Anhui is an inland province in eastern China, best known for the granite peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO-listed Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua Shan. Its capital and largest city is Hefei. Anhui is the home of Hui cuisine, Xuan paper and Hui ink, and some of China's most famous teas. It has no sea coast, but the Yangtze River, Chaohu Lake and Taiping Lake give it plenty of waterfront.
Top spas
Curated picks for treatments and day spas.
Huangshan Hotspring Resort
A large hot spring resort in Tangkou with dozens of themed pools, the natural place to soak after a Huangshan hike.
Piaoxue (Drifting Snow) Hot Spring
A themed hot spring venue near Mingquan Bridge in Tangkou with about 30 pools scented with rose, milk, tea and herbal ingredients.
Huangshan Lotus Hot Spring Hotel
A hot spring hotel with its own springs near the south gate of Huangshan, popular with hikers who want to soak close to the bus station.
Bantang Hot Spring (Chaohu)
A mineral-rich hot spring area in Bantang Town near Chaohu Lake, about 70 km from Hefei Luogang Airport and a popular weekend trip from Hefei.
Holiday Inn Resort Chaohu Hot Spring
An IHG resort next to Bantang Hot Spring with hot-spring bathing, an indoor pool and spa services; a good overnight option from Hefei.
Tangchi Hot Spring Tourist Resort (Lujiang)
A large hot spring resort area of about 19.6 square kilometres in southern Hefei, marketed as China's hot spring town, with several hotels holding their own springs.
Jiuhua Mountain Rongxi Manor Hot Spring Resort
A 342-room resort at Jiuhua Shan with hot spring facilities and villas; a relaxing base after temple visits on the Buddhist mountain.
Holiday Inn Jiuhua Mountain Hot Spring
An IHG hotel in the Jiuhua Shan scenic area with hot springs and about 160 rooms, at a more modern comfort level than most mountain guesthouses.
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Local specialties worth seeking out.
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Wellness travel tips
Get the most from your wellness experience.
Hot spring resorts near Tangkou, Chaohu and Lujiang are most popular from October to March, when soaking outdoors is most comfortable
After a Huangshan hike, a soak at a Tangkou hot spring resort is the traditional recovery routine; some Tangkou hotels include spa tickets
Bring swimwear and a swimming cap; most hot spring venues require a cap and sell them at the door for about CNY 10-20 (~$1.50-3)
Limit soaking to about 30 minutes at a time and drink water between sessions; people with heart or blood-pressure problems should check temperature limits with the venue
Foot massage parlors are open until around midnight; check Dianping for current prices and reviews