Lutang Hot Spring Resort

We chose this place for a two-day stay so we could be near the hot springs, instead of repeatedly making the trip to Qingcheng Mountain and Dujiangyan. The hotel sits in a mountain valley near Mianzhu, about 13 kilometers from the city center, so finding food outside the property isn’t easy. It’s around an hour’s drive from Chengdu, and people call it the “Little Chiang Mai of Sichuan” or the “Bali of Southwest China.” On a sunny day, I could see why it brings Southeast Asia to mind. There’s a big hot spring pool, and shuttles run around the hotel grounds. We stayed in a villa, which was farther from the center; the newer sunrooms looked more comfortable and spacious. Breakfast had plenty of choices, though the food was only average. This seems like a nice spot for friends or group gatherings. The evening hot pot and barbecue are popular, so even after calling ahead on Saturday and hearing it was fully booked, we were able to get a table. The meal itself was just average.