What changed
Hezhou, Guangxi, is building a forest-wellness corridor linking hot springs, forests, cultural tourism and health-oriented services. The plan was showcased at the Guangxi Culture and Tourism Development Conference, held November 6–8, as the city turns 11 hot-spring resources into a broader “warm economy.”
Why it matters
Hezhou is trying to make visitors stay longer than a single soak or scenic stop. At Xixi Forest Hot Spring Resort, 128 pools follow the valley from its base to the hillside. The spring emerges at 86.5°C, produces more than 5,000 cubic metres a day and helped attract 1.2 million visitors in 2025. More than 80% came from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The city’s pitch is built around scale and repetition. Hezhou reports forest coverage of 70.7%; Gupo Mountain reports 99.75% coverage, an average annual temperature of 18.2°C and more than 60 waterfalls. New and upgraded offerings include forest bathing, forest yoga, therapeutic walks, medicinal cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine and wellness treatments.
That changes the business model. Forests and hot springs become the setting for a connected range of stays and activities, rather than isolated attractions. The city is also folding in cultural tourism, sports and traditional medicine, hoping visitors will return for longer, slower visits instead of treating Hezhou as a one-time excursion.
A tourism executive said promotion in Hong Kong and internationally would increase. The ambition is clear; the report gives no figures for investment, jobs, revenue, medical outcomes or the corridor’s future capacity. For now, Hezhou has a strong natural proposition and a large existing visitor base, but its test will be whether “wellness” becomes a durable stay rather than a warmer version of sightseeing.
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