u/DramaticPlace2658

I have a long term rental in Poly Tianyue that costs 12,000 RMB per month. It’s ‘OK’ by European standards but it’s nothing special - when we moved here we were surprised to be paying so much. Some of the ‘nicer’ buildings in the same area are advertising apartments for 50,000 RMB/month and they’re probably more expensive than similar apartments in central London.

I have 2 questions:

1. Are people really paying the advertised rates? Or is that just a headline number and the negotiated final rate is significantly lower?

2. If people *are* paying that money, what on earth are they doing for a living? There are hundreds and hundreds of that size apartment in my area. How are there so many people that are earning millions of RMB per year? This is not a global financial hub, it just doesn’t make any sense to me when I look out the window and count up how many crazy rich people there must be if that’s the going rate. And this isn’t even the ‘posh area’ of the city..

Moved to Guangzhou 3 weeks ago from the UK. I’ve so far tried 5 massage parlours.

They each make up the top 5 most painful and unrelaxing massages I’ve ever had. Some of them painful to the point of me biting my tongue to avoid squealing out in pain.

What am I doing wrong? I have had tonnes of massages in Western Europe and there’s good ones and bad ones but this is just a different thing altogether. I refuse to believe anyone finds this style of massage relaxing - is it a translation issue? They have all felt like medical appointments, the ‘strokes’ are so stocatto and jab-like. Not to mention the therapists answer phone calls half way through, leave the room to have a chat with someone, massage you with plastic gloves on as if you’re being treated for an infectious disease, give you worn slippers to wear etc

Please help me it’s driving me crazy! I have a health condition and having regular massages really helps my symptoms….part of the upside of accepting my job transfer to China was that I thought I’d be able to get really good massages a couple of times per week without breaking the bank.

I know that what I’m looking for must exist in this city I just don’t know what it’s called or where to find it.

Thanks for your help

EDIT:

Thanks for all the comments, some useful advice!

Sounds like short term plan should be to check out some of the more high end hotels etc for a western style massage.

Medium to long term plan is to get used to the pain and hope that I’ll start enjoying that style of massage after a while of living here!