Chengdu Ear Cleaning & Foot Bath Guide for Foreign Travelers: Where Locals Go to Truly Unwind
- cometodolphinunion
- Oct 12
- 5 min read
But have you tried Chengdu-style ear cleaning (cǎi ěr, 采耳) or a Sichuan foot bath (zú yù, 足浴)?
Trust me—this isn’t just “cleaning.” It’s a 100-year-old sensory ritual that locals swear by to melt stress away. I’ve lived in Chengdu for 10 years. Last month, I took a tired UK friend to Heming Teahouse (Heming Cháshe, 鹤鸣茶社) in People’s Park after he walked 10,000 steps at Wuhou Shrine. He closed his eyes during his ear cleaning… and fell asleep to the sound of copper bells. “It felt like my brain got a reset,” he said.
This guide cuts through the noise. I’ll show you exactly where to go for safe, relaxing, and authentic cǎi ěr and zú yù—with English-friendly tips, real prices, and places that won’t waste your time.
Chengdu Ear Cleaning & Foot Bath Guide for Foreign Travelers
Heming Teahouse – People’s Park (Heming Cháshe, 鹤鸣茶社)
Location: Inside People’s Park, No. 12 Shaocheng Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu (Shaocheng Lu, 少城路)
Price: ¥30 for 20-minute ear cleaning
Best time: Weekday afternoons (Wed/Sat for free Sichuan opera by the lake!)
This is the most iconic cǎi ěr spot in Chengdu. Blue-uniformed masters use sterilized tools—spoons, brushes, and feather wands—to gently clean your ears while you sip ¥10 jasmine tea.
You sit on a bamboo chair by the koi pond. Birds chirp. Tea cups clink. The feather tickles your ear canal… and suddenly, all your travel stress vanishes.
A Canadian traveler told me: “I came for the pandas. I stayed for this. It’s like ASMR in real life.”
Tip: Go early (before 3 PM). After 4 PM, it gets crowded with local retirees. And yes—you can wear headphones to listen to music if the ambient noise feels too loud.
Lao Ba Xiang Ear Cleaning (Lǎo Bā Xiàng Cǎiěr Guǎn, 老八巷・采耳馆)
Location: 8F, Champagne Plaza, No. 97 Xiadong Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu (Dong Dajie, 东大街)
Price: ¥68 for 40-minute “calm mind” package
Vibe: Quiet, wooden, spa-like
This place is for travelers who want privacy and precision. Before they touch your ears, the technician checks your ear canal with a light—and explains what they’ll do.
You get a warm neck pillow, herbal tea, and a 10-minute shoulder rub first. Then comes the famous “ear buzz” (ěr zhèn, 耳震)—a vibrating tool that sends a gentle tingle through your skull.
A Brazilian designer said: “It’s like acupuncture for your ears. I left feeling 10 years younger.”
Tip: Book via WeChat or ask your hotel to call. Walk-ins often wait 30+ minutes. And don’t skip the post-session eye massage—it’s included!
Panda Ear Cleaning – Taikoo Li Branch (Xióngmāo Cǎiěr, 熊猫采耳)
Location: No. 8 Wangping Binhe Road, Chengdu (Wàngpíng Jiē, 望平街)
Price: ¥88 for “ear + head therapy” combo
Perk: Free silver ear fungus soup after!
Right next to Taikoo Li (Tàigǔ Lǐ, 太古里), this modern spot blends tradition with Instagrammable style. Think panda murals, soft lighting, and private pods.
They offer ear cleaning + scalp massage with essential oils—perfect after a day of shopping or sightseeing. The staff speak basic English and ask, “Soft or strong?” before starting.
A French student wrote: “I cried a little. Not from pain—from how relaxed I felt.”
Tip: Try the combo. The head massage alone is worth ¥50. And yes—the soup is delicious.
Golden Impression Foot Bath (Jīnsè Yǐnxiàng, 金色印象)
Location: L3, R&F Tianhui Mall, No. 289 Shuncheng Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu (Shùnchéng Dàjiē, 顺城大街)
Price: ¥128 for 90-minute foot + shoulder massage
Free food: Noodles, rice bowls, yogurt, pickled chicken feet!
This is Chengdu’s most famous foot bath for a reason. You get a private room with a big TV, comfy recliner, and hot herbal soak (choose ginger or mint).
But the real magic? The free all-you-can-eat snack bar. Their Chongqing-style noodles and spicy chicken feet are so good, locals come just to eat!
An American couple told me: “We watched a movie, ate three bowls of noodles, and got our feet rubbed. Best ¥128 ever.”
Tip: Go on weekdays after 1 PM. Weekends = 1-hour wait. And ask for “light pressure” if you’re new—Sichuan foot rubs can be intense!
Dacheng Jiangnan Foot Spa (Dàchéng Jiāngnán Zúdào, 大诚江南足道)
Location: 2F, No. 118 Shangdong Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu (Shàngdōng Dàjiē, 上东大街)
Price: ¥158 for herbal foot soak + full-leg massage
Style: Zen garden meets luxury spa
This place feels like a quiet retreat in Suzhou—water features, bamboo screens, soft music. They customize your soak: ginger for cold feet, mugwort for tired legs.
After your feet, they massage your calves, knees, and even lower back. Perfect if you just hiked Qingcheng Mountain (Qīngchéng Shān, 青城山).
A German hiker said: “My legs were dead. After this, I could walk another 10 km.”
Tip: Add the ¥30 herbal knee wrap—it’s amazing for joint pain. And skip dinner elsewhere—they serve free congee and fruit after.
Rongfu Golden Foot (Róngfǔ Jīn Zú Yǐnxiàng, 蓉府金足印象)
Location: 2F, No. 17 Zhengkejia Lane, Jinjiang District, Chengdu (Zhèngkējiǎ Xiàng, 正科甲巷)
Hours: Open 24/7Price: ¥98 for 80-minute “traveler recovery” session
This is the go-to spot for late-night relaxation near Chunxi Road. Clean rooms, big TVs, and super-friendly staff.
They specialize in reflexology for jet lag, insomnia, and sore feet. The technician pressed one spot on my arch—and I sneezed! (Turns out, it’s linked to sinuses.)
A Japanese backpacker messaged: “I arrived at 2 AM. They gave me hot tea, slippers, and fixed my swollen ankles. Like magic.”
Tip: Order hotpot skewers from next door—they’ll deliver to your room. And bring socks—your feet will be wet after!
Why Trust This Guide? Plus Your Next Step
And if you loved this, you’ll love my full Chengdu 96-Hour Relaxation Itinerary—a 137-page guide that includes these exact ear and foot spots, plus panda timing tips, hidden teahouses, and 30+ local-only food stops (like Luoma Clay Pot on Tangba Street). It even has bilingual addresses and 1-tap map links so you never get lost.
Last week, an Australian couple used it to plan their whole trip. They wrote: “We did ear cleaning at Heming, foot bath at Golden Impression, then ate hotpot at 11 PM. Felt like real Chengdu people!”
Ready to relax like a local—not just visit like a tourist?
Grab the Chengdu 96-Hour Relaxation Itinerary today.For less than $10, it’s your shortcut to the soul of Chengdu. 🐼✨
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