Hangzhou’s Coziest Winter Retreat: Soak Up a Fiery Lunar New Year Vibe in a Hot Spring

The New Year has to have that New Year feel, and winter has to have that winter feel. Just like last year, my final stop before the New Year is back in Hangzhou. My second home outside of the Magic City, Hangzhou has become my go-to getaway. In the deep winter, as the New Year approaches, I find myself in Hangzhou once again. This time I’m at the Yunman Hot Spring in the First World Hotel, enjoying a leisurely soak in a hot spring and a variety of colorful activities that make this cold season anything but lonely. A hot spring pool softens every trace of deep-winter chill. A long melody ignites every spark of passion in the icy air.

Yunman Hot Spring: A Showcase of Ice and Fire

Winter – the season when nobody wants to move much. What would you usually choose to do? Probably many would answer: soak in a warm hot spring, warming from head to toe, from the outside in. For me, the ultimate winter pleasure is having the cold wind slap my face while I’m lounging in a cozy hot spring pool.

Most of Yunman Hot Spring’s pools are open-air, with some semi-open and indoor ones. Across the sprawling hot spring area scatter 33 unique pools, each with a different wellness focus. Four themed zones – Rainforest Bubble Spring, Original Broth Tribe, Xiang Opera Flower House, and Tianzhu Thatched Cottage – mean you can soak wherever you wander, with unlimited access. Honestly, a full day might not be enough.

Step into the soaking pool, and amid the subtle fragrance, set aside restlessness and stress. Savor this exquisite moment.

The architecture channels a Japanese aesthetic, echoing the birthplace of bathing culture. The water is natural, magical, and distinctive. Different pools offer different health benefits: improving circulation, dispelling dampness, whitening skin… The magic of each lies in its water, warm as heaven, each at its own temperature.

But have you ever soaked in a hot spring while watching a live show? I’ve been to many springs, but perhaps only the Yunman Hot Spring at this hotel delivers such a unique experience. Soaking away while enjoying diverse performances on the stage – you’ll be transported from Xishuangbanna to Japan in the blink of an eye.

This year, mystery boxes are all the rage. That thrill of unwrapping a surprise is pure joy. And Yunman Hot Spring has jumped on the trend with its own mystery boxes, themed around the Year of the Fish. There are two types – a big box and a small one. The festive decorations really bring the New Year atmosphere to life.

Spin the wheel to see which prize you’ve won, then pick a mystery box according to the result.

Of course, even if you draw a box, it doesn’t guarantee a prize – luck is everything.

Look, our model pulled a plush toy and was thrilled!

If you feel a bit ordinary just in your swimsuit, why not dress up as a mermaid? Yunman Hot Spring provides mermaid swimsuits you can borrow for photo ops. Sure enough, once she put it on, she became the center of attention. With the long, flowing tail and scale-like patterns, she looked just like a mermaid resting on the shore in a bird’s nest.

Many spots here are perfect for Instagram-worthy shots. Dressed in that mermaid swimsuit, with her long flowing hair, she was the picture of a graceful mermaid.

Props are also offered – wine glasses, champagne, roses. Beyond the warm pool, there’s wine and distant dreams. It’s pure bliss. If you’d like to experience being a mermaid and snap some trendy photos, just ask the staff – borrowing is free.

At the First World Hotel, dive into a sumptuous All-Fish Feast. The year-end dinner features fish, wishing for surplus year after year. I’m usually quite particular about fish – I only eat boneless varieties, so I don’t have it often. But this feast was exceptional. Except for the vegetables, every dish was made from some kind of fish.

The cold dishes included Loach Fish Floss, Grilled Qiantang River Eel, Splendid Hibiscus Fish Playing in Water, and Cold Sliced Fish Rolls. Their creative shapes and varied cooking methods highlighted different flavors of fish, surprisingly delicious even served cold.

Because the Qiantang River flows through Hangzhou, fish varieties are rich. The Qiantang eel was especially distinctive – different from Japanese eel, with tender, softer flesh.

Hot dishes were even more abundant: Boiled Koi with Star-spotted Edge Hot Pot, Colorful Shredded Fish, Clay Pot Fish Lips Baked with Sizzle, Tomato Sauce Chrysanthemum Fish Petals, Kiwi Salad with Snow Fish Steak, and a surprise: the Colorful Fish Ball Soup. Who knew fish balls could be so vibrant?

The colorful fish balls soaked in a delicate fish broth were unbelievably fresh. Soft and tender, they conveyed the fine texture of pure fish.

If you like fish, you can’t miss the All-Fish Feast at Hangzhou First World Hotel. Here, fish dishes span Chinese, Japanese, and even Western styles – a testament to the chef’s skill.

Desserts included the Four Joyful Glass Fish, sweet treats shaped like fish. It was an eye-opener. So this is what fish cuisine can also be – I suddenly felt a new fondness for fish.

After dinner, soak again before bed. What really sets Yunman Hot Spring apart is that at night, among the fragrant floral pools, you can enjoy a romantic sound-and-light show while bathing. “Maya Style Show,” “Crazy Clowns,” “Fairy Flying Show,” “Cool Electronic Music Party,” “Apo’s Gift” – these dazzling water dance shows unfold on the springs’ stage, with tranquil lights and graceful silhouettes intertwining.

As it turns out, wherever there’s a will to put on a show, that’s a stage – and a hot spring is no exception. Soaking while watching, you’ll feel like your eyes can’t take it all in fast enough.

Hangzhou First World Hotel: Brimming with New Year Spirit

This stay at the Hangzhou First World Hotel, right beside Xianghu Lake, featured a distinctive red castle-like exterior. After countless high-rise luxury hotels, this estate-like retreat was a breath of fresh air – with surprises well beyond its looks.

The Yunman Hot Spring in the hotel is my absolute favorite part. Dozens of pools to slowly enjoy – for a hot spring lover like me, it’s sheer bliss.

One flower, one world; one tree, one bodhi. Even without sweeping natural scenery outside the window, they’ve crafted an atmosphere that mimics nature. From the modern decor, you’d never guess the secret hidden within. Only when the elevator rises do you discover the wonders inside. A room with a view is more than just a saying here.

The rooms are styled with a vintage flair. All the furniture is made of rosewood, and the wallpaper features exotic patterns reminiscent of elephant totems.

The workspace and rest area are separate, so you can either work well or rest well.

The bathroom continues the retro theme and even includes a children’s toothbrush, a thoughtful touch.

With the New Year just around the corner, the hotel is filled with festive ox and bovine motifs – “soaring ox” and “ox-turning fortunes” – which fill you with joy.

The hotel has also launched special New Year gift boxes, so after your holiday, you can bring that festive flavor back home.

There’s even a Crazy Ox Joy Parade, where flash-mob dancers dress as animals and joyfully dance through the lobby, delighting guests young and old alike.

If staying at home for the New Year feels too dull, come to Hangzhou First World Hotel. Here you’ll find not only the cozy comfort of hot springs but also a variety of wonderful festive activities and quality family time. Escape the city’s waning holiday spirit and enjoy a red-hot New Year by Xianghu Lake. When a hot spring soak meets the New Year, and festive flavors mingle with fish flavors, your can’t-travel-far holiday becomes truly rich and exciting.