Getting a massage is definitely one of the must-dos for anyone visiting China – how does getting pampered for more than an hour for about 10 US dollars sound to you? However, getting a massage in China can be quite a confusing experience for the first timer. There are so many choices on the “massage menu”, often with little or no English translation. Typically, a massage place will offer these different kinds of services:

Foot massage (足疗 - Zhu Liao)

This usually consists of soaking your feet in hot/warm water, followed by 30-60 minutes of massaging your feet. Sometimes they also include a brief period of head and body massage. Highly recommended.

Full body massage (保健 - Bao Jian)

Self explanatory - you are massaged from head to toe. Highly recommended.

Back rub (推背 - Tui Bei)
Your back is massaged and rubbed with oil. Sometimes they also put a warm mat/cloth on your back for therapeutic effect. Highly recommended.

Spine massage (整脊 - Zheng Ji)

You lay on your belly while they massage your neck/spinal column.

Ear candle (耳烛 - Er Zhu)

Only for the adventurous! They light a special candle and stick it into your ear. Apparently, the candle creates a suction effect which cleans out the gunk from your ear. It actually works pretty well – at the end, you can ask them to cut open the candle to show you the gunk that the candle removed.

Scraping treatment (刮痧 - Gua Sha)

They use a tool to scrape your back, which apparently improves blood circulation. Only for the adventurous – it could hurt a little and leave prominent marks on your body for a few weeks.

Vacuum bottle treatment (拔罐 - Ba Guan)

They rapidly heat up bottles and stick them on your back to create a suction/vacuum effect. Some places will even drag the vacuumed bottles up and down your back : ) Warning: Only for the adventurous! It can be painful, and leave very prominent red marks on your back for many weeks.

Beijing is a great city to visit – there are so many new and interesting things to see, do and eat here.  I highly recommend watching at least one show or performance in Beijing – you will more likely than not return with many cool stories, videos or pictures for your jealous friends and relatives back home : ) Listed below are what I believe are some of the best shows and performances in Beijing for tourists and visitors:

Afunti Dinner Show
Enjoy a Xinjiang-style dinner (lamb kebabs and beer!) and an excellent show with plenty of kungfu, belly dancing, acrobatics, lucky draws and audience-participation games.

Da Zhai Men Dinner Show
Walking into this restaurant is akin to taking a time machine back to the Qing dynasty. You will be presented with great Chinese food and a variety of performances such as: Wu-Shu, Acrobatics, Kung-Fu and Chinese Opera.

National Theatre for the Performing Arts (The Egg)
Come watch a Chinese opera, ballet, play or international orchestra in the most impressive opera house in the world: a beautiful egg shaped titanium and steel structure nestled on a shimmering sheet of water.

Massage
While not strictly a “show” or “performance”, a massage also allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy! I consider getting a massage one of the must-dos for Beijing visitors – it’s certainly one of the most relaxing and pampering experiences a person can have.

Pyongyang Hai Tang Hua North Korean Restaurant
If you have a large group (6 or more people), reserve a private dining room at the Pyongyang Hai Tang Hua North Korean restaurant to try some great North Korean style barbequed meat, seafood, wine and dog soup(!). Halfway through dinner you will be presented with a very well done performance of traditional Korean dance, girls in frilly retro costumes playing various musical instruments, karaoke, etc. The friendly restaurant staff are all from North Korea.