Baoding Laiyuan Summer Family Trip 3: Favorite Birch Forest Hot Spring Valley

It takes about an hour and a half to drive from the main city of Baoding to Laiyuan via the highway. Every summer, I like to take my mother and son to Laiyuan to escape the heat and soak in the hot springs. The last time we came here was two years ago, and it felt great—comfortable, relaxing, and pleasant. We stayed at the VIP building of the Huazhong Holiday Town next door, which had a more business-like environment. However, the complimentary tickets to the Birch Forest Hot Spring Valley (also part of Huazhong Town) were limited to one-time use. This time, we decided to stay directly at the Birch Forest Hot Spring Valley, where we could enjoy unlimited hot spring baths anytime, anywhere. We booked a family suite with two separate rooms, each with its own hot spring pool. The smart self-service water filling and draining system is perfect for someone with mild cleanliness obsession and social anxiety. The window view faces Baishi Mountain, and we could clearly see the majestic Great Wall and beacon towers, which should be around the Daomaguan area. Initially, we wanted to book two hot spring houses or water-facing rooms, but considering my mother's mobility issues, we opted for this family suite with an elevator for convenience, tranquility, and cost-effectiveness. We plan to stay for a few more days this time to wash away the dust. The Hot Spring Valley park is essentially a large courtyard layout, centered around an open-air hot spring yard. After entering the main gate, buying tickets, and changing wristbands, you can buy swimwear and enter. Beyond the lobby and changing rooms is the indoor area with several pools; the courtyard has more pools, though they are generally small, usually occupied by a family or a group of friends. It's first-come, first-served, but if you don't mind, you can share a pool with strangers. The west side has a playground and swimming pool; the south side has private villa-style rooms (called 'hot spring houses'); the east side has standard rooms (called 'water-facing rooms'), an indoor yoga studio, and a stone slab room (similar to a stone bed sauna). Guests staying in the rooms here can enjoy unlimited access to the hot spring pools, playground, and swimming pool (wearing swimwear). The park has a strong East Asian style, especially with Korean signs, indicating that people worldwide know how much they love hot springs!