How is Bathhouse in China? Park? Massage? Entertainment? Sleep?

Wanting to unwind and relax is an integral component of humanity’s history. Whether it be after a long wooly mammoth hunt or a 12-hour day at the office pumping out spreadsheets. That’s why bathhouses have been around for thousands of years. Although they didn’t originate in the Middle Kingdom (as far as we know), they have carved out a unique path here.

 Image：These folks deserve to unwind after this perilous hunt (Wikipedia.com)

The earliest known public bath belonged to the Indus Valley Civilization in modern day Pakistan. Constructed around 2500 BC and known as The Great Bath, it was just that; a big bath with a well nearby so bathers could scrub away the tribulations of their day. 

  

 Image：The first known bathhouse known to humans (Harappa)

In 300 BC, the Romans took the bathhouse to the next level. All demographics were now using and mingling at public baths. Their love for using heat to relax and release toxins from the body culminated in the grandest bath of them all, located in appropriately named Bath in present day England.  

Image：Some serious diplomancy went down in that bath before it turned green (Traveller)

Nearly every culture has some sort of history associated with bathhouse derivatives; Sentōs in Japan, Hammams in Turkey, Banyas in Russia, Jjimjilbangs in Korea, a plethora of saunas in Finland (one sauna for very two people by some estimates), ect. For China, it all started in the northeast back in the Shang Dynasty (16th – 11th century BC). Like the rest of the world during that time, the baths were reserved for cleansing before sacrifices and formal coronations. People began utilizing nearby hot springs in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220). It quickly became sort of a contest and outlet for people to enhance their reputation. The men would stand close to the hot water pipes and hold conversations to prove the temperature was trivial to them. Some would even sing and stand where the water was scolding hot, perhaps inadvertently planting the seeds for modern day bathers singing in the shower.

  

 Image：An undated photo from an early Chinese bathhouse (Research Gate)

After a proper dosage of masculinity was displayed, people from lower and middle classes would further relax by exchanging massages. They』d pass the 『rubbing towel』 to one another and simultaneously dry and massage each other. Of course, gamesmanship was still on display here as one had to match their masseuse’s strength when kneading out shoulder knots or be at risk of appearing weak.  

Image：Is someone truly your friend if they don’t shave your head while naked? (Youtube)

The upper class would lay on tables and have professional masseuses handle them. The most popular treatment was to apply warm mud all over the body and let it harden, then peel it off slowly. This was supposed to symbolize birth and a reborn, fresh body.

  

Image：Their bodies are going to feel brand new after rinsing off (Backpackerreport)

With electricity and heater improvements over the years, homes now contain showers and baths so the public bathhouses have lost a bit of their allure. Modern day bathhouses in China have transformed into water-park-spa hybrids. The typical ones go like this; you enter and receive a wristband (which is used to keep track of everything you pay for during your visit), then genders are split into changing rooms where you』ll have someone (or a group of attendants if it’s a slow day) help you disrobe. You shower, then enter the water area which has a large warm pool, hot tub, ice tub, steam room, sauna, and an array of water jets throughout the pool. Some are soothing underwater massage chairs while others are as powerful as a fire hose that』ll blast you back several feet and give you a bloody nose if you’re not careful. No worries as someone will surely pamper your nose back to normal.

  

Image：Those water jets will either sooth your body or give you a mild concussion (Suma)

When your body has had enough water, you change into stylish pajamas and go to the next floor. A large relaxation area exists where you can lie back on recliners, watch a movie, eat some complimentary fruit, and have your feet and shoulders rubbed simultaneously by therapists. There are fully stacked bars and restaurants as well but should you decide you want a more thorough experience, you』ll be led to the real-deal massage floor / area. Here you can get anything from full-body oil to aromatherapy. Should you feel picky, you can choose which masseuse you want from the pictures they have displayed. If you’re too relaxed afterwards to move, you can just sleep in the massage room or head back to the relaxation room for a pajama party.

  

Image：The best way to catch up on your soap operas (Suma)

Though these bathhouses have gone above and beyond what they traditionally were, the essence is the same. People go for the insulation from the outside world, perhaps socialize a bit and relax.  An online search will display many in Guangdong province, especially in Shenzhen. Yangzhou still has many authentic ones where the attendants call customers boss, put their clothing on a 3-meter stick to thwart thefts, and use six warm towels to dry customers off. Any number of towels less than six is of course unlucky. No word on whether they place the grapes in your mouth but couldn’t hurt to ask.