Blind massage, TCM an enhancement to foreigner's wellness

Standing at a mere 160 centimeters and weighing no more than 45 kilograms, the wiry, middle-aged female masseuse doesn't appear particularly imposing at first sight.

Less than a minute into an hourlong treatment at Beijing's Suhang Blind Massage, though, I'm reminded why this place is regarded by foreigners as one of the capital city's hidden gems.

An entire palm digs into my neck, pushing through soreness from three straight days of playing basketball. Minutes later, a pointed elbow kneads out weeks' worth of knots in my back. I'm lying flat on my stomach, fully clothed, with an extra cloth on top of the area being massaged. The experience is surprisingly painful, but in a good way. I lift my head up a few times to double check that the petit, friendly woman hasn't stepped out only to be replaced with a powerlifting bodybuilder.