Shiqian County, Guizhou Province  貴州石阡

Located in northeast Guizhou Province, Shiqian County is rich in low- to-medium-temperature geothermal resources. It has a total of 19 natural hot spring sites that can be developed for drinking, medical, and tourism purposes. Tourists are spoilt for choice in the county. They can: Experience the well-preserved local ethnic cultures, including the Gelao, the Tujia and the Dong; visit the Mandarin Duck Lake, the largest habitat of mandarin ducks in China; hike the Foding Mountain, one of the Top 10 "Non-famous Mountains" named by China National Geography magazine in 2009; and enjoy the special local Tai Tea.

However, no trip here would be complete without partaking of the spa experience in a county dubbed "The Kingdom of Hot Springs". The most famous spa resort is probably Shiqian Spa Resort, also known as Chengnan Spa Resort, which lies at the foot of Songming Mountain on the southern outskirts of the county. The steaming, heady spring water gushes out from the rock clefts at a temperature of 47.5℃, pouring into the Longchuan River 12 meters beneath. The resort, originally developed for use during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), is a paradise for spa and therapy lovers.