China Travel, News and Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Beijing massage parlors
Nov 22nd
Getting a nice and relaxing massage after a long hard day in Beijing is something we all deserve from time to time. As you can expect, Beijing being the capital of China, massages in Beijing can cost a little more than in other cities. Normally, an one hour massage in Beijing costs around 30-50 RMB (approx. $5-6 USD dollars). This is if you choose to have the massage in a residential area where locals live.
Due to China’s explosive growth rate, there are a lot of rich people in Beijing too, and of course there are more high end massage parlors to accomodate them too. So don’t be surprised if the price goes up to several hundred dollars for an hour in more expensive places.
When in a Beijing massage parlor, the first question to face is whether to have a back or foot massage. A back massage is pretty standard, but with a foot massage, you’ll first get a foot bath in Chinese herbs hot water before you’ll get your actual massage. Most of the time, it will be a girl giving you massage, and if you want you can usually swap for a guy.
Got any questions or experiences to share? Go wild in the comments…
Night food of Zhuhai
Apr 10th
Usually when you go out to the club after several hours of partying you become hungry. In most countries in the world you are doomed to go with an empty belly, or visit McDonald’s at best. Not in China.
Usually when the clock strikes 10 PM tents are being raised at various streets and tables being prepared with different snack foods. These foods include calamari on stick (Squid), Pork/lamb meat on stick, Fishballs, cabbage in soy sauce, fried dumpling on stick and much more. These nightly food stands are usually open between 10 PM and 2 AM.
Each foodstuff comes with a price of either 1 or 2 kuai so its inexpensive. Beer to that (usually a local brand or Tsingtao) comes at a price of 4-5 kuai.
The places where the food is served are very simple with plastic chairs and plastic tables in the open air. Still, it has a nice atmosphere due to the fact that Chinese people hang around there, not only “tourists”.
You can also eat snack foods at the bars but its usually a lot more expensive. For example a portion of French Fries in MTC club would go for 20 kuai which is the equivalent of Ten lambsticks at a nightmarket stand.
McDonald’s in China is open 24/7 and offer food for the hungry after a bar night. The price is usually 20 kuai for a Big Mac set.
Personally I prefer the Nightmarket food.
HOLY SHIT! The Apartment is Burning!
Sep 23rd
This morning I wake up at 11:25 to check the time, and as I was getting back to sleep, I noticed a faint smell of… BURNING! I try to ignore it but after a while the smell gets so heavy that I decide to throw on my clothes and run for my life.
PANIC! First, I check the peephole on my door. Indeed, the entire corridor is orange from flames. I open the door, the hallway is thick with light gray smoke. I turn to my right. WHAT, no fire?!? I turn to my left. WHAT is an old lady doing kneeling on the floor burning a big bunch of paper. She looks at me, I look at her. I close my door.
After 30 seconds I open the door to look at her, she looks at me. I close the door.
After another minute of confusion I understood that she was performing some kind of ritual, either because it was some kind of ghost holiday or that they’ve just moved into their new apartment.
As I put on my shoes and go down to tell the security guard, I’m thinking “Damn peasants, take your tacky traditions elsewhere!” After I told the security guard what was going on, he said “Damn Cantonese! They’re getting on my nerves.”
We went up, and by the time we’ve gotten there they had already cleaned up the fire. The security guard apologized to them, I looked like an idiot and went back inside my apartment.
And then I realized there was a lot of ash on the floor of my room. 
Professional Workout in Zhuhai
Sep 20th
When I just arrived in Zhuhai and was looking for somewhere to work out, I got stopped one day on my way home from the supermarket by a solicitor for a local gym. He took me for a 20min walk to the gym, I sign up, and he earns his 70 kuai ($10 USD). The gym / fitness center is called Huofenghuang (Fire Phoenix) and is located at Xiangzhou Station. They also offer dancing, yoga and other girly stuff for free. 
So I go there a few times a day, and do my regular routine. One day one of the trainer helps me correct some moves, and then offers me to try 1-to-1 personal coaching. It sounded good, and I decided to pay for September; 500 RMB (approx. $70). At first I was a bit skeptical, but now I can say it really makes a difference, in both workout quality and motivation. Before, I used to go maybe 3 times a week. Now I go 4-5 times a week.I’ve seen great development too, I’ve never been this fit in my life! My strength and the overall shape of my body has improved vastly – already fetching compliments.My experience with working out in Zhuhai has been much better than working out in Beijing. If you have the time and money (especially in China), I highly recommend you to get a trainer at your gym.
Hairdressing in Zhuhai Rocks
Aug 30th
If you ever visit South China, you’ve got to try the hairdressers here. They are just so much better than in other cities.
The special thing is, when you first arrive, they first take you to wash your hair and massage your upper body for around half an hour. During the massage, they will place hot towels under your neck and on your forehead and even help you clean your inner ear. After the massage, they proceed as usual by cutting your hair, rinsing it, drying it and applying some gel.
This costs 25 CNY, which translates to less than $4 USD.
