is their specialty, very fresh and delicious. The beef fat is also good, grilled very crispy and fragrant. The potatoes can be ordered a bit raw and crispy, which will be more delicious! In short, the grilled skewers are a must-try in Shuifu, very worth it~ ✔ Caishikou Potato Cakes: We went late, and the potato cakes were sold out, but their other cakes were also very delicious. There is a kind of yellow cake that is not too sweet and tastes very fragrant. ✔ King of Mushroom Spicy Noodles: A bit different from what I had in Yibin, but both are very delicious. Their raw pepper beef noodles are the best!

Zhaotong is part of the popular tourist destination of Yunnan Province, located in the northeastern part of Yunnan. This mountain city, known as 'Wumeng Majestic', has a superior geographical location, located at the junction of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces, and is one of the important channels connecting the southwest region and the north China region. In addition, it is also famous for Zhaotong apples. What are the places worth visiting in such a place with beautiful natural scenery, a long history, and rich ethnic culture? Let's take a look together! ✨Transportation: 🚄Zhaotong South Station: Located in the southern part of the city, you can reach here by high-speed rail. ✈️Zhaotong Airport: The airport is relatively close to the city, so it is very convenient for everyone to take a plane~ ✨Attractions: ⛰️Dabaoshan: A beautiful spot suitable for watching the sea of clouds and alpine meadows. It is the wintering habitat of the national first-class protected animal - the black-necked crane. There are also glass plank roads, Jigong Mountain, and Dahai Zi three small attractions inside. 🌊Huanglian River Scenic Area: Known as the hometown of waterfalls in China. The vegetation is lush, the air is humid, and it can be called a natural oxygen bar! However, the entire journey of the scenic area is stairs, and it takes about two hours to go back and forth. If you bring the elderly or children, it is not recommended to go. ♨️Western Hot Spring Grand Canyon: There are medicinal springs, vinegar springs, milk springs, fish springs and other types of hot spring pools, everything is available, and the surfing project is also open at three and a half in the afternoon. However, the plateau ultraviolet rays are relatively strong, and it is recommended that sisters who are afraid of sunbathing wait until the sun sets. ⛰️Haishan Cave: Take a 10-minute boat ride🚢 and then walk to visit the stalactites. The light in the cave is dim and the ground is slippery, so be sure to wear non-slip shoes when viewing the scenery. It is recommended to visit in summer, which can avoid the heat. The cave is very cool and is a natural air conditioner! ✨Food: 🍎🍎🍎Zhaotong apples are a must-eat!!! ⭕️Zhaotong Babashao - Ma's Barbecue: This is a halal restaurant, there is no pork, recommend beef half strong, half fat and half thin, full of juice! ⭕️Lamb Rice Noodles - Yimanxiang Water City Lamb Rice Noodles The combination of thin mint and rich lamb soup is recommended, lamb can be added separately, it is recommended to match with rice noodles, and lamb blood is free to add!!! Be sure to try the lamb blood, it's very tender. ⭕️Banzha Lemon - Yunnan Fresh Flower Milk Tea It is said to be the milk tea of Yunnan people. There is one next to the old supermarket. After eating the oily cake, order a cup to moisturize your mouth. The milk cap is very refreshing, you can see the rose petals, it is beautiful and delicious.