[Photo provided to China Daily]

It reached its peak time during the Ming and Qing Dynasties as the emperors gave orders to rebuild and expand the temple. They put roofs on the outdoor hot spring pools to allow people to bathe in any weather.

In modern times, the magical water with its healing effects - it is rich in calcium sulfate and as warm as 25 to 39 C - has attracted more people.

In 1927, local business tycoon Lu Zuofu built a hot spring park near the temple. The North Hot Spring Park, which spreads along the Jialing River, was the first public park in China, where ordinary people could buy a ticket and enjoy the hot spring facilities.

Nowadays, thanks to ample geothermal resources and beautiful landscape, Chongqing has developed dozens of hot spring spots, located in the east, south, west and north of the city.

In 2012, FEMTEC (the World Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy) held its annual conference there and named the city the "Global Capital of Hot Springs", the first of its kind in the world.

Many believe that the oldest North Hot Spring area is the best.