Mystical Mineral Water

Wudalianchi is best known for the mineral water that flows from its springs and it is probablythis that brings many people here from around China, Russia and further afield. In the 1980s scientists discovered that the water here contains a high concentration of minerals, and since then tourism (especially for such a northern and inhospitable area), has boomed. In response to this, many sanitoria and health clinics have sprung up, taking advantage of the natural resources.

The water is rumored to have great healing capacity, being conducive to digestion and beneficial to such varied health problems as blood disorders, baldness, internal hemorrhages, gastroenteritis, and skindiseases (and probably soon STDs and cancer). Generally, the water is either drunk or bathed in, but there are a few techniques that are important to note. For blood pressure disorders the advice of experts is bathing areas of the body, the feet for low pressure, the head for high. For skin diseases bathe the afflicted area, for any other internal problems general bathing or drinking is the key (although careful not to overdo those feet - wrinkles and high blood pressure will be sure to follow). The drinking water can take a little getting used to though, the sulphur content does funny things to the taste buds.

There is also a famous Water Drinking Festival that takes place here every year. The festival lasts one month, starting on the first of May, and is run by the local Daur minority. The main aim here is to drink (mineral water), dance (in spring water), listen to Daur minority music, and revel (preferably bathing in the springs).The Munich Beer Festival is nothing compared to this!