For those unfamiliar with it, Chinese massage can be a baffling and at times, genuinely terrifying experience. Further, the practise is sometimes associated at least in the popular imagination with a number of unsavoury underworld connotations. Despite these supposed drawbacks, a good massage can do wonders for your body and mind. It also offers a glimpse into a cultural practise and medicinal history rarely imagined back home. For those yet to be initiated into this peculiar world, this article will provide a basic run-down of what to expect at three very different establishments in Nanjing.
An hour-long full-body massage will cost about 60 RMB. The masseurs will likely be blind, as is actually quite normal practice in China โ the premise being that lack of sight improves the sense of touch. As well as the basic foot or body massage, you can also have " fire cupping " done for 20 RMB, which involves 12 jars being placed on your back after the air has been removed from them.
The suction will suck up your skin and flesh into the jar. This is a horrendously painful but strangely rejuvenating experience. Approach with caution. For the slightly less lion-hearted amongst you, "skin scraping" may be a preferable option. For 20 RMB, this simply involves the mild scraping of your back with a dulled instrument. Specialising in foot massages, which cost around 76 RMB per hour, each room usually contains two armchairs.
Go with a friend and chat away whilst your feet are moulded into an eclectic range of shapes. During your foot massage, you will be brought complimentary tea and pear slices, and free dumplings. The atmosphere here is akin to that of a hair salon, where it is very easy to talk with those around you whilst being massaged โ this is probably a consequence of the fairly different nature of foot massage. For those unfamiliar with massage in China, you may find that foot massages are a much more enjoyable and relaxing experience than the full-body alternative.
If you find yourself in the area, Lu Qin is well worth a visit after a hard day trudging around metro stations. This locale may well change your massage experience.
