Screenshot from media reports

Bathhouses have become popular venues for socializing and relaxation, emerging as new pastime venues for the younger generation in urban China, according to a report from Southern Weekly on Tuesday.

According to the report, traditional bathhouse services primarily include bathing and showering options, ranging from basic showers to saunas, all designed to help individuals unwind and alleviate physical and psychological fatigue.

In addition to the traditional offerings, many bathhouses have expanded their services to include dining options such as snacks, light meals, refreshments, and buffets. A blogger highlighted a bathhouse in Shanghai that features a diverse selection of seafood, including shrimp, crab, salmon and other dishes, the Southern Weekly reported.

Moreover, the upgraded bathhouses not only offer satisfying bathing and dining experiences, but guests can also enjoy watching movies, with services continually being enhanced.

Also, searches for "bathhouse" on China's online lifestyle platform Meituan have surged by 40 percent, recent data reveals, as reported by the Southern Weekly.

The reason bathhouses, once seen as a pastime for middle-aged individuals, have become appealing to younger audiences today is that they cater to the need for relaxation among young people. 

From traditional Chinese medicine health care to special experiences combining elements of current trends, bathhouses may also become an important carrier of new consumer culture, according to the report. 

Southern Weekly-Global Times