Another common item that tourists look for are silk robes. These usually can be found in shops catering to tourists as they are not that popular among the Chinese. One can also buy silk handicrafts such as embroidered silk wall hangings, children’s clothing and accessories like neckties.
Bolts of colorful Chinese silk for sale in a fabric shop.
The iconic slim-fitting traditional qipao or cheongsam in ‘lucky’ red Chinese silk.
Silk robes and neckties are popular items among visitors to China.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)
The traditional Chinese approach to treating illness is much more holistic than in the West. A traditional Chinese doctor will not only look at the symptoms of an illness but seek to understand the cause and how it relates to other functions of the body. The emphasis is on balance in the body, manifested through the principles of yin and yang. Too much of one thing, such as heat, causes an imbalance leading to a variety of illnesses. The five elements (air, earth, fire, metal and wood) are also integral to traditional Chinese medicine as they are part of the life force (qi) that flows through the body. The qi of the elements waxes and wanes in the body in daily and seasonal cycles.
Herbal medicine for sale at a Chinese medical hall.
If you have a headache, the problem may not be in your head. Traditional Chinese medicine tries to solve the underlying problem instead of treating your headache. After taking traditional medicine, you may not feel the effect immediately and you may still have a headache, but over a certain time the underlying problem will be treated and the headache will go away. While Western medicine may make your headache go away quickly, it is a temporary fix.
In general, for acute diseases the Chinese prefer Western medicine, but for chronic diseases they usually think traditional Chinese medical methods are more effective.
CUPPING THERAPY
Cupping therapy is another way to stimulate points along the acupuncture meridians. It is believed that cupping draws out toxins and waste from the body. It also can stimulate the body’s immune system, promote the flow of blood and qi and increase metabolism. It is done by suctioning small glass, metal or wood jars on the affected area. The suction is created by placing a small flame in a jar, then quickly placing it on the body. This stimulates the area by causing coagulation of the blood. Once all the jars are in place, you feel a strong pulling sensation as the skin is drawn about an inch inside the cups, but this eases within a few minutes. Cupping therapy is commonly used for backaches, soft tissue injuries, sprains, acne, colds and asthma. It leaves large, round red marks on your body that gradually disappear over 4–5 days. Sometimes cupping therapy is done publicly in parks or at night markets.
I discovered cupping therapy several years ago when my neck and shoulders were very tight after a long flight to China. After the first time, I was hooked. Up until then, I had only had traditional Chinese massages. After the therapist began massaging me, he suggested cupping therapy as another way to loosen my neck muscles. He placed about 18 glass cups on my back. At first the pulling sensation was fairly intense, not painful, but almost. After about 5–10 minutes, it reduced to a long pulling sensation, then I began to relax. After about 30 minutes, he returned and began taking the cups off my back. Once they were all off, I felt really loose and relaxed, much more so than with massage alone. Every time I go to China now, I get cupping therapy to loosen me up and help me relax. My wife and kids are always amused to see the big red marks all over my back when I return.
A man receiving cupping treatment, an ancient form of Chinese alternative medicine for drawing out toxins and waste from the body.
TRADITIONAL CHINESE MASSAGE
Traditionally, massage therapists in Chinese were blind but most clinics today employ both blind and sighted therapists. A Chinese massage is usually done with the client fully clothed. The therapist will put a sheet or light towel over your clothes so that their hands are not in direct contact with your body. Massage is a common way to deal with stress or problems with your back, neck or other areas of your body.
In many hair salons, a scalp, neck and shoulder massage is part of the cost of a haircut, and can be quite relaxing. In other salons, you can get a hair wash and massage without having a cut.
I’m a big fan of traditional Chinese massage. I began going to a local traditional massage therapy clinic for neck and shoulder tension when I was living in Nanjing. It was a great way to relax and get loosened up. Not only is it convenient and therapeutic, it is also very cheap. You can typically get a full body massage, which includes your head, neck, shoulders, back, legs, arms and upper chest for less than US $15. There is nothing sleazy or erotic about a traditional Chinese massage. Legitimate clinics are clearly marked outside and typically have a ‘menu’ of the services available.
Most traditional Chinese massage clinics also provide the option of a foot massage. Foot massages can also be found on the street near night markets. There are various kinds of foot massage, which are particularly relaxing if you have been on your feet a lot. Most begin by soaking your feet in an herbal solution to soften and relax them. After about 15–20 minutes, you lie back in a reclining padded chair for the massage. The service often includes a pedicure to remove rough, callused skin. This is typically done with scary looking knives, but there is nothing dangerous about it.
The best way to find a traditional massage clinic is to ask around. Some larger hotels may also have clinics or can refer you to one.
QIGONG AND TAICHI
Qigong is the blending of breathing techniques, postures or gentle movements and meditation to cleanse, strengthen and circulate the qi or life energy in your body, which circulates through channels called meridians. Qigong attempts to keep this system strong and healthy. It is not only practiced for health but also as a form of martial arts and for spiritual practice to bring the practitioner more in harmony with nature. Qigong has been an integral part of Chinese life throughout history and is mentioned in texts dating back 2,000 years. It is usually associated with Taoist principles and combines principles of Chinese medicine, martial arts and meditation. Practitioners of qigong claim great health benefits, including the ability to prevent and cure disease.
Taichi taichi (taiqi) is a form of martial arts that emphasizes slow, fluid movements. It is usually considered a form of exercise and can be seen all over China when groups gather in parks, college campuses and open spaces in the morning to practice the various taichi forms. Practitioners wear loose, flowing, traditional clothing. Most universities with foreign student programs offer taichi classes but you can also show up at just about any park or public space early in the morning and find people doing taichi. It may be possible to join one of these groups and learn by observation and mimicry. Many Chinese will be happy to coach you, although most Chinese who practice taichi outdoors tend to be older. You can also buy DVDs of taichi lessons at most bookstores, or simply go online and find video instruction of taichi. Taichi is not terribly difficult to learn but it is difficult to master. I have taken taichi courses on at least three different occasions but it is easy to forget the moves if you don’t practice regularly. Most beginner-level courses teach 24 basic forms.