My Chinese friends invited me to go to a Korean spa; seeing as I was given a free ticket I happily obliged. The experience was…invigorating to say the least!
Paying at reception would have cost ¥128 for 12 hours; the smart option is buying tickets online for half the price. The reception staff were very friendly, but do not speak English.
The first room features the Korean baths, with two rooms, one for each gender. Resembling hot springs you would find on a mountainside, it is covered in grey and turquoise stone, filled with pink blossoms and stylish showers. Each bath can fit approximately 15 people and are varying in temperature. To be able to use these baths you need be naked; no swimwear or underwear is permitted. This could be quite uncomfortable for expats as you have to question whether you would feel relaxed completely exposed around strangers. After debating for 30 minutes I decided to go for it and I found it to be a very freeing experience while the baths were perfect temperatures in which to soak.
Then there are treatments you buy. Massages that use different natural ingredients such as almonds and green tea to exfoliate the skin will cost approximately ¥150 for an hour. The massage includes full body exfoliation, muscle massage and a face and body mask. For that price it is value for money. My skin felt beautifully soft for a whole week! Again you have to be naked, and your massuse is topless which felt quite awkward at times.
Next, a communal area (where you wear robes provided) for both men and women to chill and unwind. Beautiful, covered in wood with deep purple and amber colours, mini water fountains with lily pads, and soft low lighting, all amenities are free. There is also a cinema, with comfy reclining beds that shows English movies at certain times, mini caves to nap in, warmed pebble pits to lie on, bean bags and saunas. I fell asleep in most of these places I was so relaxed, except from the saunas which can be very crowded and as hot as 70 degress; unbearable! Finally, enjoy the bar, tea room and restaurant where you can eat traditional Korean food for as little as ¥20!
Overall, this spa gives you a feeling of complete relaxation for a bargain price. If you can get over the full frontal nudity, you may find this to be a liberating experience that helps you strip away the sometimes stressful expat lifestyle.
Find TangSon Spa at Zheng He Plaza, 319 Jiangdong Bei Lu 鼓楼区江东北路319号，郑和国际广场3-4楼 Tel: 83323333, and at Tian’an Plaza, 9 Fuqian Dong Lu, Jiangning 江宁区江宁万达府前东路9号万达E座对面（天印广场爱婴岛旁） Tel: 52298777
