Newly drilled geothermal well to drive tourism development in Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, China
Temperature measurement at geothermal well in Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, China (source: Sichuan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources)
Carlo Cariaga
21 Nov 2025
The first hot spring geothermal well IN Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan, China in seen as the foundation of a planned hot spring and ecoutourism industry.
A new geothermal hot spring well has been drilled in the town of Nanping in Jiuzhaigou County in Sichuan, China. With temperatures and flowrates within standards, the geothermal well will be the foundation for a planned hot spring complex.
The drilling of the well was undertaken by the Sichuan Exploration Group, a subsidiary of the First Geological Team of Sichuan Province. It was drilled to a depth of 1810.6 meters, achieving stable temperatures of 54 to 60 °C, and a maximum allowable extraction volume of about 1720 cubic meters. The water is of sodium bicarbonate type and has sufficient fluoride content to be classified as “mineral water.”
As the first high-quality hot spring well in the Jiuzhaigou County, the project has attracted much attention and investment. In April 2025, Jiuzhaigou County Investment Company and Sichuan Exploration Group signed a cooperation framework agreement to jointly promote the green transformation of the county’s economy. Based on geothermal resources, the two parties will build a geothermal heating demonstration area and a hot spring resort complex, creating a circular development model that includes energy development for hot spring health and wellness facilities and ecotourism. The goal is to help make Jiuzhaigou a more livable and tourist-friendly region.
The extensive experience of the Sichuan Exploration Group in geological exploration and air-drive DTH hammer drilling technology has contributed greatly to the success of the project. Through comprehensive and precise geological analysis, drilling process control, and three-level verification of well completion quality, the team overcame numerous issues over 12 months. Thus, the team’s complete technical solution lays a solid foundation for subsequent large-scale development of natural resources.
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