It's a fact that work usually dominates the last few days before Spring Festival. Yet however busy people are, they should always leave some time to relax. The most convenient way to relax is to hit the spa. People just lay there in water or on a bed while masseuses take of their bodies with magic tender fingers. A spa is the ultimate pleasure. Ultimate pleasure requires the right venue. For your convenience, here are some prestigious spa houses in Beijing and Shanghai.

Beijing

*Anantara Spa

Starbucks didn't stay in the Forbidden City, but German hotel chain Kempinski so far is getting along well with Chinese Great Wall. Hiden in a green valley at the foot of Badaling Great Wall, Kempinski has developed a stable customer base. Anantara Spa is located just inside Kempinski Great Wall.

At the entrance of Anantara Spa people are greeted with a refreshing and pleasant thread of lemon leaves. Anantara Spa has two distinctive programs. One of them, named as Anantara Cultural Package, lasts two hours and will help people quickly recover from physical and mental fatigue. The other, the Anantara Spas Journey, lasts two to seven days and is for people coming to the Great Wall for vocation. The latter is tailor-made and altered according to each customer's needs. An arrangement so considerate is surely well rewarded and Anantara was hailed in the British travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List 2007.

For winters specifically, customers may try the Winter Romantic Melody Package. It includes a 30-minute hot TCM sauna, a 45-minute warm Boreh dry skin elimination treatment and a 45-minute back massage. Combining back massage with warm and pungent treatment nutrients, this winter package treats winter skin damage Plus, the whole massage trip is complemented by soothing music exclusive to Anantara.

Anantara Spa has also worked out, together with the Kempinski Hotel, a menu for spa customers including both drinks and staple food but all insipid and healthy.

Location: Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski, the Great Wall Exit at Shuiguan, Badaling Highway
Tel: 021-81181888

*Zen Spa

Globalization is a fusion era. Elements of various nations and various cultures 'spirit. While occupying an archaic traditional Chinese courtyard, Zen Spa's decoration follows the principle of western aesthetics.

Entering Zen Spa, customers are easily taken aback by the fusion or mood dominating the venue. While the sound of creeks and the breeze coming from the window create a natural hue, the cutting edge western spa equipment in sight will immediately remind customers that we are already far away from that barbaric era. This special contradiction is in line with the essence of Buddhism, the dominant theme at Zen Spa as its name suggests. Buddha bears all contradictions in heart and then turns them into a harmonious single one.

Zen Spa has special winter programs. The whole process lasts three hours, including a sugar candy fresh ginger bath which is moisturizing and keeps off coldness and humidity, a traditional Thai herbal medicine massage and then a Thai essential oil massage. In this process the customer gets to experience both Chinese and Thai massage techniques. A bonus is the free natural flower tea and fresh juice as well as a special Dubai flower tea.

Location: Bldg 1, A8 Xiaowuji Lu, 15 exit Dongsihuan Nanlu
Tel: 021-87312530

Shanghai

*Lotos Spa

Lotos Spa stands out for its considerate alterations. The spa will change its dominant fragrance as the weather changes. Customers smell pleasant orange fragrance on cloudy days but soothing rosemary on hot days. On summer days, customers canhave jasmine and mint tea, but lemon tea is served in winter.

The spa's flower engraved thick wooden door opens automatically as customers approach it. As the door closes quietly, it also blocks all the outside metropolitan hustle and bustle. Inside the spa are creeks and chirping birds.

Lotos Spa has two specialties. One is Xiangtuo massage, which originates from Thailand. It's a massage technique designed to help people in acute pain in specific body parts, such as backaches, shoulder aches, neck-aches, common among office workers. The masseuse will put a special sack where it hurts. The pack contains 16 hot traditional Chinese medicines whose special aroma helps drive away the pain. This technique does pretty well for ladies going through their period. The other is French original Phytomer collagen facial, which is exceptionally effective in moisturizing skin and making it shine.

Location: 2/F West Tower Somerset Grand Shanghai, 8 Jinan Lu, near Taicang Lu
Tel: 021-33080088

*Sensation Spa

While most spa houses are in an apartment, Sensation Spa is an independent building, with glass walls on four sides through which sunshine easily makes its way into the room. The whole spa is wrapped in the aroma of British original essential oil whose aroma changes with the season.

Rose Otto massage is Sensation Spa's unique program. The masseuse will use the special Damascus Rose Otto essential oil, which is a top luxury aromatic essential oil, to give customers a thoroughly soothing massage. Red Wine Massage is Sensation Spa's another specialty. The special function of red wine will help whiten and tighten the skin. The whole Red Wine Massage package includes dry skin elimination, red wine milk bubble bath and red wine lotion.

Location: 3/F, Jinqiao Megafit Sports Club, 600 Lantian Lu, near Yanggao Zhong Lu
Tel: 021-50306005

(Modern Weekly January 15, 2008)