Over a decade ago, I first stepped into a Shanghai bathhouse, a decision born of curiosity and jet lag. As a rookie, I was hesitant about the idea of communal bathing, but I took a leap of faith by myself, and the rest is history. Once I got used to the customs and appreciated how the flow went, I indulged myself in the relaxation and cultural immersion that pulled me in. My initial nerves about the communal spa are gone, replaced by a sense of relaxation as I embraced this centuries-old tradition. Since that day, bathhouses have become a cherished ritual, a lovely treat, offering a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of Shanghai life.

So, for a decade, I’ve since explored many bathhouses across the city, each unique in its ambience and offerings. This guide is for those who are curious but hesitant, providing a roadmap to enjoy Shanghai Bathhouses. You can read on if you have always wondered how it works. I hand-picked all my photos while visiting various city bathhouses and shared my first-hand experience and tips in this blog. I hope this will intrigue your adventurous heart to explore bathhouses.

Types of Bath Houses in Shanghai

I would categorise them into 3 types - The Japanese, the Chinese (Modern & Traditional), and the Korean ones.

Let’s dive into the Japanese ones. The two chains I went to were Gokurakuyu (极乐汤）and Lianquan Da Jianghu (涟泉大江户）

What I like about them: They are very well-maintained, have beautiful Japanese-themed decor, and high-quality Japanese food, nothing goes wrong with it.

They are one of the first ones to open, so the operation is already very mature, hygiene is also very satisfactory, bath house goers are very civilized and well-mannered, excellent services, well-trained staff and easy to follow with English signage.

Here are some pictures:

Now, after a few Japanese ones opened, the scenes of bathhouses has become more and more modern and creative.

Update: Just visited shangyin+ (上引+）on Friday, December 20th 2024. It’s not far out from the city centre, only 12 min drive north of People’s Square. I spent 7 hours and 360 RMB including an all-you-can-eat buffet, the experience was perfect, added 129 RMB for a full body scrubbing.

Here are some pictures I took:

The chains I’d like to mention are Shuiguo (水裹汤泉）, Tangland (汤连得）, Cheersum （浅深）, Space Yang （SPACE 漾） Yide Hotspring易德温泉 and Linlinyu （霖林雨汤泉馆)

Those I am yet to discover are Youmu Riji (游沐日记) Qushui Lantin (曲水兰亭) Yashui ONSEN (亚水 ONSEN) Muyu Xinji (沐屿新集) Healing Touch (衡悦心舍）Mulin Muyu (沐霖沐语）Space NEO and many more

Most of them, especially Shuiguo, Shangyin and Space Yang offers:

• All-you-can-drink non-alcoholic beverages

• All-you-can-eat ice cream (Häagen-Dazs and more)

• All-you-can-eat pre-cut fruits and other seasonal fruits

Some offer buffet dinner/lunch/breakfast inclusive or additional cost.

Most of them also offer the following:

• An arcade, children's playground

• Game Consoles

• Screens for watching TV or sport matches (live stream or airplay screen mirroring from your phone via WiFi)

• KTV rooms

• Mahjong rooms

• Sleeping halls (with gigantic seats that can convert into beds)

• Semi-sleeping/private space (that looks like a little cave or capsule with or without screens; some have hotel rooms)

• Private massage spaces

• Heated Rooms with stone bath/sauna (usually with a particular kind of aroma, salts, stones, etc.）

Most of them allow sleep-overs (which means you register yourself staying there for a night with you ID/Passport), this is an excellent hack for people who have flights to catch the next day or a short layover but don’t want to book a hotel room for a short amount of time.

Here are some pictures; you can tell they look very different from the original Japanese-style onsen bathhouses, some are more “instagramable” than others

Some offer a co-ed outdoor pool (which means you need to bring your swimsuits), but most have a semi-open space in the gender-exclusive bath area. Sorry, there are no pictures inside the bath/changing room area, as no photography is allowed.

For the Korean-style bathhouse, also known as Jjimjilbang, the famous one which is well known among expats is Newstar (纽斯桑拿）, they have one in Hongqiao and one in Pudong. I personally think the Japanese style and Chinese modern ones provide a much better experience and environment in general.

How to enjoy bathhouses as a beginner?

When to go?

It would be best if you considered going on a weekday, the morning is usually quite empty, as most people are either at work or at school. My second choice is weeknights, after 8 pm, until midnight. OR, as I mentioned above, stay a night there if you have layovers or a flight/train to catch early the next day.

I would avoid going on a weekend, as there is usually a big crowd full of young kids, and it can be chaotic, but most places do have crowd control tactics and limit the maximum capacity; in those cases, they only allow new customers to enter when there are customers who left and clear the space.

What to bring?

First, decide which one to go to, relax, bring yourself, your body and your mind in a good mood, you don’t need to bring anything else, towels, slippers are provided, anything you need—hair dryers, disposable underwear, shower caps/hair ties, q-tips etc. In some upscale places, for female, the changing room offers free skincare products such as moisturizer, body cream etc.

Arrival

Upon arrival, the usual practice is to follow instructions and take off your shoes and socks. The staff will assist you in storing them properly and will provide you with a wristlet. The wristlets are gender-specific, as they also serve as the key to your locker in the changing room area.

Tip 1: If you have company of the opposite gender, communicate the meeting time, such as 30 min outside in the communal area, as phone usage is also restricted inside the changing room and bath area.

Entering the Changing room and bath area

If you are a woman, please go to the female section, and if you are a man, go to the male section. Children who are shorter than 90 cm can accompany either gender of adult. However, if children are taller than 90 cm, they should go to the restroom that corresponds to their gender, with guidance from an adult.

After you enter the restricted area (gender specific), you will be guided by a staff member to locate your locker matching the number as on your wristlet given to you earlier at check-in; once you find your locker, you first undress and shower. We always start by showering thoroughly before entering any pools. At this point, you will already notice that most of the goers inside are naked. After you shower, you can try different pools; some are hotter than the other, while some have semi-open air (complete privacy with outdoor air is exposed). Usually, the water temperature is about 38C-43C.

Tip 2: No phone usage is allowed in this area—strictly No Photography.

Tip 3: Hair caps or hair ties are required and provided to keep hair off the pools, and no towels are allowed inside the pool. Please follow the staff’s instructions as listed on the written notice/signage; some places have English signs to follow the rules and cautions while using the facilities easily. Safety first, no rush, be slow.

Full-body Scrub (optional at extra cost)

This is a manual exfoliation that you may find it strange but oddly satisfying after the scrub as it leaves you silky smooth skin. It is where you lie on a massage bed (flat) and naked while a worker of the same sex, a woman (if you are in the female room) or a man (if you are in the male room), wear a brand new bath gloves, and start rubbing and scrubbing your body, from the back of your ears to your toes, front and back torso, especially your back. You will find a lot of dead skin, oil, and dirt that got scrubbed down like an easer’s crumbs and debris and dust. Afterwards, your skin will feel like a baby has been reborn. It’s an incredible feeling. Make sure you communicate the strength when it’s too strong/weak/irritated, and communicate if you have any wounds in any parts of your body.

Tip 4: Communicate what you’d like to receive; they upsell package services. If you do not understand, then stick to the basics. In some places, they charge extra just to put two pieces of cucumber on your face.

Soak yourself in different bath pools and saunas.

You can use various types of pools, such as the carbonated ones, the ones with herbs, the jacuzzi ones with jet massages, the ones you can hop into a barrel and make a splash, the hotter ones and the cooler ones. Explore the facilities at your own pace, alternating between hot baths, saunas, and cooling rooms. One of my favourites at Gukurakuyu is the Salt Sauna, where you enter a steam room until you sweat and then start scrubbing yourself with fine salt; bring a friend to help with the back, let the salt dissolve and then 10 minutes later, take a COLD shower right outside of the sauna. It’s magic.

Tip 5: Don’t forget to hydrate yourself, water dispensers are poolside. Do not enter pools after excessive intake of food and alcohol or both.

Entering the Communal Area/Reunite with the opposite sex

After you finish the first round of bathing, you can now proceed to the communal area. But DO NOT go out naked! Ask the staff to provide you with a set of uniforms; they have different sizes and colours; some are prettier than others. Put them on and go out happily to meet your friends and try other stuff in the communal area; they have massages, hot rooms, game consoles, restaurants, all-you-can-eat/drink items, etc. Most goers lounge around and play on their phones; some just gather with friends, chat, have a great time, relax, read books, play pools/games, and private massages, or just watch TV.

Here are a few useful Chinese terms that can enhance your bathhouse experience:

• 搓背 (cuō bèi): Body scrubbing.

• 泡澡 (pào zǎo): Soaking in the bath.

• 按摩 (àn mó): Massage.

• 足浴 (zú yù): Foot bath.

• 汗蒸房 (hàn zhēng fáng): Steam room or sauna.

Tips and Warnings

Etiquette:

• Nudity is the norm in single-gender bathing areas, but communal areas require clothing.

• Speak softly and respect the quiet ambience.

Health Considerations:

• Avoid baths if you have open wounds or skin conditions.

• Stay hydrated, especially after saunas.

Be Mindful of Time:

• Some bathhouses have time limits, especially at busier hours. Confirm this when you check-in.

Bring your ID/Passports and essentials if you want to stay overnight

• Just like hotels, the venue must register you to the police if you stay a night over. No exception. Some might need ear plugs/eye masks if you are a light sleeper.

How much does it cost?

When you choose a place to go, make sure you check on Dianping about their current deals and packages. My average spending is about 500 RMB that includes admission, food, massage and body scrub. The cheapest admission I spent was 78 RMB, it was a Chinese traditional one and I was quite happy with everything. I got everything I needed there. While the most expensive I have spent was 760 RMB, that’s Linlinyu, Love that place, so beautiful, new, and clean, and warm.

Why You Should Try It

Bathhouses are a gateway to relaxation and cultural appreciation. Especially when Shanhgai is in the colder days from January to March, especially rainny days. Whether you’re seeking tranquillity or a social outing, Shanghai’s bathhouses offer something for everyone. Ready to take the plunge? Let me know about your experience after your first visit!