Tengchong, known as the "first city at the edge of the world" by Xu Xiake, offers the wonder of volcanic hot seas, tranquility on the border of ancient towns, and the ancient charm along the Tea-Horse Ancient Road. With a year-round spring-like climate, endless fields of rapeseed flowers and vast golden ginkgo forests can be found here. Among Yunnan's ten 5A-Lever scenic spots, Tengchong is home to two.

Today, we'll introduce you to the first 5A-rated scenic spot in Tengchong that allows you to experience everything in one place - Tengchong Volcanic Hot Sea Tourism Area in Baoshan City.

In 2016, Tengchong Volcanic Hot Sea Tourism Area successfully obtained its national 5A-rating status and became China's only national level-5A scenic spot featuring unique volcanic hot spring resources.

This 5A-lever scenic spot unveils secrets hidden deep within the earth with its geothermal wonders and volcanic landforms. Stepping into Tengchong feels like entering a large-scale volcano geothermal museum. With over 90 towering volcanoes, more than 80 hot springs emitting steamy mist, and countless small springs scattered around, it is truly breathtaking.

The tourism area consists of two spots: one is known as Rehai Hot Spring or "Hot Sea" Hot Spring, located in Qingshui Township southwest of Tengchong County about 10 kilometers away from downtown; it is part of China's three major geothermal areas with over 80 hot springs spread throughout. Among them are ten thermal spring groups with temperatures exceeding 90℃. The Rehai Hot Spring Cluster situated about eight kilometers southwest from downtown gathers many gas springs such as jet holes, steaming grounds, boiling surfaces, fountains,hot water springs, and hydrothermal explosions.

Within an area less than nine square kilometers unfold astonishing natural wonders that have been renowned since Ming-Qing Dynasty period as "a famous hot spring." The entire area is filled with steam from hot springs while thermal waters gush everywhere. Reaching inside this tourist destination will immediately draw your attention towards "the Giant Boiling Pot," a circular pool with water temperature around 96 degrees Celsius.

Locals sell boiled eggs cooked using this pot nearby; they are stringed together using straw sticks costing generally five yuan per egg which you can taste.

Follow along the circular trail within this tourist destination at a leisurely pace; along your way there'll be numerous sprouting thermal vents such as pregnant well, eyeglass spring, pearl spring,

rumbling spring, lion head spring, toad mouth spring...

Another is Tengchong Tropical Volcano Park, which features complete volcano types, new eruption era, rich species and unique landscapes. It is a comprehensive national geological park integrating volcano sightseeing, outdoor leisure, environmental recuperation, geological scientific research and popular science education. It was an important part of the volcanic hot sea tourist area in 2016 and was rated as a national 5A scenic spot.

Except for the volcanic cone inside the scenic area, it is covered with lava overflow after the volcanic eruption. The typical volcanic geomorphology surrounds it. Standing on top of Dakongshan Volcano Cone and looking into the distance, large areas of lava flow and lava platforms are all visible.

Tourist attractions within the volcano area include: Volcanic Geological Museum, Dakongshan Mountain (Big Empty Mountain), Xiaokongsan Mountain (Small Empty Mountain), Heikongsan Mountain (Black Empty Mountain), Shenzhugu (columnar joint) Valley , Heiyu River etc. Tengchong Volcano National Park has formed a strange volcanic landform of "ten mountains with nine heads". Seven volcanoes in Mashaan Volcanic Group - Xiaokongsan Mountain (Small Empty), Dakongshan Mountain (Big Empty), Heikongsan mountain(Black empty mountain), Chengzilou(Glorious Tower)Mountain Jiaoshan（焦山）Tuan shan团山，Xiao tuanshan小团山 form a "Big Dipper" shape. The magical "Big Dipper" shaped volcano group contains infinite mysteries of nature，relating to deep pulsations from earth's heart.

Here you can not only pick up various colors of volcanic stones such as gray ，red，and black but also have an excellent opportunity to challenge your fear of heights and overlook the entire volcano! As soon as you enter the park , don't be in a hurry to climb mountains! Just go straight to the hot air balloons first! It is said that hot air balloon rides here are unique in China."

Transportation:

Tengchong’s transportation is very convenient. Whether by plane, train, or self-driving, you can easily reach this beautiful city.

By Plane:

Tengchong has Tengchong Tuofeng Airport, one of the important airports in Yunnan Province, with routes to multiple cities nationwide.

The landing conditions at Tengchong Airport are not very good, so for safety reasons, planes cannot land on rainy days, often causing delays or cancellations. It is advisable to check the weather forecast and consider flying to Baoshan or Mangshi, then taking a car to Tengchong. Baoshan has Baoshan Yunrui Airport, which can be reached from major cities by plane. The drive from Mangshi to Tengchong is 1.5 hours, and from Baoshan to Tengchong is 2 hours.

By Train:

Baoshan City has Baoshan Station, where you can take trains to other cities.

The high-speed train from Kunming to Baoshan takes 3.5-4 hours, and then it’s a 2-hour car ride from Baoshan to Tengchong. You can find cars to Tengchong at the passenger station opposite Baoshan High-Speed Rail Station.

Transfer: If you choose to take the train to Tengchong, you can first arrive in cities like Kunming or Dali, and then transfer to a long-distance bus or hire a car to Tengchong. Although the journey is slightly longer, the scenic views along the way are absolutely worth savoring.

By Car:

For those who enjoy self-driving tours, Tengchong is also a great option. You can start from Kunming, Dali, and other places, traveling west along the Yunnan-Burma Highway, enjoying the magnificent scenery along the way.

The total distance from Kunming to Tengchong is about 640 kilometers, taking 7-8 hours by car. The route passes through Chuxiong (Yi ethnic style), Dali (romantic scenery), Baoshan (wellness town), and Lijiang Dam (coffee base), making it a fun and scenic journey for self-driving enthusiasts.

By Bus:

The bus network within Baoshan City is well-developed, providing convenient access to various attractions.

The volcano scenic area is located 25 kilometers north of Tengchong City in Mazhan Township. If you are driving, it takes about 30 minutes from Tengchong City. You can also take the volcano special line bus from Tengchong Tourism Passenger Station to directly reach the volcano scenic area. The Rehai scenic area is in the southwest of Tengchong, 8 kilometers from the Xu Xiake Statue in Tengchong City. If driving, it takes about 15 minutes from Tengchong City. You can also take the Rehai special line bus from Tengchong Tourism Passenger Station to directly reach Rehai.

By Taxi:

Taxis are a convenient way to travel within Baoshan City.