Whenever I show people photos from China, the spas are the first thing they ask about.

So let's start there.

Have you ever had an idea hit you so clearly, so confidently, that you just know it’s pure, unadulterated genius?

Mine came at 4 a.m. in a hotel room in Chongqing—after surviving a 30-hour flight.

My child and I were both wide awake, staring at the ceiling, fully aware that sleep was no longer an option… and the city wasn’t quite ready for our jet-lagged, slightly unhinged energy.

And then it hit me:

“Let’s go to a spa!”

If you’re picturing a silent, eucalyptus-scented room with salt lamps where everyone is aggressively relaxing—a place where children aren’t allowed, carbs are suspicious, and eye contact lasts just a bit too long…

Not that kind.

This one is open 24 hours, families come together, built for fun and indulgence. It’s less “retreat” and more “very comfortable, slightly chaotic community center with an excellent buffet and massages”.

The wristband opens your massage room and logs your spending. It becomes your entire identity. I was #A54 for the day, which sounds dystopian, but I was so well taken care of I understood Juliet’s point—what is in a name, really, if there’s unlimited ice cream?

We change into spa gowns, lock everything up, and walk out into the facility having left all our belongings—and about 80% of our anxiety—behind.

I want to be precise here, because “buffet” is wildly underselling it.

There are at least ten varieties of fresh fruit, arranged like someone genuinely cares about your vitamin intake.

A full refrigerator of drinks—juices, teas, sodas, water.

I made a conscious decision not to track how many Cokes and Sprites my daughter had. She’s not usually allowed pop. But I was busy making repeat visits to the self-serve ice cream, and a mom can only manage so much at once.

Then the hot food: steamed buns, corn, yam, congee with toppings, build-your-own noodles, stir-fries, soups, stews, seafood...

The spread changes throughout the day. Breakfast is generous. Lunch is generous. Dinner is… ambitious. On nights with crab and lobster, the line forms early and with purpose.

There’s a game room where, for roughly $2 an hour, you can sink into a lounge chair and play Switch, Xbox, or PC games. Free board games if that’s your speed.

And the nap pods—these deserve respect. Tatami-style capsules with sliding doors for privacy, quiet and cocooned.

This is where the real decisions happen.

Foot massage, full body, essential oil, aromatic, even ear cleaning—packages ranging from 300 to 650 yuan (roughly $60–100 CAD).

What you get: skilled hands, a beautiful space, and a price that doesn’t require emotional recovery afterward.

Worth knowing: the massage package usually includes full spa admission—food, hot tubs, sauna, all of it. Not an add-on. The whole experience. If you’re getting a massage anyway, your day is essentially covered.

For the two of us, we averaged around $40 CAD each for the entire day.

After the massage, you think you’re done.

You’re not. You’re barely halfway.

The salt room has infrared panels lining the walls—the kind of dry, enveloping heat that makes you feel like you’re being slowly restored rather than cooked. You sit. You do nothing. It’s… surprisingly effective.

Then the hot tub and sauna area.

There are snacks. Fresh fruit. Neatly arranged. Because apparently I hadn’t eaten enough already.

Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

Address: Copy paste this into your Amap app (Google doesn’t have good coverage in China) 手佳汤泉 (Shoujia hot spring) 重庆市两江新区华新街街道华新村360号附1号

Price:

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