Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Massage and spas
Shanghai has superb massage and spa facilities, with something for all budgets.
They are the perfect places to go to unwind from the stresses of a noisy,
overcrowded city, for a post-work gossip or even to cap a night out on the town.
They are generally open from 10am till midnight, but many open later.
Every neighbourhood has a foot masseur - you can spot one by the poster of big
feet in the window. For around ¥25 you'll get your toes and legs bathed, then
thoroughly rubbed and pummelled for around forty minutes. For a little extra they'll
paint your nails or squeeze your blackheads. Above this, there are plenty of mid-
range places, which offer a reasonably priced service in a fairly clinical environment.
At the upper end of the scale, the city has some fantastic spas, where attention has
been lavished on decor and ambience and well-trained staff speak English. Look
out for discounts and special offers advertised in the expat magazines.
Massage
Dragonfly 206 Xinle Lu
T
54055351; 20 Donghu Lu
T
54050008. This popular chain
offers aroma oil massage (¥200 for 1hr) to relieve muscular aches and restore
energy, as well as shiatsu and Chinese massages. There's even a hangover relief
massage (Y240 for 2hr). Open till 2am.
Green Massage 58 Taicang Lu, near Jinan Lu
53860222. Offers shiatsu and
cupping among a wide range of inexpensive treatment massages, which start at
around ¥80. Handily located just around the corner from Xintiandi.
Huimou Massage No.1, Lane 117, Ruijin Er Lu
T
64664857. Foot massage ¥60,
body massage ¥80, and an aroma oil massage is ¥178. They can also arrange
house calls, for which the same rates apply plus the cost of return taxi fare.
Sunshine 161 Changle Lu, near Ruijin Yi Lu
T
T
64158222. Foot massage chain -
they start at ¥40. Open till 2am.
Yiheyuan Massage 656 Jianguo Xi Lu
T
54651265. Inexpensive foot, body, aroma
oil and traditional Chinese massages.
Spas
Banyan Tree Spa 3rd Floor, The Westin Shanghai, 88 Henan Zhong Lu
T
63351888,
W
www.banyantreespa.com. Choose from a á la carte menu of oil massages:
Balinese, Swedish, “Island Dew”, sports and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi. Prices start at
¥780 for 1hr.
Evian Spa 2nd Floor, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
63216622. Try
the Lomi Lomi massage (¥980 for 1hr 30min), Indian head massage (¥600 for 1hr) or
even the colour hydrotherapy underwater massage (¥320 for 30min). Also offer
facials, manicures and pedicures.
Hilton Spa Hilton Hotel, 250 Huashan Lu
T
62480000. Reasonably priced, no-
nonsense and a bit more clinical than the other top-end places, this place is popular
with men. Chinese and Swedish massage and facials, from ¥400.
Mandara Spa JW Marriott Hotel, 6th Floor, Tomorrow Square
T
67986799,
W
www
.mandaraspa.com. Specialities include a hot stone massage (¥880 for 2hr) and
something called a coffee energizer (¥420 for 1hr), which involves being scrubbed
with freshly ground coffee beans. The Yin & Yang (¥780/1hr 30min) is a foot
massage combined with a facial.
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