First Trip after the New Year – Let’s Go Soaking in Hot Springs!
Where will you go for your first stop after Chinese New Year?
Are you ready for your first trip of the year? This time, I chose Hangzhou First World Hotel.
With its distinctive Southeast Asian-inspired decor, Hangzhou's iconic Ferris wheel, large-scale family-friendly events, diverse dance performances, and a wide range of hot spring experiences – I think this is everything the hotel has to offer.
During the New Year period, the hotel’s activities are quite abundant, with continuous events from morning till night.
It all starts with a meet-and-greet with the mascots, Guoguo and Niuniu, kicking off a day full of energy.
Right after comes the kids’ favorite: the Crazy Bull Happy Parade.
Actors in all kinds of costumes come out and dance happily with the children.
They seem like messengers of joy, each with a smile on their face.
In the hotel’s atrium, there’s a huge indoor greenhouse filled with countless tropical rainforest plants.
Here, you can't see any weather changes, and every day you can experience the marvelous fantasy of the tropical forest.
Just like this internet-famous tree, standing in the middle of the greenhouse plaza.
There are many activities in the rainforest area: go on an adventure, or try catching fish in the pond (muddy water, grab a fish).
No child would say no to these. This is not only a resort for grown-ups but also a paradise for kids.
The small animal meet-and-greet starts here.
Hopping bunnies, a peacock hiding in the grass, a talking parrot.
No need to go to the zoo; here you can enjoy interacting with little animals.
The hotel lobby is filled with Southeast Asian-style decor, giving an exotic touch.
Every corner brings a sense of Southeast Asian resort ritual.
During this time in the first lunar month, the festive New Year atmosphere is just right.
Amid singing and dancing, endless laughter and joy fill the air.
In the South Lobby, you might encounter a sweet giveaway: adorable actors dressed as Super Mario come to hand out candy!
We adults would politely choose one piece, but when it comes to kids, their thinking is different – they grab a handful, haha!
At noon, the New Year Welcome Drink ceremony begins. After a lively song and dance,
a princess arrives on a ‘welcome drink’ cart, and everyone can raise a glass to toast with her!
In the lobby, you might occasionally spot a cute little figure – the hotel’s smart robot.
It can guide you upstairs, take the elevator by itself, and deliver items – simply adorable!
The room gave me a bit of a vintage castle vibe.
Murals, an American-style wooden bed, and a strong exotic feel.
Looking out the window, you can see Yunman Hot Spring!
I noticed quite a few families with kids stay here.
Right in the hotel’s fitness centre, there’s a special children’s play area designed just for them.
Here, kids can do Nianyu Baby DIY, watch sand painting, play Tank League together, and more. They never want to leave!
Food is the top priority, so what I looked forward to most was the lavish buffet dinner.
The hotel mascot was already greeting everyone at the entrance.
The buffet selection was really comprehensive, from cold appetizers to hot dishes, from Japanese to Western cuisine.
Plus cakes, snacks, freshly cooked noodles, and personal hot pot.
Enjoying a steaming hot pot in the winter is just the coziest thing!
I personally love tea, and the tea selection here was incredibly rich.
Not only that, but they also provided condensed milk, fresh milk, automatic coffee machines, and yogurt – drink lovers, don’t miss out!
Many dishes are prepared and cooked right in front of you, fresh and full of that wok hei (the breath of the wok).
Steak, lamb skewers, small yellow croaker… it was a true feast.
Even during dinner, there was the ‘Gudong Gudong Wonder Night’ performance.
Dancers transformed into cute cartoon characters and had fun interacting with the children.
Besides the buffet dinner, you can also opt for a romantic candlelight dinner high up on the Ferris wheel.
As night fell, the Ferris wheel’s lights came on, slowly spinning.
Meanwhile, the story at Yunman Hot Spring truly began – this was the main event of my stay here.
Oh, and before heading to the hot spring, remember to try the lucky mystery box – see what prize you’ll get!
Many people think of Japan when talking about hot springs, with those desirable outdoor baths.
But Yunman Hot Spring within the hotel has become an urban hot spring paradise,
where you can enjoy an open-air hot spring experience without even leaving the hotel.
Yunman Hot Spring is much larger than I imagined,
with nearly 20 pools of varying sizes,
each with a different style and therapeutic effect.
Besides soaking, you can catch numerous shows at various times during this period.
Fairy Flying, Crazy Clown, Abo’s Gift, Maya Culture, and a cool electronic music show – energetic dance performances to enjoy all at once.
The most interesting thing is that at night, the entire hot spring path is filled with mist,
Walking along the path, there's this strange feeling of ascending into the celestial realm, adding a touch of mystery to the hot spring experience.
After a session in the hot spring, all the year’s work fatigue just melts away. This year’s first trip starts right here.
