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At The Peninsula Spa Shanghai, little touches like heated massage tables and excellent tea served pre- and post-treatment go a long way. But so do the spa’s impressive Eastern-based signature services, like the Bamboo Harmonizer, where a therapist rolls a stick of bamboo on your tense muscles to stimulate your body’s energy. You may never leave the his-and-hers “thermal suites,” which come with separate saunas, steam rooms, shaved ice fountains and comfy relaxation areas.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- While the extensive white marble of the reception area gives the Shanghai retreat a regal air, the waiting area adopts a more cozy feeling, with plush white armchairs and a matching white couch with bright navy blue accent pillows you can sink into.
- As the soft music washes over you, the Five-Star spa's staff softly sweeps in and out to provide tea, water and anything else you require.
- You’ll see a glass display of all the pampering products in the reception area, where you can purchase some to take home with you.
- We particularly love ESPA’s soothing eye lotion, which uses cornflower, cucumber and watermelon to cool and ease redness and reduce under-eye puffiness.
- One of our favorites is the Anti-Cellulite Hip and Thigh treatment. This 50-minute godsend targets areas that are prone to cellulite with exfoliation using a blend of seaweed, salt and oils.
Things to Know
- If you’re staying at The Peninsula Shanghai and are on your way to the spa, the hotel welcomes you to change into a robe and slippers in your room before coming down.
- Alternatively, if you’re just visiting for the day spa, plush robes in a cool, crisp waffle weave and comfortable terry cloth slippers will be provided for you to wear before and after your treatment.
- There are separate sauna facilities for men and women, so a bathing suit is optional. If you feel more comfortable wearing one you’ll need to bring your own.
- The majority of products used at The Peninsula Spa, Shanghai are by ESPA, an award-winning spa company.
- Although children of any age can visit the pool area, guests must be 16 or older to book an appointment with the lavish spa.
The Treatments
- The Bamboo Harmoniser stimulates Chi energy by rolling and gliding various stalks of bamboo on the body to target sore spots and stress issues.
- Pollution, jetlag, stress — your face is exposed to it all, and the result is dull skin. Fortunately, the Instant Brightener facial targets that issue by using meadowsweet and organic red mandarin oil to restore energy and brightness to your skin.
- Personally select the aromatherapy oils used in this deeply therapeutic massage to achieve your desired effect. Five different blends include detoxifying, de-stresser, muscle relaxer, jet-lag eliminator and immune booster.
- During an oriental thermal infusion, a poultice of cassia, ginkgo leaf, ginseng and ginger are blended together and spread over the face and body to tranquilize tired bodies and eliminate toxins, leaving you refreshed and revitalized.
- Rid your body of the effects of a long flight through the jet lag therapy package, which includes the envelopment and aromatherapy massage. The service utilizes essential oils to delete the stress of travel, and the instant brightener facial to restore your glow.
The Facilities
- The locker room is bright and immaculate, with all the amenities you need to clean up post-treatment: think mouthwash, hair products and styling tools.
- You’ll hear the wet areas before you see them as the plunking sounds of ice falling from the ceiling into chic spa’s ice fountain reach your ears upon entering the locker room.
- Investigate further and you’ll find the chilled fountain is just the beginning of what the wet areas has to offer.
- Doors opposite the fountain lead to the thermal suite, in which a sauna and steam room are used to unwind pre- or post-treatment.
- The icing on the cake, however, is the lifestyle shower just adjacent to the two heated rooms. With multiple showerheads and buttons to control them, it feels like the ultimate form of pampering.
Getting There
