With a wide selection of hot spring resorts, pristine ecological surroundings, and an array of water activities, and Sanfu (dog days) baths that can treat winter diseases in summer, Guangdong promises the perfect blend of water fun and wellness in this summer, making it an ideal destination for "winter diseases treated in summer".

Guangdong's hot springs: a great summer retreat

In recent years, "short trips" and "micro-vacations" have become the prevailing trend in travel, and the popularity of summer vacations in Guangdong's hot springs continues to rise. The regimen vacation is increasingly favored by travelers.

As one of the provinces with the richest hot spring resources in China, Guangdong boasts over 300 identified hot spring sites, spread across various cities. The hot spring tourism industry in Guangdong has matured, with over 130 well-developed hot spring resorts of considerable scale.

The hot spring tourism industry in Guangdong focuses on wellness, integrating leisure and entertainment with health-oriented vacations. The continuous improvement of children's amusement facilities and recreational amenities serves as a secret weapon to attract families and young visitors.

For instance, at the Forest Sea Tourism Resort, the Forest Sea Water Park, a highlight of the summer, has welcomed over 200,000 visitors in June. Guests can bask in the coconut groves while admiring the azure waves and white sand, take a boat ride or paddleboard on Tianyang Lake, enjoy fishing and shrimp catching with their children, and experience more than 20 distinctive hot spring pools in the treehouse area.

Dog days retreat for regimen

"Sanfu baths", a method of hot spring therapy based on the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "treating winter diseases in summer" and the therapy of Sanfu acupuncture, has become a popular selling point for summer hot spring products in Guangdong. It offers a way to achieve wellness benefits while enjoying a summer hot spring vacation.

Longmen County in Huizhou, known as the "Natural Oxygen Bar in China", is one of the popular summer destinations for a cool getaway. On June 21st, the day of summer solstice, the "Tropic of Cancer - Sanfu Bath for Regimen" and the inaugural event for the "Thirteen Hot Springs in Longmen – Sanfu Bath" took place in Longmen County. The event featured various activities and wellness packages centered around the "Sanfu baths".

As early as 2022, the Guangdong Hot Spring & SPA Association and the Guangdong Chinese Medicine Museum held the launch ceremony for hot spring "Sanfu Bath" herbal packs, promoting the integration of hot springs with traditional Chinese medicine regimen. These "Sanfu Bath" herbal packs, in addition to the traditional aromatherapy benefits of clearing dampness and detoxification, also incorporate spleen-strengthening ingredients. When the hot spring water activates the medicinal properties of the herbs, soaking in the hot spring can help dispel summer heat and invigorate the spleen and stomach.

Lan Shaoqing, the curator of the Guangdong Chinese Medicine Museum, explained that during the dog days, modern individuals often rely on air conditioning and consume plenty of cold and chilled foods to beat the summer heat. However, this can be more harmful to the spleen and stomach than during the autumn and winter seasons. Therefore, soaking in hot springs during this time is good for health.

In summer, when the pores are open and sweating is more pronounced, hot spring bathing can effectively expel any cold-induced pathogenic factors that have penetrated the skin. "If Chinese herbs are added to the hot spring water and combined with the thermal energy of the hot spring and the medicinal properties of the herbs, it can help promote blood circulation, invigorate the spleen, and enhance internal fire. Therefore, hot spring bathing in summer offers better therapeutic effects that that in winter."

酷玩今夏｜别样避暑游：三伏泡温泉

选择多样的温泉度假景区，良好的生态环境，层出不穷的玩水产品，实践“冬病夏治”的“三伏浴”……这个夏天，在广东实现玩水康养两不误！

广东温泉成避暑好去处

近年来，“短途游”“微度假”成为出游主旋律，去广东温泉避暑度假的热度与日俱增，健康养生度假模式越来越受青睐。

广东作为国内温泉资源最丰富的省份之一，目前已经探明的温泉点超过300个，几乎遍布各个地级市；温泉旅游产业开发和配套成熟，具备一定规模的温泉旅游景区有130多家。

广东温泉旅游产业呈现出以康养为核心，休闲娱乐与康养度假相互融合、并行发展的市场格局。不断完善儿童游乐和拓展设施是温泉景区吸引亲子家庭和年轻人客群的秘密武器。

例如，在森林海旅游度假区夏季重点产品森林海嬉水乐园，今年6月就已接待逾20万人，游客可以躺在椰林中欣赏碧浪白沙，在天阳湖游船、乘桨板冲浪，在捉鱼摸虾区和孩子们一起找回小时候的快乐，也可在林间树屋区体验大大小小20多个特色温泉泡池。

三伏避暑或能养生

“三伏浴”是根据中医“冬病夏治”的原理，在三伏灸的基础上延伸应用而来的一种温泉养生保健方法。夏季广东温泉旅游的“三伏浴”产品越来越火，成为暑期温泉产品的重要卖点。

具有“中国天然氧吧”之称的惠州市龙门县，是夏季避暑旅游热门度假目的地之一。6月21日，夏至当天，“沐浴回归线康养三伏汤”2023年“龙门十三汤·三伏浴”首泡活动在龙门县举行，推出形式多样的活动和“三伏浴”养生套餐。

早在2022年，广东省温泉行业协会与广东中医药博物馆联合就举办了温泉“三伏浴”汤包首发仪式，推动“温泉+中医药养生”融合发展。小小的“三伏浴”汤包在传统芳香化湿清热解毒的基础上，再加上健脾醒脾的中药材，通过温泉水热力激发出药力，人体浸泡在温泉水中，可起到祛暑湿、健脾胃的功效。

广东中医药博物馆馆长蓝韶清介绍，三伏天期间，现代人为了避暑，可能会一直开空调，吃很多寒凉、冰镇的食物，对脾胃的伤害反而比秋冬更厉害，这个时候泡温泉是相对合适的。

夏天毛孔大开，最易出汗，泡温泉也可将侵入皮肤的寒邪及时排出。“如果再适当地放一些中草药在温泉水中，在温泉水的热力和中药的药力的共同作用下，可以达到通筋活络、健脾壮火的作用，也因此，夏天泡温泉比冬天更有独到的疗效。”

文丨羊城晚报全媒体记者 黎存根
图丨景区提供
翻译丨刘佳慧
责编丨古司祺
校对丨桂晴