While appearance was not much important to Chinese men before, many middle and upper-class men in Hangzhou today enjoy facial spas.

According to a survey, 77.2% of female responders believe that men who often visit spas appreciate life better than those who don't, this making themselves more appealing to the opposite sex. Currently, more and more Chinese men hold the same view, too.

The managers of many spas in Hangzhou see in this a great opportunity to make money. They have set up special areas for male customers, some new spas catering only to male customers.

The owner of a "men-only" spa told our reporter that several customers had registered for annual or monthly membership in his spa, most of them being white-collar workers aged from 25 to 50, whose jobs required good appearance.

"An comptent man must be good looking,"said Li, a 35-year-old manager. He started visiting spa a year ago, and has made it a regular practice ever since."I can totally relax in the spa, and it makes me feel more confident in front of my clients,"concluded Li.(www.chinanews.cn Dec. 11, 2006)