The best way to relax after hard workday or a long day of sightseeing is, other than an ice cold beer, a good massage. Luckily, Beijing has quite a few good-quality massage parlors, ranging from the Chinese style to the Thai style, and the ones that specialize in foot massage. Scroll down the page for our list of the best spots.
Liangzi Spa
Massage Parlour
Liangzi Spa is the most famous massage brand in town, not only because it has more branches nationwide than other brands, but also because of its high level of expertise in foot massage. What’s more, Liangzi also provides nail salon service, as if it’s vowing to take care of all four limbs of its customers. Free tea and snacks are provided, but if you want to relax further with a beer, you will have to pay for it. You may search “良子健身” here for the nearest store, and you can also buy coupons on the store’s page.
Located in Sanlitun, Beijing’s business and shopping center, Bodhi Spa is nevertheless a place to quickly get away from your big city syndrome. Unlike Liangzi’s rather luxurious décor style, Bodhi is more down-to-earth. It provides Chinese, Thai, and Ayurvedic massage styles, and can do both foot massage and full-body massage. The best part about Bodhi other than the massage itself is its free drinks and snacks, which can totally compare with the restaurants downstairs.
Gin SPA has up to 12 branches in Beijing, but it is its Qianmen flagship store that is most recommended, because 1) it’s not common to see a massage parlor in an ancient Beijing building; and 2) how nice would it be to have a nice massage after intensive walks in the Qianmen hutong neighborhood? Gin SPA is known for its essential oil massages and hot stone massage. It also provides a personal movie screen to go with your 90-minute massage.
Yixinbenyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage House
Massage Parlour
If you are looking for a massage parlor that specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine, then Yixinbenyang is a good choice. The masseurs there combine acupressure therapy with massage. What’s more, they are equipped with TCM knowledge, and can give you advice about how to live a healthy life according to your status. Many Chinese customers choose to buy long-term service from the store, as it is usually believed that persistence makes TCM therapies effective.
There are a large proportion of blind people who work as masseurs in China. Shy people who are afraid to show their bodies to strangers to some extent believe that it is secure to have blind masseurs serve them. Small blind massage shops dot Beijing’s streets, and they don’t differ very much from each other in terms of style, size and a somehow worn appearance. Shoufa Blind Massage in Changping District is comparatively new. It not only provides full-body massage and foot massage, but also offers its customers a chance to experience cupping and gua sha.
It’s on every tourist’s bucket list to visit a massage parlor while in Thailand, and thanks to Orchid Massage & Spa in Sanlitun, Beijingers can enjoy authentic Thai massage without having to go to Thailand. The masseurs here are trained in Thai massage. While probably not all customers are used to the strong powers of Thai massage, the masseurs here are also considerate enough to check with customers from time to time about whether it hurts.
Other than being a place for massage, iSpa is also a beauty parlor, with skin care, eye care, and breast massage services provided. The masseurs and beauticians here are all trained to be tender to their customers, from their hands to their voices. And even the way they bend their knees to talk to you is like the word “tenderness” written in capital letters. The free dessert after the massage is fruit and white fungus soup with lotus seeds, which is believed to be capable of maintaining beauty.
