China hot springs and wellness in 10 days

Day by day

1. Day 1 · beijing

   Arrive Beijing

   Arrive and rest. The purpose of Beijing as a day here is transit convenience rather than sightseeing ambition — though the Summer Palace or the Fragrant Hills suit the leisurely tone of this itinerary far better than a packed Forbidden City morning.

   Attractions: summer-palace

2. Day 2 · beijing

   Beijing — hutongs and parks

   Morning walk through the hutong alleyways near Houhai Lakes, taking time for tea at a courtyard café. Afternoon at Jingshan Park for the city panorama. This is a gentler Beijing day than the Forbidden City circuit.

   Attractions: houhai-lakes, jingshan-park

3. Day 3 · tengchong

   Fly to Tengchong — arrive and decompress

   Flight Beijing to Tengchong (approximately 3.5 hours, often via Kunming or direct). Tengchong sits in western Yunnan near the Myanmar border and is China's most accessible geothermal zone. Check into a hot-spring resort — several are built around natural flowing pools fed by volcanic groundwater. First soak in the evening.

   Attractions: tengchong-volcanic-park

4. Day 4 · tengchong

   Tengchong — Rehai geothermal park

   Morning at Rehai (Hot Sea) scenic area — the main geothermal field with boiling pools, steam vents, and a therapeutic bathing zone. The 'Pearl Spring' and 'Frying Pan Spring' areas require caution but are visually dramatic. Afternoon: Heshun Ancient Town, a Qing-dynasty trading post 5 km from the city centre, for a gentle walk.

   Attractions: tengchong-volcanic-park

5. Day 5 · tengchong

   Tengchong — Huoshan volcanic zone

   Huoshan Geopark contains the Maanshan shield volcano cluster — dormant but geologically recent. Walk the crater rim trails (roughly 2 hours) for views across the geothermal landscape. Return to the resort for afternoon treatment or pool. [VERIFY: current geopark access and crater-rim trail status — May 2026]

6. Day 6 · dali

   Travel to Dali — rest day on Erhai Lake

   Flight or road from Tengchong to Dali (approximately 3–4 hours by various routes; [VERIFY: current transport options — May 2026]). Dali sits on the shore of Erhai Lake at 1,900 metres. Check into a lakeside guesthouse. Afternoon: slow cycle along the eastern lakeshore.

   Attractions: erhai-lake, dali-three-pagodas

7. Day 7 · beidaihe

   Fly back north to Beidaihe coast

   Fly Dali to Beijing (approximately 3 hours), then high-speed rail Beijing to Beidaihe (approximately 2 hours). Beidaihe is a long-established seaside resort town in Hebei favoured by Communist Party officials for summer retreats — the beaches are pleasant without being spectacular. Check in to a seafront hotel.

8. Day 8 · beidaihe

   Beidaihe — beach and bird reserve

   Morning walk along the No. 1 and No. 2 beaches. Beidaihe is one of China's premier birdwatching sites during spring migration (April–June) — the Laolongtou reserve area at the end of the beach road is accessible on foot. Afternoon rest or spa treatment.

9. Day 9 · beidaihe

   Beidaihe — Shanhaiguan Great Wall

   Shanhaiguan, 15 km east of Beidaihe, is where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea — the 'Old Dragon's Head' section descends into the water and is a memorable image. The First Pass Under Heaven gate tower is well-preserved. Return to Beidaihe by mid-afternoon.

   Attractions: great-wall-shanhaiguan

10. Day 10 · beijing

    Return to Beijing — depart

    High-speed rail back to Beijing (2 hours). Afternoon departure from Capital Airport or Beijing West Station.

Budget guide (CNY per day)

Hot-spring resort accommodation in Tengchong ranges CNY 300–2000/night depending on pool access; two domestic flights add roughly CNY 1500–2500 per person.