Massages in China are absolutely nothing like massages in America. Nothing at all. There is no soothing music or lotion and hot rocks, there is hardcore massaging.

When we arrived to the sketchiest place I’ve ever been, we were all escorted to six beds laying side by side. We climbed in and had our pictures taken multiple times. Our first task was to put our feet in extremely hot water.

Then, each person was matched with a female to perform the massage. They started with our feet and worked up. They literally beat on my body, pushed on my body, and pulled my ligaments in ways they should not be pulled. Oddly enough, it felt great afterward.

Some of our group decided to get the comb and glass treatments. The comb treatment required you to have your back physically scratched with a comb to remove tension. The glass treatment was performed by bulbs/glasses being lit with a flame. Once the flame was gone, the burning glasses were placed down the back on either side to suck toxins out of the skin. The suction left massive, circular blood blisters all along the backs of the victims.

I was not brave enough to have the more intense massages, but several were. The massage experience is definitely a story for my kids.

Kaitlin Chappell

Ni hao! My name is Kaitlin Chappell. I am a junior (soon to be senior) at the University of North Alabama. I am majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in marketing. My dream is to be a news reporter and eventually an anchor on Good Morning America. I love to talk and I love to meet new people and hear their stories. I love love and laughing. Coffee shops are one of my obsessions. Traveling is another. I will be studying abroad in China for three weeks at Tian Jian University. I will be exploring several different areas of China, learning the language and customs, and meeting the people. I will blog and post pictures and videos to capture my trip. Join me on my adventures in the great land of China.

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