There are more than 30 outdoor pools scattered in the area, with milky-blue waters and temperatures ranging from 32 C to 70 C. Each is said to carry a specific benefit: One helps tackle depression; another aching limbs; another is good for weather-beaten skin.

Some pools featuring fresh flowers such as jasmine and violet cater particularly to women. Bathers will not only be cleansed but also carry a pleasant aroma emitted by the petals floating on the water.

During his recent visit to the county, Umberto Solimene, secretary general of the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy, an agency of the World Health Organization, says that in terms of developing the hot spring sector, Yongtai county is well-positioned to lead the pack.

It has a great program of combining the spa, wellness and tourism industries.

"And that's one of the reasons the agency decided to make Yongtai the permanent host of the annual International Convention for the Development of Hot Springs," Solimene says.

The combination of spa and wellness is fairly exemplified by the Yu Hot Spring.

Near the pools are sauna rooms, gyms and tennis courts. Visitors can enjoy a plethora of nurturing head-to-toe treatments, including massages and facials.

In case tourists get thirsty during the process, operators of the spa resort have arranged waiters on-site, ready to serve free herbal tea. The thoughtful service makes one's stress-banishing break more relaxing and luxurious.

If you go:

Fuzhou Changle Airport serves flights fromacross the country.

The bus ride fromFuzhou to Yongtai county’s Yu Hot Spring takes about two hours. (Fuzhou North Bus Station Tel: 059187580118) The ticket price is 18 yuan ($3).

Yu Hot Spring’s admission price is 168 yuan.