Day 11: Everyone should get a massage in China at least once

I decided to indulge myself and get a backrub. They are very cheap here and I had heard good things. I went to the massage parlor close to our apartment and paid 50RMB for the best full body massage I have ever had. That’s just over $8 (Canadian) for an hour massage. The staff were very interested in me, but they did not speak English. My massage therapist left the room and the one beside me (there are 2 tables in each room) tried to talk to me. The client she was massaging spoke English and translated for her. She wanted to know about my pants (yoga pants) and if I was cold. Also, where I was from, how long I had been in China and why. I was surprised that the client wanted to translate. If it was me, I think it would have bothered me that my massage therapist was talking to another client rather than giving me a massage. This goes back to how nice they are here and how they are very interested in my presence. I went out in the main area and tried to ask about if they offered chiropractic services using very short sentences and lots of actions. The counter attendant brought out a staff member who spoke English to talk to me. They brought me into another room and cracked my back, neck and hips a few times. The girl had told me that this costs 50 RMB which I was prepared to pay. When I tried to pay the counter attendant, he refused to take the money and said there was no fee. I am not sure whether it is included in the 50RMB fee for the full body massage that I had already paid or if he was choosing to wave the fee. I thanked them all and 3 people helped me to put on my coat and open the door for me: the counter attendant, my message therapist, and my translator. I thanked them all and told them I would be back very soon. Long story short, everyone should get a massage in China at least once. I plan to go once a week for the next year :)