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By yuan_zcen (  bbs.chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-10-28 10:44

Many Americans also like to exercise in gyms. While gyms are becoming increasingly popular in China, many Chinese prefer a massage. Other than the massage parlors that don't exactly provide the service they publicly advertise, a straight massage does provide the kind of relaxation that seems to soothe the physical systems in this part of the world.

But the distinction wasn't always so clear. A few decades ago, restaurant banquets were rare scenes in China. Family eating together, and with friends, was far more common.

As recently as in the 1980s, going to the hair stylist was not necessarily because one wanted to look more stylish. More often than not it was simply because the customer could no longer bear the length of his or her hair. While there were hairstyles, they were all very basic and with just a few choices.

Our black-and-white photo, taken by Wang Wenlan in 1988 in a Beijing hutong (narrow street), recorded a quite common phenomenon in those days, namely the streetside barber service. And this one, with a few pieces of equipment for making curly perms outdoors, certainly wasn't the shabbiest choice.

But in large cities today one seldom sees them. Instead, hair stylists tend to offer their services, costing between 20 and 30 yuan minimum in Beijing (including half an hour shoulder massage), from newly decorated shops. For picky customers one trip can easily exceed 100 yuan.