The Hot Sea and Hot Fields in Tengchong

Tengchong is one of China’s three major geothermal areas, known as “Land Abounding in Geothermal Resources”. There are plenty of springs of hot water and hot vapour, called “Hot Sea”. There are quite a number of hot fields as well. Tengchong is a resort where people can travel, take a bath and have medical treatment. The Hot Sea, with an area of 9 square kilometers, lies 20 kilometers away southwest of the county seat and in the center of the geothermal area. There are over 80 springs of hot water and hot vapour, of which there are 14 spring whose temperature reaches 90¡ãC. The spring can be regarded as a rarity as far as their number and geothermal energy are concerned. The most magnificent view is the boiling pool with a temperature of 97¡ãC, so it is called “the Big Boiling Pot” by the local people. There are dozens of big springs of vapour with a temperature of 94¡ãC at the mouths of the springs, where you can steam food.

There are some bathrooms and steam beds for people to take a steam bath or receive medical treatment. There are seven big hot fields located in Ruidian Township in the northwest of the county seat. The hot fields are 1,000 meters long from south to north and 600 meters wide at the widest point. There are many points where hot water wells out, of which there are several dozens of big ones whose temperatures range between 40¡ãC and 95¡ãC. By the Naxinjie Road, there is a hot water pond of over 3,000 square kilometers, which is formed by water gushing from the ground in great quantity. The hot fields are enveloped in mist, especially in the morning in winter and spring.

Tengchong Hot Sea has been famous for many years. Xu Xiake, a famous geographical scholar of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), once wrote: “looking at the hot vapor from the distance, just like dense fogs rising from the mountain.” Entering the scenic spot, walking along the road, there is the scientific research area, the hot spring entertainment pool, the Pearl Fountain, the Gumingquan, the Beauty Pool, and then is a big boiling pool with above 3 meters in diameter and a temperature of 97℃. The water here includes many minerals such as chlorine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sulphur and so on which are beneficial to people’s health, especially for the treatment to rheumatism, arthritis, skin disease.

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