The steaming 'Hot Sea' in Tengchong, Yunnan

The hottest spring in the Rehai scenic area is known as the "Boiling Pot" for its extraordinary high temperatures. [Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

Tengchong county in southwest China's Yunnan province is a hidden gem among the province's growing list of tourism destinations. But what separates Tengchong from the rest is its rich and diversified geographical landscape, with particular emphasis upon its hot springs.

Rehai, or the "Hot Sea" scenic area, is constantly enveloped by the steam produced from its many hot springs. The king of Rehai's hot springs is known as the "Boiling Pot", boasting temperatures as high as 97 degrees Celsius. As the heat is too much for the human body to withstand, the "Boiling Pot" has been adapted so that it can boil food such as eggs and peanuts, which are then served as snacks to those tourists who emerge from the area's surrounding hot springs.

The scenic area is built around the scattered hot springs, all of which have their own distinctive mineral content. The open air springs are surrounded by seasonal blooms of flowers and a view of green mountains looming in the distance.

Rehai is situated about 20 kilometers southwest of Tengchong County and regular tourist buses transport tourists to the scenic area.