Old-fasioned public bathhouse survives in Beijing

Photo taken on July 27, 2011 shows the entrance of Shuangxingtang Public Bathhouse in Beijing, capital of China. Shuangxingtang Public Bathhouse, established in 1916, is a traditional Chinese public bathhouse that is still in service. It is the place where the award-winning movie Shower (1999), directed by Zhang Yang, was shot. The bathing fee here is only 8 RMB (1.24 US dollars) per person, a very friendly price for ordinary people. However, to most of customers, it is also a place for social communication. They come here to make friends, chat, have tea, play Chinese chess, have rubdowns and cupping therapy, have a bath or a shower, enjoying leisure time and relaxation. There used to be, according to a survey, more than 100 old-fasioned public bathhouses like this in Beijing in 1935, but apparently Shuangxingtang is one of the few that still survive today. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)


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