#8 costs an order of magnitude more than you indicated you wanted to spend. It's quite opulent inside. I've been there a couple of times and it's definitely a "legit" place and often see fathers with their young sons there. The place is immaculately clean and it is huge inside.

I've also heard, but cannot confirm, that some folks go to the KTV next door, pick up a hostess of interest, and then meet them later in the massage rooms at the spa afterwards. It's just hearsay since I've never been to the KTV.

Best,

It's been a while, but I seem to remember is costing more like triple that price, but I wasn't paying so perhaps I'm mistaken.

Best,

I would like to visit No.8 because I like their great website.

Is it very expensive to get the massage service etc? What would you expect to pay for a good visit?

And where exactly is it? I know it's near Chaoyang Park but not enough to tell a taxi driver.

BigJ

No.8 is probably the most western-friendly place, the service is very professional as is NOT the case with most other bathhouses. Another good place would bu Sunshine Club (i'm not 100% sure about the english name of this place) it's called 金色阳光俱乐部 (jin se yang guang ju le bu), they have two locations, one at 麦子店 (mai zi dian) and the other at 西直门 (xi zhi men). The atmosphere is rather different at these two places, No.8 is big and extravagant, while Sunshine is more a cozy place, they cost the same for almost everything except the food at Sunshine is better and they did a better job with the renovation. No.8 is actually very seedy if you go upstairs, but for a bath and a scrub it's very nice.

it's just as nice and is cleaner if you count the private rooms, it isn't as big as No.8 is though. As for whether the Xi Zhi Men one is near the subway i'm not sure, I've only been to the Mai Zi Dian one. The Xi Zhi Men one is supposed to actually be bigger and better as it is the first one. There's one weird thing at Sunshine though it is that they don't give you slippers like most places do, you can buy a pair but normally for men they just let you go upstairs after your bath barefoot (the whole place is carpeted though) and women are given socks.

I have one for you, it's a korean place in Wangjing, also 40kuai something. dont know the name. call them, 65923666.

Some places to stay away from:

Eastern Venice (东方威尼斯）which is right off the side of West 3rd ring road, it looks HUGE (alot like the train station) and it may seem glamorous from the side of the road but the water quality and service are both terrible, it is owned by the same person as Dong Fang Kai De Hua (near Zhi Chun Lu in the northwest of the city around all the universities and zhong guan cun) which is a little better but smaller than it's new location.

Beijing Kai De Hua (北京凯德化）they recently hiked up ticket prices from 69 to 129, for 69 it was a good place, for the new price it's one of the worst. It was recently shut down and over 40 girls working there were prosecuted so they're going through some changes which are not necessarily beneficial to the consumer.

Morely Club (魔力盛汇）co-owned by the owner of No.8, it is renovated almost the same as No.8, but because of it's location the quality is much worse. It is bigger than No.8 though and the guest rooms are nicer, but the service staff is far too pushy to try and get you to spend more, including on massages. Was also shut down in the spring, the rumor is for gambling.

a little of both, more of the first reason though, it's kind of an industry standard for large bathhouses

just a little update about the Golden Sunshine Club I suggested, the XiZhiMen Nei location is the old one, the first of three in Beijing. The newest one is the one near No.8 which is the one I suggested, i suggest not going to the old one. Theres another one near XiZhiMen that's their flagship location but I havent been there yet so if you do take my suggestion go to the one at MaiZiDian (麦子店)

If you in Beijing for a short visit, you better go to #8 Club, get the best and nicest place, don't think about money, it is not expensive if you not taking massage or extra services as kisses from long leg stewardess in private room. However, without massage you will spend less than Y200, with best massage and food, something like Y800. Massage is really good...

I have never been impressed by No. 8 club. Its big, and the location is easiest, but I don't think it has much going for it other than that.

I actually hate the service there compared with Sunshine and a few others I have been to. Other places are more friendly and relaxing, they leave you alone, and let you just chill out-I find No.8 to be pushy, crowded and inflexible and often rude.

Does anyone know the name of the one next to a rollerblading store inside northeast third ring, near Taiyanggong qiao? I find that place to much better, and cheaper as well-although not quite as extravegant.

I'm surprised there are so few places listed out there. Walking around Maizaidian and Tuanjiehu there looks to be a lot of saunas / bathhouse type places around. I haven't been to any yet and came on here to look for some recommendations first.

Does anyone have any more recent info on the best bathhouses to try around this area for most importantly a cheap and clean bath/sauna as the weather gets cold. Extras like food and massage a distant second - I've got a girlfiend at home for that!!

On a different note, I'll be going to Forbidden Palace 丽城会所 (40 Nongzhanguan N. St East of Great Wall Sheraton, 农展馆北路40号) soon - it's a paid for gift mind you - so I'll make a report on how the other extreme of saunas go!