A small spa town 40 kilometres southwest of Kunming, Anning has been known for its hot springs since the Ming dynasty. The mineral-rich water emerges at around 45°C and is reputed to be especially gentle on the skin — "the first spring under heaven", in the inscription left here by the Ming admiral and viceroy Wang Hongzhao.
The water now feeds a string of hotels, public bath houses, and private resorts in a narrow valley along the Tanglang River. The Sleeping Buddha resort and the older Beijige hotel are the most reliable bookings. Best as a half-day or overnight escape rather than a sight in itself; combine with a walk along the river to the Caoxi Temple, a small Tang-dynasty Buddhist foundation that still stands above the valley.