Many high-class resorts and villas around Beijing offer relaxing programmes for their guest by combining entertainment, health practices and beauty treatments to especially attract women clientele.
The price tag for such luxurious treatments may be a bit expensive, but the resorts never seem to be lacking customers in search of some pampering. Some faithful patrons even visit the spa facilities twice or more a week. We have selected a few destinations around the capital you may want to check out for a day of bliss.
Harmony Black Mud Health Center
This firming, relaxing, and purifying body treatment formulated from Dead Sea black mud are the highlights available at the center.
This treatment was especially created to pamper customers’ bodies and let them experience a whole new meaning of luxury.
Opened around Christmas 2004, the center is the only one in Beijing to offer the famous Dead Sea black mud treatment.
The black mud is not actually from the Dead Sea in Israel, but is from the Salt Lake in Yuncheng City of Shanxi Province.
According to Zhou Suoming, general manager of the centre, the treatment components in the black mud from Shanxi are nearly identical to that in the Dead Sea.
It is a new concept to use mud for body treatments in China, however Dead Sea black mud has been used as a facial mask and skin curative since ancient times.
The mud is now marketed worldwide, often advertised with images and text evoking the mystery, symbolism, legend, and history associated with a region sacred to three of the world’s major religions.
The special mud cleanses, revitalizes and tones the skin. Through the deep penetration of minerals, it stimulates circulation and relieves tension. In addition to its healing properties, the mud will make skin radiate with a healthy glow.
The center’s mud treatment is consisted of three parts.
For the first step, doctors give clients a simple medical checkup, inquire about visitors' health and ask some simple questions about skin allergies.
After the checkup, the doctor gives guests a dinner menu and a recommendation of what type of black mud treatment is suitable for them and how long they should stay in the salt water bath.
After dinner, visitors are taken into a room for the black-mud treatment. Besides the natural elements in the mud, doctors add useful medical treatments to the mud for a better skin treatment. The treatment usually lasts one hour and 20 minutes until the mud become dries on the body.
During the final step clients floating in salt water to further absorb the skin treatment.
Massage and other sports services are also available at the center. A teahouse and bar can be found on the second floor.
Price for the health check, mud treatment and salt-water float totals about 1,000 yuan (US$125) per person.
Location: 59 Banjinglu, Haidian District. Getting there: The center is about 300 meters east of the West Fourth Ring Road.
Longxi Hot Springs Resort
This new villa resort opened last October in South Beijing’s Daxing District.
Located in Panggezhuang, a place famous for fine watermelons, the resort is home to residential villas, an 18-hole golf course and a hotel.
The highlight of the resort is its 8,000-square-metre indoor hot spring spa area surrounded by tropical plants.
The resort truly reflects the tranquility and beauty of nature. A dip in the pool can be a healthy and relaxing way to unwind. Underground hot springs are generally found in the suburb of Changping, north of Beijing. The site in Daxing is one of very few places to enjoy fresh spring waters.
The indoor pool is connected with outdoor spring pools through a water channel. Through the channel, swimmers can get to the outdoor pools that are currently surrounded by snow. In summer, the outdoor spring pools are also a good place to enjoy a tranquil night in the suburbs.
Various herbal medicine bathing pools are also available at the resort.
A fully-equipped fitness center, private function rooms and various styles of massage service are all at the ready here as well.
Location: 8 Shunjinglu Panggezhuang, Daxing District.
Getting there: Drive along Jingkai (Beijing-Kaifeng) Expressway to Panggezhuang Exit. After exiting the highway, proceed forward south for a few hundred metres. Please note the road signs.
Beijing Beauty Arts Club
This retreat is a fitness club for people seeking a balance in their lives and a scientific and customized recipe for their physical fitness.
But a quiet bar within the gate of the resort also offers clients a place to meet friends and socialize.
The club offers a broad range of today’s most popular classes and programmes to help customers reach their fitness goals. Through the exclusive training classes, the club pushes clients to take on challenging, enjoyable options to burn fat, get in shape and feel great.
Besides the fitness facilities, massage and hair salon services are available too.
The club attracts many expats in Beijing thanks to its location near Jianguomen.
Location: Second floor of the North Building of Yabao Apartment, 8 Dayabao Hutong, Dongcheng District Beijing. Getting there: The club is located about 300 meters northwest of the Jianguomen Subway Station.
Tian Long Yuan Hot Springs Resort
With an expansive property of 40,000 square meters, this 5-star resort is famous for its 10,000-square-metre hot spring park.
An ice skating rink is built right beside the huge spring pool. Customers can watch performances on the ice while swimming in the hot spring pool.
Performances are held nightly in the performance hall, which can seat 2,000 guests.
Nearly all entertainment and sports facilities that a major hotel should have can be found in the resort.
This is the most luxurious getaway among Beijing’s suburban resorts.
Location: West side of Dengzhuang Village, Changping District.
Getting there: Drive along Badaling Expressway to Xiguan Huandao (Roundabout). The resort is about two kilometres northwest of the traffic circle.
(Beijing Weekend March 8, 2005)
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