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06. 02. 13. - 16:00

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06. 02. 13. - 16:00

Bath Plug: Chinas Emperor Spa in Hot Water

Kathryn Quinn

A new bathhouse in central China is in hot water after it offered one lucky punter the chance to live like an Emperor complete with slave girls to sponge him down.

The spa - in Lushan, Henan province - auctioned off the prize to a wealthy businessman for an astonishing 10,000 GBP.

But furious critics attacked the bathhouse owners for "revelling in the decadence of the past."

The winner - dressed up as one of China's emperors from the country's pre-Communist past - was stripped by his concubines and then bathed in private with the while spa to himself for
a day.

The stunt, however, drew thousands of critical comments who said it "glorified bad times we have left behind."

"This is a shabby celebration of money and power. We don't want to go back to the old days," said one.

"China already has enough problems with a few having too much wealth and power without rubbing our noses in it," said another.

Critics also attacked the prize as "immoral."

In China, bathhouses are often thought as a front for prostitution, like massage parlours in the West.

But owners of the Yaoshanfuquan Bathhouse rejected the criticism.

"It was just a bit of fun. We are a respectable recreation centre and people should move with the times," said a spokesman.

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