Beijing: What to See & Do: Spas

The hotel option remains the best, especially as most of the newer properties now include top-notch spas in their design plans. The St. Regis has one of the largest facilities, featuring ancient Chinese massage and medicine. The two-hour massage includes foot and hand reflexology. The Grand Hyatt hotel, meanwhile, has a resort-style swimming pool, with waterfalls, in its impressive Club Oasis. Be wary of massage parlors outside the hotels—hygiene and service standards can generally be patchy in China. Among the better local chains is Dragonfly, with several branches in the city.