When Can Saunas in Shenzhen Open Again? Find Out the Latest Official Updates and News Here.

Man, I’ve been trying to figure this out myself – when exactly are the saunas going to start operating again here in Shenzhen? It feels like forever.

I actually started looking into this a few weeks back. First thing I did was just call up a couple of the places I used to visit regularly. You know, the usual spots. One phone number just rang and rang, nobody picked up. Another one had that automated message saying the number wasn’t in service anymore. Not a great start.

Then I tried searching online. Typed in all sorts of things like “Shenzhen sauna reopening date” or “health spa open Shenzhen”. Mostly got old articles from way back, or forum posts from ages ago with people asking the same question. Nothing current, nothing solid. It’s like digging for treasure with a plastic shovel.

My Own Little Investigation

This whole situation kinda reminds me of something else entirely, back when things were really tight during the pandemic restrictions. Not about saunas, but about getting simple things done. I remember trying to get a package delivered, a gift for my nephew’s birthday. The delivery guy called me, said he was downstairs, but the security guard in my compound wouldn’t let him leave it, wouldn’t even let him near the entrance. Security guy was following some super strict rules that apparently changed day by day.

I had to go down, argue for like ten minutes, show my ID, show his delivery confirmation, practically plead just to get this small box. The guard wasn’t budging easily. Said his instructions were clear, “no unnecessary deliveries”. Felt ridiculous. Took way too much effort for something so simple. Everyone had different rules, nobody seemed to be on the same page.

And that’s what this sauna thing feels like now. You hear different stories depending on who you ask. I was chatting with a taxi driver the other day, just making conversation, and asked him if he knew anything. He said he heard some places were getting ready, doing renovations maybe. But then he also said he heard others were closing down for good.

So last weekend, I decided to just walk around a bit, check out some areas where I knew saunas used to be. It was a mixed bag.

• One place looked completely deserted. Like, dust on the windowsills, posters faded. Clearly not opening anytime soon.
• Another spot, though, looked… maybe hopeful? The lights were off, but the entrance looked clean. Peeking through a gap in the curtains, I thought I saw some movement inside, maybe cleaning staff? Hard to tell.
• Talked to a nearby restaurant owner. He just kinda shrugged. Said he thought they needed some new kind of license or inspection, but wasn’t sure. Said business is slow for everyone in that sort of service industry.

So, what’s the deal?

Honestly, after all that asking around and looking, I’m still not sure. There’s no official announcement that I can find anywhere reliable. It’s all hearsay and observation.

It feels like maybe some places want to open, but they’re stuck waiting for permits, or staff, or just the final go-ahead from whatever authority is in charge. And other places might have just given up during the tough times.

So, the practical answer to “when?” seems to be “not yet, and nobody knows exactly when”. It’s frustrating. You just want a place to relax, sweat out the stress, you know? But feels like we’re still waiting for the green light. Just gotta keep an eye out, I guess. Maybe one day I’ll walk past and see those familiar glowing signs turned back on.