Chinese bathhouses have thousands of years of history and consist of numerous variations. The Chinese word for bathhouses in general iszǎotáng (澡堂); in the stricter sense, this may refer to traditional, low-cost Chinese bathhouses, to contrast with modern, upmarket Chinese bathhouses known asxǐyù zhōngxīn (洗浴中心) or justxǐyù (洗浴).Hot springs andspas are calledwēnquán (温泉).[1]
Zǎotáng are traditional bathhouses that were once widespread in China, as most houses used to be built without running water or sanitation; the majority of these bathhouses have since disappeared due to modernization rendering them unnecessary.[2]Zǎotáng are sex-segregated and have facilities like lockers, shower rooms, communal baths, lounge areas, and free spaces for people to socialize. Meanwhile, some relatively large bathhouses offer services such as manicures, pedicures, massages, rubdowns, shaving, ear cleaning, and food with extra cost. Somezǎotáng may also have saunas, gyms, and private baths available.[3]
Xǐyù zhōngxīn, which translates to "bathing and recreation centers", also known as simplyxǐyù or "bath centers", are the more popular bathhouse choice in modern times and are treated as a leisurely activity rather than a necessity like traditionalzǎotáng were.[4] They may operate for 24 hours a day and are much more elaborate; they usually have restaurants, cinemas, video game stations, karaoke rooms, childcare centers, and optional overnight accommodation.Xǐyù can trace their roots back to traditional Chinese bathhouses, but also draw influences fromday spas andhotels.Shenyang inLiaoning province is considered the "bathing capital" of China due to its large number ofxǐyù available.[3]
There are many natural hot springs orwēnquán in China that are used for public bathing, some of them with free entry while others have been turned into resorts.Huaqing Pool is one of the most famous hot spring complexes, as the site has been used as an imperial palace for emperors' short stays away from the capital for more than 3,000 years.[5]
Bathhouses are most common in theNorth China Plain,Northeast China, andYangtze River Delta.[6] The provinces of China with the largest number ofzǎotáng areLiaoning,Shandong,Anhui,Jiangsu, andZhejiang.[6][7] They are less common in far south China and are rare innorthwest China.[6]
Northern Chinese bathhouses focus oncuōzǎo (搓澡) which is the custom of vigorously scrubbing the skin with a scrubbing cloth known as acuōzǎojīn (搓澡巾).[8] InNortheast China, many famous bathhouses sit by natural springs. In the 1950s, Northeast China saw a huge influx of workers. They lived in self-contained factory towns with all the necessities they required. This included basic bathhouses for working-class people to not only clean themselves after a long day of hard work, but also as a place to relax.[7]
The city ofYangzhou inJiangsu province is regarded as the birthplace of southern Chinese bathing culture and its bathhouses are considered the most fanciful among all traditional varieties of bathhouses in China. The Yangzhou bathhouses have a massage routine that consists of back-rubs (擦背cā bèi), scalding (烫背tàng bèi), and “drumming" (敲背qiāo bèi).[9] A genuine Yangzhou bath experience involves receiving green tea to ward off the chill, being enveloped in a towel while soaking, and being meticulously dried by a team of attendants. These bathhouses employ assistants known as "potboys" to serve tea, fetch food from the outside, and fold clothes. They also feature live performances of traditional arts such aspingshu orYangzhou opera from musicians and storytellers.[7]
Bathrooms and urban water supply systems appeared in China as early as theShang dynasty (1600 – 1046 BCE), such as the Dongzhouyang archaeological site inHenan Province. Bathing culture in Chinese literature can also be traced back to the Shang dynasty, whereoracle bone inscriptions describe the people washing hair and body in bath, suggesting people paid attention to personal hygiene. Bathrooms were calledbi (Chinese:湢), and bathtubs were made of bronze or timber.[10]
TheBook of Rites, a work regardingZhou dynasty (1046 – 256 BCE) ritual, politics, and culture compiled during theWarring States period, states that people should take a hot bath every five days and wash their hair every three days. It was also considered good manners to take a bath provided by the host before thedinner.[10]
In theHan dynasty (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), bathing became a regular activity every five days. Bath beans, a powdery soap mixture of ground beans, cloves, eaglewood, flowers, and even powdered jade, was a luxury toiletry in the Han dynasty; commoners used powdered beans without spices.[10]
Luxurious bathhouses built around hot springs were recorded in theTang dynasty（618 AD – 907 AD).[11]
While royal bathhouses and bathrooms were common among ancient Chinese nobles and commoners, the public bathhouse was a relatively late development. In theSong dynasty (960–1279), public bathhouses became popular and ubiquitous, and bathing became an essential part of social life and recreation.[10]
By theYuan dynasty (1271 AD - 1368 AD), bathhouses were known ashùntáng (混堂), which means "mixing hall". They provided massage, manicure, rubdowns, ear cleaning, food, and beverages.Marco Polo, who traveled to China during the Yuan dynasty, noted Chinese bathhouses usedcoal for heating, which he had never seen in Europe.[12] At that time coal was so plentiful that Chinese people of every social class took frequent baths, either in public baths or in bathrooms in their own homes.[13]
A typicalMing dynasty (1368 AD - 1644 AD) bathhouse had slabbed floors and brick dome ceilings. A huge boiler was installed in the back of the house, connected with the bathing pool through a tunnel. Water could be pumped into the pool byturning wheels attended by staff.[10]
China's oldest existing bathhouse isWengtang (瓮堂) inNanjing, which was first established in the earlyMing dynasty as the bathhouse of thePorcelain Tower of Nanjing. The bathhouse was in operation for over 600 years and was shut down in 2014 with future plans uncertain. The bathhouse is classified as a protected cultural relic by theJiangsu provincial government.[14]
In the lateQing Dynasty and earlyRepublic of China, bathing, as part of a clean lifestyle, began to receive social attention and promotion. As a result, public bathhouses sprang up in cities, and in the first half of the 20th century, bathhouses began to evolve into important bathing places for people.[1]
Since the late 20th century, many urban bathhouses in China have shifted from basic washing centers to larger leisure centers (xǐyù zhōngxīn) that offer dining, beauty treatments, games, and accommodation. Many traditional neighborhood bathhouses face dwindling patronage due to rising rents, and new ones have turned to attracting younger urban consumers.[15][16]
In the 21st century, some cities in China have “luxury bathhouses” that offer traditional hot pools and saunas, as well as branded spa-like services. Some include dining and overnight accommodations.[17]
Shuangxingtang, a traditional Chinese bathhouse inBeijing, was the primary setting of the 1999 Chinese filmShower, directed byZhang Yang.[18]
Bath Buddy is a 2020 film directed by Yi Xeroxing that centers on a bathhouse business. It topped the Chinese weekend box office upon its release.[19]