Divine play in Western Sichuan! Soaking in hot springs and boating at the foot of the snowy mountains with kids, only 50+ per person for a great time

If I have to say which trip made my kid scream the most this year, it has to be Jiake Hot Springs hidden in the embrace of the snowy mountains! Free natural hot spring pools + plateau kayaking + Tibetan herbal baths, three days and two nights cost only 200+ per person, even my husband said this is the "best value for traveling with kids"! Here comes the nanny-level guide, highly recommend saving it first⭐️

——𝐆𝐞𝐭 the super detailed family guide——

📍Navigation location: Jiake Hot Springs, Tuoba Township, Ganzi County, Ganzi Prefecture (40 minutes drive from the county seat)
💰Money-saving tip: Hot springs are free! For kayaking, it’s recommended to rent from locals, 200 yuan can play all day (bringing your own is exhausting to inflate at high altitude)
👨👩👧👦Family friendliness: ★★★★☆ (Kids 4 years and older can play, remember to bring the items mentioned later)

🔥Three must-try activities (tested with kids)🔥

1️⃣ Snow Mountain Hot Spring Circuit Soak♨️
Six natural hot spring pools arranged in a temperature gradient from 44℃ to 38℃, soaking from top to bottom with kids is super fun! The top "viewing pool" faces the snowy mountain range, and in the morning when the clouds and mist swirl, photos look like a fairyland❄️. My 5-year-old son suddenly shouted while soaking: "Mom, look! The snowy mountain is eating cotton candy!"☁️

2️⃣ Plateau version of "Life of Pi" rafting🚣♂️
The middle Tiffany blue hot spring pool is 3 meters deep, and the reflection of the snowy mountains is right by your side when boating! Put a life jacket on your kid, rent a double kayak (locals will teach basic operation). When we paddled to the center of the lake, my son suddenly went quiet—it turned out he was amazed by the colorful plateau fish swimming in the water🐟

3️⃣ Grandma’s mysterious herbal bath🛀
Find the old lady guarding the spring and pay 50 yuan to unlock a Tibetan herbal pack! Throw herbs like codonopsis and rhodiola into the hot spring, the kid said it’s like brewing "magic potion"🧙♀️. After soaking, it really works—my kid ran and jumped at 4000 meters altitude without getting tired!

——𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭2 Exclusive family travel tips——

🚗【How to get there】
✔️Strongly recommend driving an SUV! The last 3 kilometers of gravel road will shake the kids with laughter (think of it as a free rocking car)
✔️For kids prone to motion sickness, apply motion sickness patches in advance; there are 28 hairpin turns from the county to the hot springs⤵️

🎒【Gear checklist plus】
✅Foldable water gun (water fights in the hot spring pools are forever fun)
✅Quick-dry bathrobe for kids (it’s really cold the moment you get out of the water)
✅Waterproof seat cushion (kayak seats can get a bit wet)
✅Wangwang Snow Cake snacks (great for feeding fish + calming kids)

⚠️【Lessons learned the hard way】
1️⃣ The wind gets very strong after 2 PM! It’s recommended to schedule boating between 11 AM and 2 PM⏰
2️⃣ Dress kids in fluorescent swimwear! It’s easy to spot them in the hot spring area🔍
3️⃣ Bring a sealed jar! Collect some hot spring water to take home; after settling, colorful mineral crystals will form✨

——𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭3 Hidden play tips——
Don’t miss the viewing platform 3 kilometers away on the way back! We passed by at dusk and saw the white steam from the hot spring pools swirling around the golden snowy mountain peak. My son suddenly said: "Is this Sun Wukong’s flying cloud?" Instantly felt the 8-hour drive was totally worth it‼️

Such a divine experience is actually free the whole time, and on the way back to Chengdu, my kid was already shouting to come again next week😂 Western Sichuan’s summer will always surprise you, hurry up and bring your kids to unlock the many ways to enjoy the snowy mountain hot springs!

(📣June to August is the best season! The water temperature is super comfortable and it doesn’t rain, let’s go!)