APSARA Spa

What: Signature Royal APSARA Massage (60 min), Timeless Rejuvenation Facial Renewal (75 min)
Where: 457 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Beijing Xi Lu.
Why: Rejuvenate your skin’s youthfulness in time for spring
How much: RMB 280 and RMB 440 respectively

The philosophy at APSARA is to create a more balanced lifestyle for those caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Shanghai metropolis. As such, you find yourself a world away from the daily chaos in this Jing’an spa; transported instead – metaphorically speaking - to a tranquil Cambodian retreat within its natural wood and exotic leaf enclosure.

For my massage, the Signature Royal, I was offered a choice of three unique blends of organic oils. The massage itself was a combination of Cambodian and Swedish techniques, the result being that I anticipated the pressure of the massage being relatively strong. My masseuse however, was careful to check the intensity, before beginning with a deep tissue spine massage, to reduce aches and pains and alleviate stress. It turns out it was precisely what I needed, and whether it was the lemongrass fragrance, heated massage table, skillful technique of my masseuse or a combination of all three, I was able to completely and utterly unwind.

After the massage, I tried the Time Rejuvenation facial. Truth be told, it was my first experience with facial creams and facial masks, and with my beard, I felt like Mel Gibson in the movie What Women Want. Nevertheless the blend of ginseng, raspberry and rose extract creams resulted in my having an unabashedly pleasant experience, and on leaving the spa, I felt younger, fresher and livelier.