Beijing's best value massages

Great massages in Beijing for under 250RMB

Whether you're feeling frazzled and looking to unwind, you've got a heap of knots in your back that need some kneading or you're looking for a little bit of luxury, here are some of Beijing's best massages that won't break the bank. 

Best for ironing out aches and pains

Tang Massage

Know this: the massage therapists at Tang Massage play a very straight bat with regard to your ailing posture – expect many a ‘bu hao’ murmured at your crooked back at this dim-but-professional Beixinqiao parlour. Stings like a bee, but by Mohammed you’ll leave floating like a butterfly. Our advice? Take a load off, let the somehow-appropriate Chinese techno bangers pulse through your silky PJs and luxuriate in the quirks that make this country so fun to be in.

Massages from 128RMB.

Go for Chinese massage (168RMB; 45 minutes). This will have you crossing over to the other place from the outset. The therapists’ ten-plus years in the biz means they destroy knots at a rate of...knots. This is the full-body experience: arms are jiggled, shoulders tweaked and legs pounded. But the surprise highlight you won’t pick up from any whimward four-week massage course: the rapturous ‘applause’ the therapist lays square on your forehead like it just won The Voice.

Where 8-2 Jiaodaokou Dong Dajie (8402 4408). Open 10am-2am daily.

Suhang Massage

As with most blind massage parlours Suhang doesn’t do soothing rub-downs. You go to Suhang for a thorough muscle battering at the hands of trained blind massage therapists. The modest and clinical set-up – eight beds spread across two rooms – may well leave you with little-to-no privacy, but you’re not here to gossip. You’re here to be fixed. The silence is only broken by the mutterings of massage therapists fretting over the state of your decrepit body or enquiring after your wellbeing, and gasps from fellow patients as the masters hit their mark.

Massages from 80RMB.

Go for Full Body Massage (80RMB; one hour). Not for the faint-hearted. The skilled therapist meticulously examines your body, targeting all your sore spots while finding a few new ones you didn’t even know you had. Don’t be surprised if you receive the odd elbow as part of the therapist’s toolkit.

Where 9 Gongti Dong Lu (5607 8788). Open 9am-11.30pm daily.

Best for reducing stress

Zigzag Massage and Nails

Perhaps better known for its mani-pedi services than its massages, this colourful Wudaoying Hutong mainstay also specialises in hand and foot reflexology. With a steady stream of people passing through the snug salon, chatty staff and windows facing out to the street, it might not be the most private massage you’ll ever have, but the buzz is what makes this place tick. Snatch a seat by the window and watch the world pass by or grab a few friends for a group session.

Massages from 138RMB.

Go for Foot Reflexology Massage (138RMB; one hour). Using a combination of fingers, knuckles, and plenty of aloe vera, the massage therapist hits the key pressure points in your feet, making for a happy and healthier you, inside and out (or something like that). Book in advance for the reflexology ‘master’.

Where 52B Wudaoying Hutong (8404 0020). Open 11am-11pm daily.

Best for luxury on a budget

Bodhi Therapeutic Retreat

A cross between a deluxe version of your local massage place and an indulgent spa, at Bodhi it’s all about the downtime. With its Southeast Asia-inspired décor, it’s a little bit of luxury in the middle of Sanlitun. Essential oils, bathtubs, fluffy towels and plush sheets, along with a team of attentive Chinese and Thai massage therapists, make for an experience that’s all sorts of serene. Stave off the hunger with complimentary food and drink brought directly to your room – everything from fruit plates to beef curry.

Massages from 198RMB.

Go for Foot Reflexology Treatment (80mins; 188RMB). While you stuff your face with free snacks, massage therapists start with a relaxing back-and-head massage before tending to your weary feet.

Where 7 Gongti Bei Lu (6417 9595). Open 11am-12.30am daily.

Dragonfly Therapeutic Retreat

Once you cross the threshold into the sanctuary that is Dragonfly it’s difficult not to spend the entire day here. A far cry from your basic massage spot, this Beijing favourite and well-known chain is an oasis of calm, where silence is only broken by the occasional passer-by and classic spa sounds playing through the speakers. It’s all soft lighting, cushy beds and incense. Here you get what you pay for as professional staff set to work to ease all your physical (and mental) aches and pains.

Massages from 188RMB.

Go for Oriental Foot Massage (188RMB; one hour). This massage is the ultimate oily treat for your feet – and it’s slated to relieve headaches and enhance the immune system among a number of health benefits. Waiting for your feet to soak in a herbal bath, the massage therapist rubs your neck and shoulders before moving on to the main event. Sink into some of Beijing’s comfiest armchairs and let the magic happen.

Where Grand Summit Plaza (100m north of Lufthansa Centre), 19 Dongfang Dong Lu (8532 3132). Open 10am-midnight daily.

For our full list of value massages, hit '阅读原文'.

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