culture

The DPRK abounds in natural treatment resources which are good for the people’s health, including hot spring, mud, mineral water and spring water.

Treatment bases are found wherever there are such natural factors, which have been used since ancient times, and natural landscape blends in well with those resources at the bases. 

Among them is the Ryonggang Hot Spring House, which is located in Onchon county town, Nampho, not far from Pyongyang.

Nestling in a thick forest, the house has several blocks of lodging quarters, including self-service and public lodgings and a public hot spring house.

Every lodger can have hot spring water bath in their rooms.

The public hot spring house provides not only an opportunity to have a shower bath and dabbling in the hot spring water but also have different kinds of treatment in relevant rooms like traction, massage, physiotherapy and functional rehabilitation treatment.

According to Ri Hye Gyong, PhD and head of the natural treatment institute under the Ministry of Public Health, the Ryonggang hot spring draws people’s special attention as it is the only seawater hot spring among many hot springs in the country.

Such hot springs are said to be rare to be found in the world.

The total amount of mineral matter in Ryonggang hot spring is 24-26g/L, which means the largest amount of minerals among hot springs and mineral waters in the country. It also contains a large quantity of bromine ions.

“The Ryonggang hot spring is an ideal and attractive spring that has no negative effect on the human body but increases treatment effects,” said Ryo Kum Hui, doctor at the Ryonggang Hot Spring House.

It has another natural treatment resource, Yesongsan spring water which rises from Mt Sindok.

The spring water wins popularity for its mellow taste and special efficacy for treating the digestive system.

So, people say that they feel like flying high if they drink the sweet and refreshing Yesongsan spring water after having a bath at the hot spring house.

The beautiful natural landscape around the hot spring house helps boost treatment efficiency.

There all kinds of flowers are in full bloom from early spring to late autumn and there are also many good species of needle-leaf and broadleaf trees. Fragrance of different kinds of fruits waft through the air, making people pleasant.

In early morning, people can feel their heart refreshed as they see squirrels frolic and birds chirp in the forests.

After having treatment at the Ryonggang Hot Spring House, Kim Won Bae, an old man living in the City of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province, said: “I leave my stick behind. I feel as if I have become more than ten years younger. In Ryonggang, the hot spring, scenery and people are all good. I’m reluctant to leave here.”

Lots of people visit the Ryonggang Hot Spring House, including many “regulars” who come there to have treatment every year.