Tengchong: Volcanoes, Hot Springs and the Jade Trade

Fire, Water and Jade

Tengchong sits on a volcanic plateau in western Yunnan, close to the Myanmar border, and it packs an unusual range into a small area: dormant volcanic craters, hot springs that feed the town's bathhouses, a Ming-era walled old town, and a jade trade that has run through this border for centuries.

Craters and Hot Springs

The volcanoes are the headline: a cluster of cones, one of them climbable for a view into its crater, with a geopark explaining the geology. The hot springs are the other half - the famous "boiling cauldron" pool, geysers, and small bathhouses where the water comes out of the ground at scalding temperature.

The Old Town and the Jade Trade

Tengchong's old town was rebuilt after wartime destruction, with walls, gates and lanes around a memorial to the war in the south-west. The jade market and workshops are the living trade: cutters and polishers working raw stone from Myanmar, and markets where the trade is done on handshakes and judgement.

Practical Notes

The town has its own airport with flights from Kunming, and road connections to Dali and Baoshan. The climate is mild year-round, which makes it a comfortable winter destination. Bring cash for the jade markets, buy only from established shops if you are serious, and allow three days for the volcanoes, the springs and the old town.

Frequently Asked Questions