MKsport which is one of the most popular destinations of the Rehai scenic area in Tengchong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Photos on this page: VCG" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-03-06/7cdaf2b5-9908-434a-8f49-0c721d9bbbc3.jpeg" />

Tourists linger around the Big Boiling Pot, which is one of the most popular destinations of the Rehai scenic area in Tengchong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Photos: VCG

Thanks to their abundant resources, growing tourism economy and strong government support, Changning county, the city of Tengchong, and the Longyang district in Baoshan, Southwest China's Yunnan Province have been selected for the list of "Top Counties and Districts in China's County-Level Tourism Development Monitoring," according to the recently released 2025 phased report on China's county-level tourism development.

During the 2025 Spring Festival, Tengchong received a total of 1.34 million visits, generating 1.47 billion yuan ($200 million) in tourism revenue. 

On February 1, the ancient town of Heshun welcomed over 30,000 visitors, and the Yunnan Tengchong Volcano and Spa scenic area saw a single-day peak of 18,000 visits, increased by 10 percent compared to 2024, setting new records for both daily and total visits.

Yu Xinsong, a backpacker who went to Tengchong in February, told the Global Times that the most captivating aspects of the area are its ethnic minority customs, hot springs and pristine natural landscape. 

It is an ideal destination for exploration and long stay for leisure and wellness given its local culture and warm hospitality. A must-try delicacy is the local free-range native chicken, known for its unique cooking method and rich flavor, said Yu. 

Shao Jiamin, deputy director of the Tengchong's culture and tourism bureau, told the Global Times that Tengchong has integrated hot springs with fitness, medical care, and rehabilitation to create a diverse range of wellness programs. These offerings cater to different health needs, providing visitors with specialized hot spring therapy and wellness experiences.

Heating up health 

Tengchong used to be an important frontier pass on the ancient southern Silk Road route, where horse caravans carrying goods traveled through many countries in South and Southeast Asia for more than 2,000 years.

As one of China's three major geothermal zones, Tengchong is home to 136 hot spring sites, with the highest temperature reaching 98.7 C, according to a report provided to the Global Times by the bureau. 

Leveraging its abundant geothermal resources, the local government places great emphasis on the development of the hot spring, medical and wellness industry. It actively supports biopharmaceutical companies by investing in research facilities, introducing advanced equipment and technology, and developing highly attractive hot spring-based medical and wellness programs, the report said.

One of the key programs is the establishment of a high-altitude sports training and hot spring wellness base, in conjunction with international events such as marathons and cycling races. The average altitude of Tengchong is 1,600 meters and the annual average temperature is 15 C.

Leveraging the region's natural resources, these efforts aim to promote the use of hot springs for the athletic recovery and rehabilitation of participating athletes after intense physical activities and enhance their performances, the bureau said. 

Tourists in ethnic costumes have pictures taken in the ancient town of Dukezong, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, on March 1, 2025.

Coffee and tea

During the 2025 Spring Festival, Longyang's cultural and tourism market saw a strong start to the year, welcoming over 1 million domestic and international visitors. Its total tourism expenditure hit 1.18 billion yuan, marking a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to a report by the Longyang's culture and tourism bureau.

The immersive coffee experience tour has become a significant growth driver for the number of tourists in Longyang during the Spring Festival. Visitors from both domestic and international locations flocked to local coffee plantations to learn the entire process of coffee cultivation, harvesting, and processing with the opportunity to brew and taste an authentic cup of Baoshan small-grain coffee.

With an average annual temperature of 21.3 C and a notable temperature difference between day and night, the natural environment has been more than favorable for growing small-grain coffee in Longyang.

Currently, Longyang has established 18 agricultural and cultural tourism-integrated boutique coffee plantations, attracting nearly 1 million visitors annually, according to the Baoshan Daily.

While featuring both coffee and hot springs, Changning county has been committed to promoting its brand of "Millennium Tea Homeland" by leveraging the county's over 200,000 ancient tea trees, and 315,000 mu(21,000 hectares) of tea plantations irrigated by the Lanchang river running through the area. 

Once an ancient tea plantation, Huangjiazhai ancient tea garden in Changning has been turned into a tea park in recent years where visitors can tour the tea mountains, experience the tea ceremony, appreciate tea art, explore tea history, and stroll through the tea market.

Baoshan's Changning county, Tengchong, and Longyang district offer distinctive yet complementary travel experiences in Yunnan Province, blending natural beauty, cultural richness, and immersive tourism. These destinations showcase Yunnan's diverse tourism offerings, weaving together tea, coffee, and hot springs into an unforgettable journey through nature and rejuvenation.