Even just a few decades ago, for most Beijingers taking a bath was a luxurious activity that only happened on special occasions.

Now both men and women enjoy going to public baths not only to get clean but also to socialize with business partners, meet with friends or simply relax.

Beijingers chat at a hotspring pool in a modern bathhouse. Photo courtesy of Mirror Evening News

The modern public baths no longer exists just to satisfy people's basic washing needs, they are a leisure choice and more like bathing complexes, as they include such facilities as restaurants and hotels.

According to the statistics from the Beijing Bath Trade Association (BBTA), the city currently has around 2,000 establishments committed to the bathing industry, out of which 800 are high-class bathing complexes.

He Peiyun, the vice chairwoman of BBTA pointed out that the main characteristic feature of the modern bathing industry is "one-stop service".

"You can eat there and sleep there. If you get bored, you can relax in a hot spring, surf on the Internet or watch a movie," He said.

Nowadays, most modern bathing complexes open 24 hours a day, and are equipped with continuous buffets, and the variety of actual bathing facilities are becoming increasingly varied.

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The facilities include hot springs at different temperatures, milk pools, coffee pools, and pools with Chinese medicines specially designed for people's special needs.

The size of these high-class bathing complexes is huge.

Most of them are 7,000 to 8,000 sq m and their prices ranged from 80 yuan to 300 yuan per person.

"Most of the high-class bathing complexes target high-class customers.

As many as 60 percent of our clients are business people," He told METRO.

Reflecting this, she said that, "Most of the bathing complexes are now equipped with conference rooms.

They are perfect to hold business events. After a meeting, people can have dinner there and if they get drunk or tired, they can stay at the hotels or take a bath to get relaxed."

The bath industry in Beijing generates 100 million yuan every year, and there are around 100 million customers annually.

Wang Guihai, the marketing manager of the Hot Club in Fengtai district, also believes one-stop service is the key to the modern industry's success.

"People need a place to hang out, to have dinners, to rest and to relax. Now you can have them all in one place, why waste time and traffic to go to different places?" Wang said.

Su Yan, a white collar who often visits No 9 Hot Spring at weekends, said the bathing experience is the most relaxing she has ever had.

"The city life can be tough,"she said.

"It is nice to spoil myself with a hot bath and a relaxing massage."