The traditions and culture of conducting water procedures in China are rooted in the distant past. The inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom built their first Chinese baths several millennia ago, long before the appearance of Slavic baths. Of course, a lot has changed since then, but the main essence has remained unchanged - the Chinese conduct a ritual of purification, not only to wash their body, but also for complete relaxation, relaxation, and raising the spirit.
Description of the bath
Modern Chinese baths offer their visitors a range of services, ranging from washing, massage and ending with all kinds of entertainment and even overnight. This is a kind of indicator of Chinese culture. The buildings in which baths are located in China resemble chic hotels in architecture, however, the way it is. After all, as mentioned above, many stay here for a few days: have fun, relax, stay overnight. The period for which you can stay in the bathhouse is not defined by specific hours. You can be here as much as you want. Only bath services are paid. At the entrance, visitors are offered slippers, bath accessories and a key to the cabinet where things will be stored.
There are also cheap washing facilities in China, where showers cause some doubts in terms of sanitation, girls offer their services, including massage. Do not go to such places. We will talk about good baths, where the centuries-old traditions of hospitality are respected. The most prestigious are the Beijing and Shanghai baths, including the name of Alexander the Great. Here the service is top notch. Photos of bath rooms confirm this.
A meeting. Traditions
Chinese baths are a ritual. It begins primarily with the meeting of guests. Already in the parking lot in front of the Bao Zhong Bao bathhouse, the number of the car is hung up with a cover to keep the confidentiality and intimacy of the person who decided to wash and relax in the establishment. At the entrance there is a friendly, smiling girl who hospitably accepts outerwear.
The administrator traditionally issues a bath kit, slippers and a key to the locker, offers a variety of services that are included in the list of establishments. You will pay for everything later, when you receive all the pleasures, maybe even the next day - at the exit. Next is the locker room. Helpful Chinese themselves will undress you, distribute all the clothes on the shelves and politely lead to the bathhouse itself.
Enjoy Your Bath!
The bath starts from the bathroom. It usually has several jacuzzis. All bathtubs have different water temperatures: cold, warm, hot. Everyone chooses what pleases him. After all, the main point of the procedures is relaxation, relaxation. By tradition, the baths themselves are exquisitely decorated, various oils and rose petals are added to the water. While enjoying in the jacuzzi, everyone feels very comfortable.
A Chinese steam room is something completely different from a Russian bathhouse. Our "brother" does not receive the pleasure that is used to in his bath in Russia. In the Chinese bath, the steam cabins are simply mounted right next to the bathroom. Steam is generated in them with the help of a steam generator, which is absolutely not capable of producing the hot, dry heat that Russians are used to.
But it is worth noting that the Chinese are quickly adopting the traditions of other nations, adding them to their lives. So, in one of the saunas in Harbin they came up with an interesting option for lovers of a hot bath: a huge, very heated, whole rock is rolled into a large room (steam room) right on the rails. All those in the steam room pour water from the bucket into it, and dry, hot steam forms. This is quite reminiscent of a Russian steam room.
Some Chinese baths have special snow rooms. Using a generator, snow is produced there, the temperature reaches minus 10 degrees. After the steam room, saunas, it is a great pleasure to sit here on cold benches. But still, the main charm of Chinese baths is, of course, special procedures.
Zhou bay. Massage
After the steam room - the long-awaited Zhou Bay. In Chinese, the translation is simple - "rub your back", but in fact it is something more. If you find yourself in a Chinese bath, this procedure will be remembered for a long time. Lie down on the couch and wait for a sturdy man with a towel wound on his hand or with a stiff sponge to approach you. After pouring warm water on it, it will rigidly and stubbornly begin to rub your whole body, from the top of the head to the heels. The procedure lasts at least half an hour. If you think that your body is completely clean, then be surprised when after the procedure around you will be a "bunch" of spools of dead skin cells. There are no exceptions.
Your hot body will be covered with a cool towel and the tapping process will begin. The rhythm is such that any drummer will envy. After that, the attendant will set all the bones for you and finally douse the body with cold milk. You can spread with oils, milk and honey and immediately back into the steam room so that all the beneficial substances are absorbed into the body. After such procedures, the skin becomes incredibly soft and smooth, any young lady can envy.
Separate services offer additional types of massage: head, feet, back, whole body. Only the Chinese are aware of the secret with which they stretch their feet, acting on the most important points of the body. After such a massage, many simply fall asleep in a serene sleep. Head massage also has its secrets. You will get incredible pleasure and relaxation.
Service
"Enjoy Your Bath!" the Chinese will tell you only at the exit, where the calculation is made for all the pleasures received. There is no need to rush anywhere, there is no hourly pay. After a relaxing massage, you can fall asleep, you will be covered with a soft blanket and not disturbed until you yourself wake up and decide what to do next.
For relaxation and entertainment you can climb to another floor. Here you can play anything, all of which is included in the price. Some saunas even have concert halls where celebrities perform. You can also visit the restaurant, where the menu offers the most delicious dishes.
Female half
Chinese women's bath does not exist separately. In the public baths there are special steam rooms, bathrooms, access to which is allowed only for women. The weaker sex is treated courteously and delicately. In common social places (buffets, cinemas) you can walk in pajamas or special robes. Some argue that men's baths are more luxurious and have a greater type of service. However, the female half also has all the benefits (bathrooms with a jacuzzi, steam room, cold pools), and aunts-bath attendants, despite their fragile appearance, will arrange for you such a Zhou Bay that the skin will rejuvenate in one session. After visiting a Chinese bath, you feel like after a full range of good spa treatments.
Central Chinese baths
In the very center of Moscow in the middle of the 19th century were the famous Khludov baths. Their full name is the Central Chinese Khludov baths. At their core, they were ordinary Russians, and they were called Chinese because the building was located near the Chinese passage in Moscow. The Khludov baths were much superior in interior to the famous Sandun baths at that time. To our days, unfortunately, only four halls have survived, the rest of the building burned down in a strong fire in 1993. Now the purpose of the place has changed, in the renovated room is a chic restaurant "Silver Age". Exact address: Theater Passage, Building 3, Building 3. Located between Detsky Mir and the Maly Theater.
Central baths - cultural monument
In the XIX century, a large manufacturer Khludov built a bath complex on the project of the great architect Eibuchitsa. The first complex for the common people began to operate in 1881, the second was intended for the nobility. The enterprise acted quite successfully and soon the baths began to take the upper strata of society - nobles, aristocrats.
Until the 40s of the last century, the Chinese baths in Moscow were named as follows: Baths No. 1 of the Kominternovsky district. Now the building is assigned to architectural monuments. The restaurant begins to work here after dinner until the very morning, receives the most distinguished guests. Excursions are held here in the morning. Everyone can make an excursion, see the splendor of the building and listen to the most amazing stories related to the structure from the guide.
History of the Khludov baths
The story of the appearance of the Khludov baths in Moscow is very simple. The construction of the complex was the usual commercial envy of the manufacturer Gerasim Ivanovich Khludov. At first, he was indifferent to the fact that people fell in the famous Sandunov baths, both commoners and nobles. When Khludov found out what kind of profit they bring to his master, he immediately decided to compete with that. Gerasim Ivanovich was the largest businessman in Moscow, made high acquaintances, donated considerable sums to charity. Obtaining a building permit was not difficult for him. He acquired a huge plot of land where the palaces of the Georgian princes were located.
The great architect Eybuschitz was involved in the work. By order of the manufacturer, he created an incredible project in the eclectic style. Roskoshestvo stood in the first place. Saunas were earned in 1881. Later, “half a half” halls were opened - Finnish, Russian, Turkish. They were not much different from the Palaces in decoration. The services here were provided at the highest level. The most senior persons came to rest here.
By 1917, Gerasim Ivanovich was no longer alive, the Khludov family (daughter) emigrated to France. The Chinese baths were transferred to the Office of the Soviets. Many stories and legends are associated with the transfer of valuable property, but this is a completely different topic.