Luckily, Beijing’s harsh Winter is beginning to ease, and the oh-so-pretty Spring allows ample opportunity to emerge from hibernation and get out n’ about. Fancy a session of stress-busting yoga or a walk on the wild side? Here are three quick picks for finding your zen. Namaste!
Have a Spa-tacular Break
Lazy as a clam? Should you prefer pampering over pootling, simply surrender to The Peninsula Beijing’s two-hour, slumber-inducing Jade Hot Stone Massage, harnessing the health-promoting powers of jade – often dubbed the Stone of Heaven – and healing aromatherapy oils. This exquisite treat includes a cleansing facial, energy-grounding techniques and an acupressure head massage before heated jade stones are applied with long, soothing deep massage strokes. The sophisti spa, all Sino-sleek wooden lattices, marble and granite, is dreamy too. Tension begone!
8 Jinyu Hutung, Wangfujing, +86 10 6510 6871, beijing.peninsula.com
Get Your Om Back
Rise and shine with the early birds to ease into your best downward dog at Yoga Yard, Sanlitun’s centre for yoga and wellness, with all-level classes in English and Chinese. Offering time to relax, chill out and flex that chi, sessions include restorative yoga, Iyengar, meditation, chanting and Vinyasa dance. It’s also a chance to show off your new athleisure-wear.
6/F, 17 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang, +86 10 6413 0774, yogayard.com
Go Tree Huggin’
If you’d rather enlist the soothing energies of nature, pick a clear day and take a serene amble in the beautiful Beijing Botanical Gardens, exploding with blossom in spring. Backdropped by the Western Hills about a kilometre from Fragrant Hills Park, it’s a sanctuary of bamboo, pines, peonies, lilies and medicinal herbs. Warm up in the humid rainforest hothouse in the Tropical Conservatory, packed with over 3,000 varieties of plants including extravagant orchids and carnivores. The venerable Wofo Temple, housing a huge reclining Sakyamuni Buddha statue, and Cao Xueqin Memorial to the acclaimed writer, offer stimulating brain food.
Xiangshan Lu, Haidian, +86 10 6259 1283, beijingbg.com
A version of this article appeared on PenCities.
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