Admit it—cheap massages are one of your favorite things about living in China. We’ve done the hard work of getting massages all over town, and have assembled this list of the best deals out there, broken up by neighborhood so that you’re never far away from total relaxation. We also tried out a few that were pretty horrific--we'll let you know where so you can give them a wide berth.

Sanlitun

Aibosen: This place is one of our favorite spots for massage. The blind massage therapists here really know their stuff, and full-body and foot massages are only ¥118 per hour. You also get tea, fruit and rice crackers at the end of your treatment. The two-story venue was just renovated last year, so it’s very clean and comfortable. Return customers can also get a 10-massage card for ¥790, or a 20-massage card for ¥1,380.

Find it: A11 Liufang Beili, 柳芳北里甲11号, Tel: 6465-2044

Kangning Massage: This local favorite offers one of the best massages we’ve ever had anywhere, and it’s a shocking ¥68 for an hour. The blind masseurs have an amazing understanding of all the problem areas for office workers , and they’re the only place we’ve been in the city that actually breaks down all the knots in our necks, shoulders and lower backs. You shouldn’t expect anything fancy—they’ll take you across a drafty corridor into a sparsely decorated communal massage room—but somehow you’ll still feel ridiculously relaxed, even with a stranger getting a massage right next to you.

Find it: Next to Door 1, 8 Xinyuan Nanlu, 新源南路8号楼1单元底商, Tel: 6463-1399

Frost Massage: Located smack-dab in the middle of expat central, this salon and spa has a small massage area but really specializes in stellar outcall services . We call Frost regularly, and the masseuses are always over within 30 minutes. They bring everything they’ll need with them, including extra towels so you don’t have to dirty your own. The quality of massage is excellent, with a level of pressure that is hard to find from female masseuses. It’s ¥120 for an hour-long full-body massage. Refer a friend and you’ll get the member’s price (¥100) for the service.

Find it: Just Make Bldg, 55-6 Xingfucun Zhonglu, 幸福村中路55-6号楼杰作大厦, Tel: 138-1107-4516

Dragonfly: At ¥168 for an hour-long Chinese- or Japanese-style massage and ¥280 for the cheapest oil massage, this is one of the more expensive places on our list, but it’s also one of the best deals. Basically, you’re getting a luxury hotel-quality massage and ambiance for a fraction of the price. Blind massage is all well and good, but we never walk out feeling as peaceful, relaxed and genuinely happy as we did leaving Dragonfly. Buy a book of 10 vouchers and you’ll get 15 percent off published rates. A book of 20 vouchers gets you 20 percent off, knocking the introductory massage down to ¥135.

Find it: Ground Floor, Grand Summit Plaza, 19 Dongfang Donglu, 东三环燕莎桥东方东路19号外交中心一层, Tel: 8532-3122

Bodhi: After seven years, Bodhi is looking a little frayed around the edges, but it still has the same excellent massages as before, at only slightly higher prices. The trick to getting the best deal here is to arrive before 5pm Monday through Thursday. Then you can get a one-hour, Chinese-style body massage or an 80-minute foot massage for only ¥110. The best part? Food and drinks are absolutely free, so don’t hesitate to ask staff to bring you goodies like lassis and fruit juices, along with more bizarre selections like peanut butter French toast and instant beef noodles.

Find it: 17 Gongti Beilu, 工体北路17号, Tel: 6413-0226

Gulou

Tang Massage: While spas catering to Western customers promise to soothe away your pain, great Chinese masseuses will pummel the bad humors out of you while you writhe in agony. Afterwards, however, is bliss. At Tang Massage you can choose from a range of masseuses, and there are even a couple of certified TCM massage therapists on staff. A one-hour massage with a standard masseuse or masseur runs ¥98, and an hour and a half is ¥147. Each therapist has a number—if you love the beating you just got at his or her hands, find out what it is and you can request the same one next time. The place gets busy after work, so make a reservation.

Find it: 8-2, Jiaodaokou Dajie, 交道口大街8-2, Tel: 8402-4408

Bai Ao Health Care Center: If you're in it for the massage and not the ambiance, then this Nanluoguxiang parlor is a top Gulou pick. The strong-fingered lads here really know their TCM, and can advise on the state of your health post massage. They offer cupping, reflexology and massages designed to heal certain organs (ovary therapy is a specialty, one grinning masseur informed us). Regular full-body massage is ¥88, and full-body massage with oil is ¥138. Instead of relaxing music, you'll be serenaded by the sounds of the other staff slurping noodles, watching TV or playing cards. Dusty cot coverings, fake flowers and torn couches complete the hutong feel. There are no frills or fancy amenities here, but for strong phalanges that penetrate deep into the muscle tissue, this place can't be beat. You'll walk away feeling like a happy Gumby doll.

Find it: 95 Nanluoguxiang, 南锣鼓巷95号, Tel: 6407-8038

CBD

Hummingbird: This clean Central Park newcomer offers a wide range of massages and treatments, starting from only ¥150 for Oriental or Zen Shiatsu massages. The staff is English-speaking and well trained, although they will do their best to push various package deals (from ¥3,000) while serving you complimentary green tea. The 60-minute Oriental massage is a heavenly experience that focuses on stretching, pushing and kneading your muscles. The masseuses are careful and highly trained, and will leave you relaxed and refreshed at the same time. This place has only been open six months, but it’s so popular that they’re already planning to expand this December.

Find it: Unit 103, Bldg 3, Central Park, 6 Chaowai Dajie, 朝阳大街6号新城国际3号楼103, Tel: 6597-9119

Daisy's: Daisy’s Beauty Salon isn’t the most atmospheric of places, but they have an excellent assortment of treatments at unbeatable prices. They have a variety of bargain-rate massages that are the perfect pairing after an intense waxing session. We tried their hour-long aroma Swedish massage (¥220) that starts with a tingly head massage and continues with long, sweeping stokes down your back and legs. Other massage options include the 50-minute reflexology massage (¥90) and the hour-long warm stone treatment for ¥280. Your first time includes a 15 percent discount, and you can buy membership cards that entitle you to discounts on the full menu at Daisy’s (¥3,000 for 15 percent discounts and ¥5,000 for 20 percent).

Find it: Rm 301, Bldg B, Sunshine 100 International Apartments, Guanghua Donglu, 光华东路阳光100国际公寓B座301室, Tel: 5100-0556

99 Massage & Spa: Located right by the Kerry Centre, 99 Massage and Spa offers standard service with English-speaking reception and a clean environment. Massages start at ¥220 for a 60-minute full-body. Oil massages start at ¥320 for 60 minutes. The prices include a full menu of fruit, snacks, tea and juices. 99’s real claim to fame, though, is that they offer 24/7 outcall services. You’ll pay for the masseuse’s cab fare, but other than that there’s no extra charge. It’s perfect for cold, lazy days, and for ensuring that your massage ambiance is just as you want it.

Find it: Rm 703, E-Tower C12, Guanghua Lu, 光华路丙12号数码01大厦703室, Tel: 6501-0799

Chaoyang Park

Hua Yang Healthcare Center: Hidden on the basement floor of an apartment complex, this health center is simple, traditional and cheap. The masseurs here know how to address your sore muscles and back aches. Their methods might not be the softest, but they are definitely efficient. The 70-minute standard package (¥88) gets you a full body massage, plus a head massage in one of their small rooms decorated with plain furniture which clearly once knew better times.

Find it: Bldg 19, Liulitun Beili, 六里屯北里19号楼, Tel: 6507-6391

JB Massage Center: This place seems to fly under the radar, but it’s one of our favorites. The venue is simple but clean, and the staff are very friendly. Best of all, if you go between 12-6pm, Monday through Friday, an hour-long full-body oil massage is only ¥98. We especially recommend masseuse number 2. The only drawback here? Every time we go, the soundtrack is a little bizarre.

Find it: 3/F, 32 Liangma-qiao Lu, 亮马桥路32号三层, Tel: 6436-4576

Blind Massage: This blind massage joint (盲人保建按摩示范店 ) isn’t as sketchy looking as its multiple counterparts around the city. It’s nice that the legally blind masseuses and masseurs don’t follow a routine but instead feel for the most stressful joints in your body. The space is clean and the service attentive. The regular back massage (¥118/hour) is great for those who really need their pressure points rubbed and rotated. We felt like every bone, joint and muscle was kneaded to gratification.

Find it: 1 Chaoyang Gongyuan Nanlu, 朝阳公园南路1号, Tel: 6594-0979

Lido

I Spa: This place is high-budget, but it’s very worth it. It’s one of the most luxurious spas we’ve visited in Beijing—all of the rooms are ensuite, some have bathtubs, and some actually boast their own private saunas. The ambiance is fantastic, and service is extremely attentive from the minute you arrive at reception. The deal here is that the first two bookings every day before 2pm are 50 percent off for the invigorating massage (normally ¥488 for 60 minutes), the classic Thai massage (¥558/90 minutes, ¥658/120 minutes) or—our top pick—the I Spa signature massage (¥628/90 minutes). You can even book online.

Find it: B1/F, Traders Upper East Hotel, Upper East Side, Xiaoyunqiao, 东四环霄云路桥阳光上东上东商茂饭店B1, Tel: 5907-8877

Oriental Taipan: This Taiwanese chain offers Western spa standards and is one of the city’s best values. The service is efficient, friendly and keeps customers deeply relaxed. Each massage is given in a private room, with dim lighting, a television and soft natural music. The foot massage, (¥198/75 min), starts with dipping your feet in a hot steaming tub of water and an initial back massage. But it’s the little extras that really make Oriental Taipan such a good deal—you get a hot neck pillow while they massage your feet, copious amounts of lotion and tons of free food. We always eat our fill of the tasty dumplings, noodles and little sandwiches.

Find it: 2/F, Block 9, Lido Place, A2 Fangyuan Xilu, 芳园西路甲2号丽都广场9号公寓2层, Tel: 6437-6299

Fu Yuan Tang: Over in Wangjing, this traditional Chinese medicine massage place offers an especially good atmosphere for the price. You’ll feel calmed as soon as you walk into the dark, Zen environment, with soothing music playing throughout the hallways. The massages are done in private rooms, on massage beds that are more cushioned and comfortable than average. These massages are grounded in Chinese medicine, and the regular back massage (¥118) is a pressure point pat down aimed at promoting healthy internal organs.

Find it: Lize Xiyuan Bldg 303, Guangshun Bei Dajie, 广顺北大街利泽西园303号楼, Tel: 8478-7778

Wrong Touch: Massage Horror Stories

Masochist’s Delight

The pink walls vibrate with the sounds of progress outside, but Blind Massage has resisted the call of the future. The small parlor doubles as a home for a large, rambunctious family and the interior smells of cabbage. Our masseuse, an old man in a suit with a trimmed beard, reeked of cigarette smoke and pickled onion. This massage (RMB100 for hour-long full-body) is not to be enjoyed, it's to be survived. We think it's called Blind Massage because the masseuses turn a blind eye to your contortions of agony. While the masseuse rearranged our organs into a Picasso figuration, we were accosted by the sounds of screaming children and traffic. It appears these masseuses enjoy inflicting pain, and they play chiropractor and doctor as well as dominatrix. There are no frills, no decorations and no ventilation, and you’ll want to arrange to shower afterwards.

Blind Massage 2-4 Banchang Hutong, Tel: 6401-4134

Footing the Bill

We heard good things about this popular chain, but it was awful. We waited an hour, even though we had called ahead and made a reservation. The decoration is gaudy and the massage was so bad that we had to ask to change the masseuse. We had also asked for an any upper body massage, but we couldn’t get it until a 25-minute wait after the foot massage. Turns out, they are supposed to send another group of people to do the shoulders because the other masseuses are only specially trained to massage your feet—ridiculously inefficient! When we left, they also tried to charge us for the tea that the manager had offered for free at first because we had to wait an hour for the massage.

Liangzi: 24-8 Jianguomenwai Dajie

Ashtray Massage

A friend recommended Shu Leisure Garden Centers to us for their ridiculously cheap massages. She neglected to tell us that the place is totally disgusting. We were put in a room that stunk so badly of old cigarettes that it would even offend smokers. We didn’t really want to put our face down on the towel, which didn’t feel the cleanest, but we sucked it up and hoped for a great massage. The 105-minute oil back massage and non-oil full body treatment (RMB116) was mediocre. We left with the knots in our neck still intact and feeling very, very dirty.

1 Gongti Beilu, 工体北路1号, Tel: 8686-6661