Hongzhushan Forest Hot Springs

Hongzhushan Forest Hot Spring stands beside Baoguo Temple on the lower slopes of Mount Emei, set within the wooded grounds of one of the most established resort hotels in the area. Of the several hot spring complexes on the lower mountain, Hongzhushan is the one that has most fully realized the ideal of a forest bath, with a sequence of pools distributed through the trees rather than clustered in a single terrace.

Nineteen pools of varying temperature are scattered across the hillside, connected by paths that wind between camphor and broadleaf forest, so that moving from one pool to the next feels more like a walk in the woods than a visit to a spa. The layout takes advantage of the natural slope, and the upper pools look out over the canopy while the lower ones sit in more private, shaded alcoves. In the evening, when steam rises through the lamplit trees, the setting is among the most atmospheric of any hot spring in the Mount Emei area.

The water itself comes from a deep geothermal source beneath the Emei range, part of the same hydrothermal system that feeds the other springs of the region, and it emerges clear and odorless at a temperature well suited to extended soaking. Because the pools are spread out, the complex rarely feels crowded even at peak times, and the management has kept the character of a mature mountain hotel rather than converting the grounds into a high-volume attraction.

For travelers planning an overnight stay at the foot of Mount Emei, Hongzhushan is the most appealing of the lower-mountain hot springs, pairing naturally with an early start on the mountain the following morning. An evening soak here is one of the most relaxing ways to close out a long day of temples and trails, and it has become a standard part of a comfortable Emei itinerary.