As Chinese language has begun to spread rapidly westward, Chinese traditional massage has accompanied it hand in hand. For those of you who are interested in establishing a basic foundation of both Mandarin and massage during your stay in Beijing, this program is well suited to your needs. Join professional and experienced instructors of both massage and Mandarin Chinese to fulfill your goals and get the most out of your Beijing experience.
Techniques available to study during your stay:
1. Anmo and Tuina
“Anmo” literally translates to “press and rub.” It is the most basic of Chinese massage styles and helps with rejuvenation and general health maintenance. This style of massage is widely used for sports training, qi gong, and martial arts. “Tuina,” or “push and grasp” is a more complex style of massage used for treating injuries, joint and muscular problems, and internal disorders.
2. Cupping
Cupping is an ancient Chinese massage technique that uses a cup as a suction device, placed over the skin in particular areas. The pressure in the cup is reduced through the application of heat or air. This change in pressure pulls the skin into the cupped area. The aftereffects of cupping are easily transparent, as you can often see large red circles on peoples’ backs after having undergone this treatment. Cupping has proved an effective helper for pain, gastro-intestinal disorders, lung diseases, and paralysis.
3. Acupuncture
A traditional healing method used in Chinese medicine, acupuncture uses fine needles applied at specific points in the patient’s body to treat ailments. As acupuncture’s basic goal is balance, the practitioner helps to realign the body’s meridians through use of these needles during times of illness. With a history of over 2,500 years, acupuncture has spread from China to the West in recent decades, becoming more and more popular and widely accepted as a viable form of medical treatment all over the world.
Massage Classes
Our massage classes will be hosted by Mr. Zhang at his local clinic in Haidian District in Beijing. Classes will meet at least 3 times a week, with classes lasting from two to three hours per session. This schedule is not set in stone and will be fixed after arrival, as some of you may want to put more emphasis on Mandarin, while others may want to emphasize massage.
Zhang Man Hong
Zhang Man Hong is a local Beijinger and professional masseuse. He graduated from the Medical College of China (Zhong Guo Zhong Yi Da Xue). He has worked in his own private clinic for 20 years, using traditional massage methods in combination with methods he has developed on his own. Prior to opening his own clinic Mr. Zhang worked in the Beijing branch of the Chinese Military Hospital in Beijing (Zhong Guo Jun Dui Yi Yuan). He has experience teachers others his own massage methods, as well as foreigners. Mr. Zhang is happy to make your acquaintance.
Mandarin Chinese Classes
Besides immersing yourself in Chinese through staying with a local Beijing family, China Reflection will also arrange a personal, one-on-one Mandarin Chinese tutor to suit your needs. It doesn’t matter how much Mandarin you can speak before coming to China—all levels are welcome. Our tutors are professional and experienced teachers who work or have worked in universities in the Beijing area. They will either meet you in your own home or in a place that is easy for both you and your tutor to get to. Specifics for time and location of your classes can be arranged later. The teachers will be as flexible as possible with regards to your schedule, keeping your personal space and massage classes in mind.
Homestays
Because part of the goal for this program is to improve your Chinese as quickly as possible, we will arrange for you to homestay with a local family. These families are located in central Beijing, or near metro stations which can get you to central Beijing quickly. We encourage you to speak as much Chinese as possible with your host family, as it can only help you improve that much quicker. Should you have any questions about homestays, and the kinds of families we have, check out our FAQ page for a brief overview.
Monday: 10:00 am – 12:00pm: Study Chinese massage 02:00pm – 04:00pm: Chinese class
Tuesday: 09:00am – 11:00am: Chinese class
Wednesday: 09:00am – 11:00am: Chinese class 02:00pm – 04:00pm: study Chinese massage
Thursday: 09:00am – 11:00am: Chinese class
Friday: 09:00am – 11:00am: Study Chinese massage 02:00pm – 04:00pm: study Chinese massage
*Reservations for this program are for one month. Should you wish to extend your program, you may on a month by month basis, with three months being the maximum length.
Price for one month studying Chinese and Massage: US$2,680
Price Includes:
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Two maps of Beijing
- Mobile phone card
- Homestay (internet connection, air conditioner, daily breakfast and dinner)
- Small Chinese-English dictionary
- Study textbooks
- Mandarin Chinese instructor’s fee
- Massage instructor’s fee
- One day cooking class
- One day cultural excursion in Beijing
- One Beijing transportation card
Price does not include:
- International air tickets
- Laundry
- Meals that you eat outside of the ones included in homestay
- Taxi services
- Other sites visited in Beijing
- Additional textbooks you wish to purchase