What are the main services at Shenzhen water clubs? Get an easy overview of wellness and leisure options.

Okay, so folks kept mentioning these “water clubs” in Shenzhen. Heard all sorts of things, you know? Sounded kinda mysterious, maybe a bit fancy. Curiosity got the better of me, had to check it out myself one time I was down there with some time to kill.

Didn’t really plan it much. Just finished up some work, felt tired, thought why not? Remembered someone mentioning a certain area, so I just hopped in a taxi and said take me somewhere around there. Ended up outside this big building, looked pretty grand from the outside. Took a breath and walked in.

Inside, yeah, it was pretty much what you’d expect from the outside. Lots of shiny floors, soft lighting, staff looking sharp. Felt a bit formal, but they were polite enough. Guy at the front explained the basic entry fee, what it covered. Mostly access to the bathing areas and lounges, standard stuff.

So, paid the fee, got my wristband key thingy, and went to the locker room. Changed into the robe and slippers they give you. First stop was the main bathing area. It was huge. Had several big pools – some warm, some hot, even a cold plunge one which woke me right up! Tried the sauna for a bit, then the steam room. Just spent a good hour or so just soaking and hopping between the different pools and rooms. Pretty relaxing start.

After the bathing part, I wandered into this big lounge area. Comfortable chairs, big screens showing sports or something. They had free fruits, snacks, and drinks laid out – juices, tea, water. Grabbed some watermelon and just chilled for a while. Saw other people ordering actual food too, like noodles and rice dishes. Looked like a proper restaurant menu they had.

Then I started noticing doors leading off the main lounge. Signs mentioned different things. Massage services were obviously a big one – saw menus listing stuff like body massage, foot massage, oil massage. They called these different ‘projects’ I guess. There were guys trying to sell you on these extra services, showing you the price lists. Saw rooms for other things too, like body scrubs, ear cleaning, that sort of thing. Some areas looked like private rooms, maybe for resting or getting specific treatments.

I opted for a basic foot massage, figured why not. Led me to another area, sat me in a comfy chair, and someone worked on my feet for an hour while I kinda zoned out watching whatever was on the TV screen in front of me. It was alright, nothing mind-blowing but did the job.

So, what are the “projects” at these Shenzhen water clubs? From what I saw and did, it’s basically a mix of things built around the bathing experience. You got:

Bathing and Soaking: The core part. Hot pools, cold pools, saunas, steam rooms.

Relaxing and Lounging: Big common areas to just sit, nap, have free snacks and drinks.

Food and Beverage: Beyond the free stuff, you can order full meals.

Massage and Body Treatments: This seemed like the main ‘add-on’ service or ‘project’. Foot massage, body massage, scrubs, etc. Lots of options, varying prices.

Other Amenities: Some places might have stuff like movie rooms, game rooms, little shops.

Basically, you go in, pay an entry, use the basic wet facilities, and then you can add on these other services, the ‘projects’, if you want, which you pay extra for. It’s like a fancy spa mixed with a lounge and restaurant. Spent a few hours there, felt refreshed leaving, but also felt like I understood it now. It wasn’t some super mysterious thing, just a place to wash up, relax, and maybe get a rub down if you feel like spending the extra cash. That was my little adventure into that world, anyway.