Seeing Beyond the Surface: A History of Blind Massage in Beijing

Robynne Tindall, Contributing Editor | Jun 12, 2022 6:24 pm | Add a comment | 3250 reads

A good massage can be a boon for both body and soul, but can it benefit others, too? If you have spent any time in Beijing or other cities in China, you probably noticed buildings advertising 盲人按摩, mángrén ànmó "blind massage," and wondered a) why there are so many, and b) if the people giving the massages are actually blind. It turns out that in the latter half of the 20th century, massage became a preferred profession for people with limited vision.

According to the World Blind Union Asia Pacific, as of 2018, there were more than 17.5 million people with limited vision or blindness in China, making up one of the country’s largest disabled groups. Although disabled people in China receive legal and governmental support, and many industries have introduced diversity and inclusion policies, blind or low vision people still lack access to employment opportunities. To a certain extent, blind massage has become a route out of poverty and unemployment for some visually impaired people.

In China, massage as a career specifically targeted at the blind dates back to the 1950s. Massage practice was codified in the 1990s when the China Massage Association of Blind Practitioners was established in 1996. Following the growth and opening up of China’s economy in the 1990s, massage parlors both blind and otherwise sprung up in cities across the country as people gained more disposable income and leisure time, and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation encouraged the establishment of training facilities and licensing procedures for blind masseurs.

Despite many having recognized qualifications from institutions such as Beijing Blind Massage Guidance Center, for the longest time, even qualified blind masseurs were unable to work in medical institutions. In 2016, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Traditional Chinese Medicine changed the prospects for many masseurs, offering recognition of their professional skills and allowing some to substantially increase their income.

The massage practiced at blind massage parlors is usually a form of 推拿, tuīná (literally “push and pinch”), a traditional Chinese massage technique that is used as an “external” treatment in traditional Chinese medicine (as opposed to “internal” treatments like tonics and medicines). The massage is done over the clothes and is more of a medicinal treatment than a relaxation technique — no cucumber water, soft lighting, and essential oils here. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you won’t leave feeling relaxed.

It is claimed that people who are blind are better masseurs, due to the lack of visual cues stimulating their ability to feel out areas of tension. This is particularly key for tuina massage since it involves such a wide range of tactile techniques, including kneading, pinching, and stretching. Certainly, at my local massage parlor, the masseuse was instantly able to home in on my wonky shoulders from years of carrying my laptop around in unsuitable tote bags. He manipulated the knots in my muscles with ease, and once I had come down from the ceiling — this is not necessarily a pain-free experience — he explained that massage is all about restoring balance, both externally, like my uneven shoulder muscles, but also internally, focusing on the flow of energy around the body.

Blind massage has, to a certain extent, created more balanced access to employment opportunities for blind people in Beijing, but there is still a way to go before this group can enjoy the same freedom of work and daily life as people without disabilities. That being said, it is definitely worth visiting your local blind massage parlor to see if you notice a difference in the technique of the therapists, but be sure to check that it is above-board and licensed (if in doubt, ask, and check their Dianping reviews).

Where to go

Beijing Massage Hospital
7 Baochan Hutong, Xicheng District
北京按摩医院：西城区宝产胡同7号
6616 8880

Qingsong Manxing Blind Massage
Daily 10.30am-11.30pm. 1/F, Building 3, Shuiduizi Beili, Chaoyang District
轻松漫行盲人按摩：朝阳区水碓子北里3号楼底商
6505 7727

Taihe Massage
Daily 10am-11pm. 2/F, west side of Lvju Hotel, 12 Hepingli Dongjie, Dongcheng District
太和盲人按摩：东城区和平里东街12号旅居酒店西侧楼二层
134 2640 6669