Chonqqing Northern Hot Springs
30 kilometers northeast of the Chongqing city, the Northern Hot Springs are in a large park at the foot of Jinyun Mountain, which is the site of a 5th century Buddhist temple, named Wenquan Temple (Hot Spring Temple). It covers an area of ten hectares with hot springs, caves, man-made rock formations and Buddhist Halls. It is regarded as one of the oldest developed hot spring resort, which is still in use at present.
Chonqqing Northern Hot Springs have an Olympic-sized swimming pool and private rooms for hot bath. Water temperature averages around 32 C(89.6 F). It is believed that the chemical elements contained in the water can help cure some diseases like Dermatitis, Rheumatism, Arthritis and Muscular Pain.
Chongqing North Hot Springs Facts
The History of Chongqing Northern Hot Springs Park
Following the construction of Hot Spring Temple in the first year of the Jingping era of the Liusong Nanchao Dynasty (AD 423), visitors have come here continuously through the ages. The Tang Dynasty poet Sikong Tu composed poetry here before departing, while the Northern Song Neo-Confucian scholar Dong Zongliang visited multiple times. During the Yuan Dynasty, Emperor Mongke led his troops to attack Chongqing Fishing City but was struck by a cannonball and died within the temple.
However, by the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican era, bandits gathered in the gorge area, and the ancient hot spring temple became a stronghold for outlaws. In 1927, the renowned patriotic industrialist Lu Zuofu established this site as the Jialing River Hot Spring Park, making it China's earliest public park.
Water Quality of the North Hot Springs in Chongqing
Chongqing boasts five major hot springs, with the Northern Hot Spring standing as the best one among them. A popular place to visit during your Chongqing travel, Chongqing Northern Hot Spring is renowned for its four unparalleled features:
First, “Springs gush from cloud-shrouded roots, their murmuring echoes harmonizing with the pine-tide.” Second, its calcium content ranks highest among Chongqing's hot springs, enriched with trace elements and radon gas for exceptional therapeutic benefits. Thirdly, its ten abundant springs yield a massive flow—the Triangle Pool alone discharges 3,628 tons daily at a consistent 37°C, making it ideal for year-round bathing Fourth and the most remarkable feature is the “dust-washing” at the Triangle Pool. Here, the high elevation and abundant flow create a 3-meter-tall, 10-meter-wide waterfall that cascades into a showering curtain of water.
What to See in Chongqing North Hot Spring Park: Attractions
Hot Spring Temple
Originally a subsidiary monastery of Jinyun Temple, it was founded in 423 AD. After the establishment of Dongyang Commandery during the Southern Qi Dynasty, the temple enjoyed a period of flourishing incense offerings, boasting magnificent structures and numerous stone carvings. It suffered severe damage during two confiscations by Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty.
During Emperor Zhenzong's reign in the Tang Dynasty, Master Yougu Jingman rebuilt the temple and carved cliff-face Buddha statues into the rear mountain cliffs. In 874 AD (the first year of the Qianfu era), Master Hongji undertook further renovations.
Guansheng Hall
Also known as the Hall of the Three Saints, this structure originally served as the mountain gate of Hot Spring Temple. It was expanded into a single-hall complex during the Qing Dynasty. The Guansheng Hall underwent repairs in 1952, during which a gilded statue of Guan Yu was installed.
>> Related reading Best Chinese Dynasties in Architecture
Jieyin Hall
Also called the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, it covers an area of 170 square meters. According to Buddhist doctrine, it symbolizes guiding believers to attain Buddhahood in the Western Paradise. The Heavenly Kings Hall features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof. Its robust dougong brackets are slightly cantilevered upward, with irregularly spaced purlins. The gable ends display three-petaled panels, and the column bases are double-bowl shaped, indicating a late Ming Dynasty construction.
Great Buddha Hall
Also known as the Great Hero Hall, it was built concurrently with the Hall of Welcome. The ceramic fish mouths adorning its eaves date back to the 20th year of the Chenghua reign (1464) during the Ming Dynasty. As the main hall of Wenquan Temple in Chongqing North Hot Spring Park, it spans 282 square meters. Though repaired multiple times during the Qing Dynasty, the existing structure retains early Qing architectural features.
Inside stands a 16-zhang (approx. 5.3 m) tall clay Buddha statue seated upon a lotus pedestal, created during the hall's Ming-era construction. Before the Buddha stands a standing statue of Arhat Ananda, flanked by eighteen clay Arhat statues.
Guanyin Hall
Commonly known as the Iron-Tiled Hall, also called the Green-Tiled Hall, and sometimes referred to as the Copper-Tiled Hall. With stone pillars and iron tiles, it stands as Chongqing's foremost ancient architectural structure. Originally built in the 20th year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty, it underwent repairs in the 40th year of the Kangxi reign (1701 AD) and was rebuilt as the Iron-Tiled Hall in the 7th year of the Tongzhi reign (1868 AD).
Stone Carving Garden
Located at the foot of the mountain behind the Chongqing North Hot Spring Temple, this area is where the stone-carved Buddhist figures of the Song Dynasty were found. There are 16 stone-carved Buddhist figures, carved during the Xuanhe period of the Song Dynasty (1120 - 1122 AD), with the figures divided into 9 groups and 1 incomplete figure. There is also a donor's statue. Some of the Buddha figures are accompanied by animal stone carvings, including 2 small monkeys, 1 tiger, and 1 Chinese dragon.
How to Get to Chongqing North Hot Springs
There are buses from Liberation Square, Shapingba, Nanping, Yangjiaqin and other places to Beibei. After arriving in Beibei, you can take buses such as No. 518 or No. 510 to get there.
