The hot springs outside Guide town have been used by local people for generations and now attract visitors from Xining, particularly in the colder months when the warm water has obvious appeal. The springs emerge at temperatures suitable for bathing and feed into a small resort complex a few kilometres from the town centre, where private pool bathing and some communal soaking facilities are available at modest prices.
The setting enhances the appeal: the springs sit in a side valley off the main Yellow River gorge, with views of the sandstone cliffs and terraced orchards. In spring the peach trees in the valley bloom across the terraces — a spectacle that draws visitors from Xining for weekend outings. Combining a hot spring soak with an evening in the Guide valley, watching the river cliffs change colour at sunset, is one of the more pleasant half-days in this part of Qinghai.