Guantang Hot Spring International Resort

When it's cold, all I want is to soak in a hot spring! Highly recommend Linyi Guantang Hot Spring - didn't expect much before coming, but was pleasantly surprised! After the trip, my biggest realization was "Why isn't Linyi's amazing hot spring more widely promoted?!" (Or maybe I'm just uninformed). Authentic hot spring with numerous pools Located in Linyi's thousand-year-old hot spring ancient town - Tangtou (so it should be a natural hot spring, right?). There are especially many outdoor hot spring pools - reportedly 66, though I felt only about 30 were open during my visit. The area is divided into several large zones with distinctive landscaping. Each pool has different benefits - milk, red wine, ginger, lemon, green tea... Was slightly disappointed that the most anticipated cicada slough pool wasn't available. Children's World Strolled to the children's water world - it's huge! Built indoors so it's not cold, and the kids seemed to be having a blast. Sauna Rooms & Limestone Cave The limestone cave absolutely amazed me - maybe I'm just easily impressed? There are soaking pools in the cave too, along with several Buddha or Bodhisattva statues (didn't dare look too closely). Indoors there's a row of unique sauna rooms - some with small stones, some with coarse salt grains, some purely for steaming, others just for resting. However, some doors were left open letting heat escape - management could improve here. Accommodation & Service Rooms in the main building provide direct access to the hot spring through the lobby. Rooms in the Wenshuixiang area require walking outside briefly. Rooms are spacious with small balconies, generally clean though facilities are somewhat dated but acceptable. Staff at both the hotel and hot spring were very friendly. Had two meals in Linyi city - service attitude was good there too! Nearby Attractions This is what really adds value to Guantang Hot Spring! 1. Right by the hotel parking lot is a deer park where you can buy carrots to feed the deer (though bringing your own pre-washed carrots seems more economical - too many deer, too few veggies!). 2. Further ahead is a koi garden (forgot the exact name) - every step offers a new view! Though the lotuses had withered during my visit, there's beauty in that too. The koi are enormous - practically koi spirits! You can buy fish food to feed them. 3. Further still is Wenshuixiang - a Jiangnan-style garden area with art galleries, cultural halls, and Kuixing Pavilion, instantly transporting you to southern China! Best part - no entrance fee! Of course, there are some drawbacks: hallway smells weren't the freshest, and the parking lot has a gravel surface (ouch for the tires, haha).