Move over tempting duty-free shopping and fascinating nightlife. A new ritual — spending a whole day inside a bathhouse — is quietly reshaping how foreign visitors experience China.
Videos tagged "24-hour spas in China" have become viral on social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, drawing content creators from different parts of the world, including the United States, Europe and South Korea.
US travel vlogger Jonathan, who runs a channel called Travel Escapes, recently drew global attention to China's spa culture after documenting his 24-hour stay at a luxury, yet very affordable, bathhouse in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
"This is insane — unbelievable," he said, as he turned his lens on the facility covering five floors. "For $41, you get everything. There's a library, pool tables, massage rooms, sleeping areas — even quiet zones where people can stay overnight."
At the center of a Chinese bathhouse experience lies the body scrub. The rejuvenating ritual, performed by trained attendants who use various degrees of pressure for maximum benefit, amazes visitors, particularly first-timers.
"It was a bit painful at first, but you walk out feeling like your skin, and maybe even your mind, has been reset," one visitor wrote online.
Spas and bathhouses in China often serve as wellness retreats, with therapies such as gua sha — a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that uses smooth-edged tools to boost circulation, promote lymphatic drainage and release tension — and cupping adding another dimension to the experience.
What visitors experience is not a novelty, but the reinvention of a centuries-old practice. The popularity of communal bathhouses dates back to the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), although modern facilities have evolved into sprawling, all-in-one social spaces.
Compared with similar Japanese and Korean facilities, Chinese bathhouses are increasingly positioned as higher-value, all-inclusive destinations. Their scale, affordability and diversity of services — combining bathing, dining, entertainment and relaxation — are what set them apart.
Chinese bathhouses also bend the one-size-fits-all trend. Shenyang in Liaoning province boasts mega venues with elaborate multistep scrubs. Harbin in Heilongjiang province combines winter bathing with frozen fruits and hotpot.
Yangzhou in Jiangsu province, which is the cradle of the saying "Morning tea, evening bath", has witnessed the practice of communal bathing since the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). In Yangzhou's historic bathhouses, like Yongningquan, guests still soak in timeworn tiled pools while attendants perform qiao bei, or rhythmic drum-back massage, and silk-towel scrubs.
Bailey, a vlogger from Sydney, Australia, who visited a bathhouse in Dalian, Liaoning, described her experience as being in a place with "a communicative vibe".
The rising popularity of Chinese spas and bathhouses is indicative of a broader shift in how foreigners visiting China want to experience China. Most travelers seek immersive, everyday experiences, which social media users often refer to as "very Chinese moments".
"Things that feel ordinary to locals are becoming extraordinary for international visitors," said Li Mengran, spokeswoman for UTour Group, a leading travel platform based in Beijing. "That's where a new wave of tourism growth is coming from."
First-timer tips
Search "China 24-hour spas" on TikTok, YouTube or Xiaohongshu/RedNote for the best bathhouse options. Book through Meituan or Trip.com.
Bring your passport, and also a swimsuit if the venue has mixed-gender pools. Towels, pajamas, slippers and toiletries are provided.
A digital wristband allows you to store your belongings in a locker and track any additional services, such as a scrub or a massage.
For extra privacy, many venues offer hotel-style private rooms. Book in advance if you prefer a real bed over a reclining chair.
Standard entry fee — 100 to 300 yuan ($15 to $44) — covers stay for 12 to 24 hours and includes fruits, drinks, snacks and lounge access.
