Have You Ever Tried Soaking in a Cave Hot Spring?
Spring is a season of renewal and vitality. With the wonderfully comfortable days in Guangzhou, it's the perfect time for a spring outing. This year, our family's favorite destination is Zengcheng, especially around the Baishuizhai area, because there are so many choices for fun. You can climb Baishuizhai Mountain, and even better, soak in hot springs. In the Baishuizhai area of Zengcheng, there are many famous hot spring hotels. This time, my top pick is the Guangzhou Baishuizhai Jiahua Hot Spring Hotel.
[Guangzhou Baishuizhai Jiahua Hot Spring Hotel] The hotel is located in the famous Baishuizhai Scenic Area in Zengcheng, Guangzhou. The entire hotel is built within the hot spring area, with a charming, terraced layout. It boasts 542 guest rooms and 55 unique hot spring pools. This is a genuine hot spring hotel well known to us Guangdong locals. The hot spring water belongs to the metasilicic acid type from the Baishuizhai scenic area, rich in a variety of trace elements beneficial to health.
Our family set off at 5 p.m. and after about an hour and a half drive, we arrived at the hotel entrance.
[Special Theme Rooms] If you have kids, don't miss out! The hotel has many parent-child theme rooms, each with a unique design—best to book in advance. My elder daughter Mimi recently watched a Doraemon movie, so we chose the Doraemon theme room.
Entering the room, it was very spacious. All the decorations were in Doraemon’s theme blue, as if stepping right into a cartoon story. It’s especially thoughtful for two-child families, with the kids’ favorite bunk beds provided.
Additionally, there’s adjustable dimming glass that can change clarity. With a click of the remote, the room instantly divides into two separate spaces—so much fun! Big sister kept showing Mimi her newly learned magic trick.
[Fairytale-like Bathroom] The bathroom is like something from a fairytale, complete with a bathtub that kids love—they can watch cartoons while soaking. There’s also a washbasin at a child-friendly height. I love hotels like this; they boost the kids’ sense of independence, making them more confident and teaching them to be self-reliant.
Plus, the room has its own private hot spring pool, with a relaxation area outside. At night, it’s incredibly romantic—soaking under a sky full of stars. And of course, the private hot spring is the two sisters’ own secret garden.
[Private Hot Spring in the Room] The hotel also thoughtfully provides a cute slide. During this vacation, the two sisters kept asking me to fill the hot tub, playing in it all the time. The little one adored it; you’d often hear Mimi singing in the little garden.
[Cave Hot Spring—Little Adventurers’ Favorite] The Guangzhou Baishuizhai Jiahua Hot Spring Hotel is a very unique place with various hot spring zones. Among them, the cave hot spring is perfect for kids to play and explore.
After changing into the robes thoughtfully prepared for children by the hotel, you can walk directly from the first-floor theme rooms to the highly atmospheric cave hot spring. Nature’s masterpiece is on display—colorful lights shine on the stalactite walls, and the cave hot spring instantly transports you into a mysterious world, with geothermal spring water bubbling before your eyes.
This is absolutely the kind of scenery that floods your social media feed—after posting, many fellow parents asked me for the booking contact. The two sisters absolutely loved it here. Mimi kept saying, 'Mom, this hotel is so cool, it’s like they brought the whole planet inside!' Then they constantly played pretend, reenacting a journey to the center of the Earth—pretending to dig up emeralds in the aloe pool, finding rubies in the eucommia pool, and going on adventures in the bubble pool. She even told me, 'Mom, I want to be an explorer when I grow up...'
[Most Photogenic: Summit Hot Spring] The entire hot spring area of the hotel is terraced beautifully, with a total of 55 pools. Along the way, we enjoyed the scenery, breathed in the fragrance of spring flowers, and savored that special flavor of spring. At the top of the hill, we found the famous infinity pool, truly feeling what it’s like to bathe in jade-like hot spring water, surpassing even the famed Huaqing Stone Pools.
I’ve heard it said that the most beautiful scenery is when people blend with nature. Here at the hotel, you can soak in natural mountain hot springs all year round, and just casually snap photos with your phone and get beautiful pictures. Find any angle or corner, and you’ll get stunning influencer-worthy shots—truly fantastic.
[Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness Area] Our ancestors added processed ingredients like glossy ganoderma, aloe, three-forked herb (San Ya), ginseng, chrysanthemum, milk, fine wine, vinegar, and more to the hot spring water. Soaking in these offers excellent therapeutic and health benefits, maximizing the hot spring’s effects. The hotel’s outdoor hot spring area features various TCM wellness pools, including longevity, ginger, anti-inflammatory green tea, and beautifying rose—there’s something for everyone. The longevity pool is perfect for elderly family members. The ginger and rose pools are especially good for those with joint pain; frequent soaks can help relieve symptoms. The TCM wellness area is very popular. Usually, early in the morning, it’s not too crowded, so you can soak comfortably. After soaking, your skin feels beautifully smooth—such a great sensation.
[Fun Kids’ Pools] As we all know, hot springs are popular with families, and here there are many children’s hot spring pools and swimming pools. After a long day of playing, a ten-minute soak in the bubble-filled hot spring pool really helps ease growing pains. But among all the pools, besides the cave hot spring, the two sisters’ favorite was the fish pool. The funniest thing was that big sister Mimi soaked there morning and evening. When I asked why, they said, 'Because the fish need to eat morning and night!'
[Swimming Pool at Normal Temperature] You might wonder, when visiting a hot spring hotel in the scorching summer, won’t it be too hot? Worry not—there’s a standard outdoor swimming pool, perfect for a family swim in summer. There’s also a kids’ water park that the sisters adored, with water just knee-deep, perfect for children aged 3 to 12. Kids love water, and in the family pool, the two sisters played until they didn’t want to leave. For those who enjoy peace, bring a few books and relax quietly by the Wave-Listening Pool. With the natural spring breeze and the tinkling of wind chimes, sitting here is so comfortable that you might accidentally doze off.
[Nighttime Is Even More Wonderful] I’ve read in many books that humans first discovered hot springs by bathing in them, later realizing their many benefits—using the water to irrigate rice, raise ducks, and most importantly, restoring the body from fatigue. So nighttime is the perfect moment for a soak. At night, the hot springs are even more magical in their tranquility. Dry and wet saunas help relieve dampness, which is common in southern regions, leaving you refreshed the next day. Before bed, you can also swing by the Lobby Bar for a little drink—it’s really relaxing and de-stressing.
[Fitness Center] On the first floor, there’s a fitness center with very complete equipment. Whether you’re doing cardio or strength training, you can train your muscles on this trip. The best part is, after your workout, you can soak in the hot spring to ease sore muscles—exercise has never felt so indulgent.
[Children’s Play Area] The surprises at this hotel aren't limited to the hot springs. There are also many play areas for kids. In the children’s playroom, it feels like entering a huge indoor playground. There’s a climbing structure, a whimsical ball pit, and a cassia seed sand pool where kids can play quietly—all available here. During our two-day stay, the sisters kept finding fun things to do, dragging their grandparents around to play.
[Huahua Little Clay Artist] On the first floor, there’s also a creative space for kids called Huahua Little Clay Artist, where children can paint various clayware. Big sister Mimi was very focused on decorating their little piggy bank. And of course, there’s no missing the small shop for the kids to do a bit of shopping.
[Yunshan Pavilion Chinese Restaurant] After such a satisfying soak in the hot springs, it’s time to eat the best and most nourishing food. Inside the hotel, there’s a very famous Chinese restaurant called Yunshan Pavilion, which serves excellent health-preserving Cantonese dishes. Now, follow my lens to explore it!
[Wuzhimaotao Pork Lean Soup] Guangdong locals love to make soup with wuzhimaotao (radix fici simplicissimae). It boosts qi, strengthens the spleen, dispels phlegm and dampness, and relaxes muscles and joints. It’s perfect after a hot spring soak!
[Black Bean Tofu] Made from black beans and ground with hot spring water, this is a beauty-enhancing tofu. Black beans are known as the king of beans, with comprehensive nutrition—rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It tastes great and is very healthy, replenishing plenty of nutrients.
[Steamed Egg Custard] Made with fresh farm eggs, the steamed egg custard is tender and delicious—the two sisters absolutely loved it.
[Blanched Crispy Tilapia] This dish uses locally 'exercised' tilapia, sliced and lightly steamed. It’s crunchy, fresh, and sweet.
[Steamed Chicken with Shallots] Using local free-range chickens from Zengcheng, the chicken flavor is rich and the texture is springy.
[Sesame Egg Tarts] You’d never expect even egg tarts to be so health-conscious—made with black sesame, they’re both nourishing and tasty.
[Stir-fried Chinese Cabbage Hearts] The local late-season cabbages are not yet in season, but the crispy, sweet cabbage hearts are still delightful. The food in Zengcheng is truly delicious—authentic health dishes that you never get tired of.
[Fengjing Western Restaurant] For breakfast, you can head to Fengjing Western Restaurant on the second floor. It’s a feast for the eyes, with all kinds of breakfast options available. Let me reveal a few must-eat breakfasts for after a hot spring soak.
After soaking in a hot spring, you must replenish with enough high-quality protein. Fresh eggs are essential—there are salt-baked chicken eggs, salt-baked silkie eggs, and salt-baked quail eggs. Dip them in a little salt and you’ll easily maintain that perfect figure.
At Fengjing Restaurant, another must-try breakfast item is the Nankunshan honey from various flowers, perfect for dipping with toast. It’s sweet, fragrant, and delicious.
[Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots] When you’re not soaking, there are still many fun places by the hot spring area, like this Windmill Corridor. The sisters chased each other here, blowing dandelions, and took all sorts of loving photos.
Walking along the windmill corridor, you’ll find a rose garden. All kinds of huge roses are in full bloom in the yard. The little sister saw such giant roses for the first time and seemed a bit confused—could all the roses she’d seen before have been fake?
At the main entrance, you can also ride go-karts—it’s thrilling and fun.
It’s been a long time since our whole family went out together, and this trip was truly wonderful, especially at the Guangzhou Baishuizhai Jiahua Hot Spring Hotel. It’s fun all year round, just as the saying goes: 'Bathe in spring to rise with vitality; soak in summer to dispel heat; in autumn, baths nourish the lungs and intestines; in winter, pools warm the dantian.' Don’t miss out on such an amazing place!
