‘Human hotpot’ in China draws tourists ahead of Chinese New Year

A tourist town in eastern China is trying to attract health-conscious visitors using hot springs designed to look like a fiery hotpot, a popular Chinese dish said to drive away winter blues.

A hotpot is eaten with friends or family, with diners cooking raw meat, vegetables and noodles in a shared pot of spicy broth.

Visitors to the First World Hotel in Hangzhou can dip into a hot spring bath shaped like a rectangular copper pot with nine compartments, each containing popular hotpot ingredients like chilli peppers, lime, corn and lettuce (and one containing bananas).

The hot spring is designed to promote a healthy lifestyle in the run-up to Chinese New Year, which begins on February 5, according to Chinese news site Sohu.com.