Anning Hot Spring

Anning's hot springs have drawn bathers since the Tang dynasty, and the town's claim to be 'the first hot spring under heaven' dates back a thousand years. The springs sit in pine-covered hills 40 minutes from Kunming, with resort pools, private baths, and the steamy riverside grotto that made the town famous.

The water is soft and mineral-rich, the surrounding hills are green even in winter, and the resort infrastructure - pools, massage, restaurants - makes it effortless. Combine a soak with a walk through the old spring pavilions where Ming officials once carved their poetry.