Do - Activities in China

Do

Massage

High-quality, reasonably priced massages are available throughout China. A hairdresser will often give a head massage, clean out ear wax, and massage the neck and arms. The availability of foot massage (足疗 zúliáo) is often indicated by a picture of a bare footprint on the sign.

A full-body massage is offered in two varieties: ànmó (按摩) is general massage; tuīná (推拿) concentrates on the meridians used in acupuncture. These three types of massage are often mixed; many places offer all three. Massage is a traditional trade for the blind, and the best value is often at tiny out-of-the-way places with blind staff (盲人按摩 mángrén ànmó). The most expert massages are in massage hospitals or general Chinese medicine hospitals.

Some massage places are actually brothels. Prostitution is illegal in China but quite common and often disguised as massage. Most hot spring or sauna establishments offer all the services a businessman might want for relaxation. Many hotels offer massage in your room, and additional services are almost always available once she is in the room. Pink lighting or lots of girls in short skirts usually indicates that considerably more than just massage is on offer (and quite often they cannot do a good massage either). The same rule applies in many hair salons which double as massage parlors/brothels.

The non-pink-lit places usually give good massages and generally do not offer sex. If the establishment advertises massage by the blind, it is almost certainly legitimate.

For basic phrases to use when getting a massage, see Chinese phrasebook#Getting a massage.

Spas

Spas in China tend to be elaborate affairs, often spanning multiple floors, and are similar to South Korea’s jjimjilbang. The admission fee gives you access to amenities such as showers, heated indoor pools, saunas, a complimentary buffet of non-alcoholic drinks and fresh fruit, and a communal sleeping area. When entering one, you will be expected to take a shower and change into robes provided by the establishment. Sex-segregated pools may require bathers to be nude, though co-ed ones will require a bathing suit. Some may also have game arcades and/or indoor playgrounds to keep the kids entertained. Some may have a dining area where hot food is served during mealtimes, which will typically cost extra. Spas will almost invariably offer a variety of body scrubbing and/or massage services, which will incur an additional cost on top of the admission fee.

Public bathhouses (澡堂 zǎotáng) are a local tradition in the Northeast. While traditional facilities are usually very utilitarian and primary patronized by the elderly, modern facilities that younger people prefer are essentially spas in all but name, with all the amenities you would expect from a spa. Northeastern Chinese-style public bathhouses, whether traditional or modern, will always offer a body scrub (搓澡 cuōzǎo) service among their amenities.

Performing arts

Main article: Chinese performing arts

As a large and diverse country, China is home to a wide array of performing arts, both traditional and modern. While some genres are popular nationwide, there are also some which are only popular in specific regions, and the various ethnic minorities also have their own unique traditions. Two genres that are popular nationwide, and are also regularly performed internationally are Beijing opera (京剧 jīngjù) and ** Yue opera** (越剧 yuèjù).

China’s pop culture scene has exploded since the 2010s, and today has far eclipsed that of traditional centres Hong Kong and Taiwan. Chinese pop music, films and dramas are big-money businesses that command a loyal following locally and among ethnic Chinese communities in Southeast Asia, and most of the top Hong Kong and Taiwanese singers and actors have relocated to mainland China where they can make a lot more money. Talent shows are very popular in China and often feature aspiring young singers being mentored by a veteran superstar.

Traditional arts

When planning an extended stay in China, consider learning some of the traditional arts. Traveling to China is after all a unique chance to learn the basics, or refine already acquired skills, directly from master practitioners in the arts’ home country. Many cities have academies that accept beginners, and not knowing Chinese is usually not a problem as you can learn by example and imitation. Calligraphy (书法 shūfǎ), a term that covers both writing characters and painting scrolls (that is, classical landscapes and the like) remains a popular national hobby. Many calligraphers practice by writing with water on sidewalks in city parks. Other traditional arts which offer classes include learning to play traditional Chinese instruments (inquire in shops that sell these as many offer classes), cooking Chinese cuisine, or even singing Beijing Opera (京剧 jīngjù). Fees are usually modest, and the necessary materials will not exactly break the bank. The only requirement is being in the same place for a long enough time, and showing sufficient respect; it is better not to join these classes as a tourist attraction.

Martial arts

As with traditional cultural arts, those with the time and inclination may be interested in studying China’s famed martial arts. Some, such as tai chi (太极拳 tàijíquán), can be studied at a basic level by simply visiting any city park in the early morning and following along. You will likely find many eager teachers. However, learning martial arts to a level that allows you to use them competently in an actual fight requires years of study and training under a master, which often has to start from childhood.

In English, Chinese martial arts are often called “kung fu” and we follow that usage below. However in Chinese, the general term for martial arts is wǔshù (武術), while gōngfu (功夫, “kung fu”) is the term for the skill or power that practitioners acquire.

Chinese martial arts are traditionally classified into northern and southern styles, with northern styles generally known for emphasizing powerful strikes with fully extended limbs, and southern styles generally known for fast strikes close to the body. Northern Chinese martial are further classified into two groups named for two mountain areas with monasteries which are centers of kung fu — Shaolin Temple on Mount Song and the Wudang Mountains. Shaolin are the hard or external styles emphasizing speed and power, while Wudang are the soft or internal styles emphasizing breath control and smooth movement. Of course it is nowhere near that simple; Shaolin experts also move extremely smoothly and a Wudang master has plenty of speed and power.

Other well-known centers of kung fu include Southern Shaolin in Quanzhou, Fujian, Wu Wei Temple near Dali and Wing Chun (Bruce Lee’s style) in Foshan, Guangdong.

Shanghai has a martial arts museum at a Physical Education university.

Square dancing

In public parks, squares or plazas, or indeed anywhere in a city that isn’t fenced off and is large enough (like a parking lot), you will increasingly find, in the early morning and late evening, groups of (mostly) older women doing what looks like low-impact aerobics to music with a dance beat coming from a nearby portable speaker. This activity is called guǎngchǎngwǔ (广场舞), roughly translated into English as “square dancing”, because of where it takes place (not to be confused with the traditional American folk dance of the same name). It originated in the mid-1990s among women (known as dàmā (大妈), or “dancing grannies” in English) who had just been forced into retirement as a way to stay fit, socialize and recall their own youth during the Cultural Revolution (indeed, many of the songs used are propaganda from that era, or current Chinese pop hits). By 2015 noise and space issues had provoked violent confrontations in some cities and led the government to introduce, then hastily withdraw, standard dance routines. It’s interesting to watch at the very least as a modern folk phenomenon, and indeed some groups don costumes and props for their routines.

Some tourists, particularly Russians visiting Manchurian cities, have joined in. However, this is often frowned upon, as many square dancers compete competitively and are only practicing publicly due to a lack of practice space otherwise. If you are tempted to do so, only join groups that appear to be casually-oriented (no apparent dance uniform or complicated routines) and go to the rear row where beginners follow the leader and learn the moves. You should avoid, or at least practice extreme caution when joining near several groups in a space barely enough for all of them — turf battles have been known to start and given the novelty of a foreigner participating in square dancing, you may be seen as a final provocation of member poaching.

Ballroom dancing is also moderately common; Western-style square dancing or line dancing are less common but not unknown.

Traditional pastimes

China has several traditional games often played in tea gardens, public parks, or even on the street. Players often attract crowds of on-lookers.

Chinese chess (象棋 xiàngqí) is the world’s most-played chess variant. It is similar to but distinct from Korean chess (Korean: 장기 janggi), but quite different from Japanese chess (Japanese: 将棋 shōgi) and international chess, though they all have enough in common that a good player of one will find another easier to learn. It is a very popular pastime in China, and you can often see elderly Chinese having games with each other in the parks. There are also numerous national tournaments, from school tournaments all the way up to professional ones, and the top players often become major celebrities, with large prizes and numerous TV shows about the game.
Go (围棋 wéiqí, lit. “the surrounding game”) is a strategy board game. Players place their stones to surround the most territory on the board. While the rules are simple, the strategy and tactics are very complex. There are professional Go players, some of whom are major celebrities, tournaments with large prizes, and some TV shows about the game.
Mahjong (麻将 májiàng) is popular and almost always played for money. Mahjong uses tiles with a variety of Chinese symbols and characters. Players draw and discard tiles, trying to complete a hand with particular sets of tiles. The nearest Western equivalent (not very near!) would be card games like rummy or canasta.
While gameplay is broadly similar, the rules of mahjong in China differ significantly between regions, and from the Taiwanese and Japanese versions. The mahjong played in Hong Kong is Cantonese mahjong, which is the same as that in the Pearl River Delta of Guangdong province. The Chinese government has an officially-sanctioned standardized form of mahjong that is used in national and international competitions, though this version is rarely played in casual settings.

Sports

The National Games of China (全国运动会) is a multi-sport event between China’s provincial-level units, including Hong Kong and Macau. In addition to the provincial teams, there are also teams representing the Chinese military and various Chinese industry groups. Here you can see some of China’s best sportspeople in action, including Olympic gold medallists, as they vie for provincial glory. It is held every four years, in the year after the Summer Olympics, and features all Olympic sports plus wushu. The next National Games will be held in 2029, and will be hosted by Hunan.

The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix takes place in spring, March or April, at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Winter sports are still in their infancy in China, but the northern parts of the country now boast numerous ski resorts and ice skating rinks. China has also emerged as an international powerhouse in short track speed skating.

Content adapted from Wikivoyage, used under CC BY-SA 3.0.