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Marat Karimov
Marat Karimov. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]
In Pudong New Area's Xinchang Ancient Town, Russian entrepreneur Marat Karimov has built a handmade Russian banya sauna called Skazka (Fairy Tale Town), offering an immersive ice-and-fire wellness experience rooted in Russian tradition.
The wooden cabins in Xinchang offer a warm escape from winter winds, filled with the fragrance of birch, where Marat greets visitors, reflecting his journey since arriving in Shanghai in 2014 and mastering Chinese.
Opened in January last year after months of preparation, Skazka features a traditional steam room, cold plunge baths, and Russian kvass and honey tea, recreating the authentic banya ice-and-fire ritual experience.
Banya, one of the world's four bath traditions, uses high heat and humidity, while venik — birch or oak branches — is used to gently pat the body, a practice believed to improve circulation and cleanse the skin.
After studying Chinese in Shanghai in 2014, Marat worked as a basketball coach starting in 2016, teaching children for nine years, while gradually adapting to local life and building strong community ties.
He was inspired by memories of sauna culture with family, including venik rituals and ice baths, and sought guidance from his father, who had experience designing sauna facilities in Russia.
Marat believes that Shanghai embraces diversity and that Skazka has become a small cultural bridge, blending Russian traditions with the city's openness and offering residents a unique space for relaxation and cross-cultural exchange.
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