It must be really in vogue to shoot videos on Gay Shanghai now. Just last week, we showed you one that was shot by Adam Schokora for Danwei TV. Earlier this year, we told you about a slew of Chinese online gay TV shows, including 同志亦凡人 or Queer As Folk (in English) which featured a Gay Shanghai segment as well. And why would anyone doing a TV program on Gay China not want to come... more ›

On Saturday, Oct. 27, the same night as our Halloween extravaganza, police raided and shut down Shanghai's popular gay club, Club Deep (commonly called "Deep"). Word on the street is that some Deep patrons were indulging in some not-so-legal substances during Deep's "Decadent Halloween" party, sponsored by i-Candy. According to our sources, between 20-30 police officers (initially mistaken for costumed go-go dancers, it was a Halloween party after all) arrested around 10 people, all suspected... more ›

Li Yuchun (李宇春) — the "androgynous wonder from Sichuan" who was the first winner of Super Voice Girls (an American Idol-style talent show) — recently gave a concert in Nanjing, and she performed in *gasp* a skirt! Now if you have no clue what an earth-shattering revolution Super Voice Girls represented (for the very first time, viewers were allowed to vote for their favourite singer via SMS, causing some powers-that-be to quake with fear) and... more ›

In its second year, the first independent dance festival in China brings lust, desire, sensuality and sexuality to the stage. The Shanghai Dance Festival initiated by Jin Xing exhibits works of dance companies from China, Denmark, Israel, Sweden and Switzerland. more ›

... at least that is what Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas would have us believe (h/t to Danwei). She recently wrote in to China Daily columnist Raymond Zhou after reading his opinion piece on recent comments by Chinese celebrity Sun Haiying (孙海英) who not too long ago ignited a huge debate with his comments that homosexuality was unequivocally "criminal in nature" ("同性恋就是犯罪“):

Dear Raymond more ›

Experts in Mongolian studies who have spent the last year compiling Genghis Khan's code of laws, which is believed to be the world's first constitution say the legendary Mongolian conqueror banned homosexual acts. Under article 48 of the code, the experts say, men who "committed sodomy shall be put to death". Other acts punishable by death under Khan included "damaging grassland with unauthorized excavations or starting fires". more ›

Photos from Ken Yip. more ›

Remember the pre-op transsexual who was detained in Shenzhen early last month for going on her one-(wo)man demonstration on the streets, holding a placard that says, "I want a sex change, even if it means death!" (我要变性！死了都要变!), and attracting a huge crowd before the police led her away? Well she has gained quite a lot of media exposure in the last two months or so. And just yesterday, Phoenix Princess (凤凰格格) announced through a Youku video that a few sex-change hospitals have gotten in touch with her thanks to the kind help of various media outlets and netizens, and that if nothing goes wrong, she will undergo sex-change operation very soon. As Shanghaiist understands from an American friend who also happens to be a pre-op transsexual seeking surgery in China, many hospitals offering sex-change operations are now competing to work on high-profile cases like Phoenix Princess and herself in their bid to establish themselves in the field, so they may use them as successful case studies to attract new clientele from around China, and eventually overseas. We wish Phoenix Princess all the best for her upcoming surgery! more ›

It's time to stop hiding your moobs, because this Saturday (August 11) is Shanghai LGBT's first and only drag party of the year! Those hard-working members at Shanghai LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) group have organized yet another gathering for all of Shanghai's outrageous citizens to enjoy. The venue for such a fabulous occasion is of course one of Shanghaiist's favorite spots, Shanghai Studio. Things might get a bit crazy in the underground lair sort... more ›

Although June is the designated month of Gay Pride events all over the world, Shanghai will show its Pride this week by holding several events at Shanghai's own, one-of-a-kind gay dance club/bar/motel multiplex, PinkHome. All of the events are the result of much hard work by Shanghai's own, (and also) one-of-a-kind organization, Shanghai's LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) group. As for the events, there won't be a parade or hopefully any tear gas, curses, or... more ›

Chinese news portals have been abuzz lately with the news that a male prostitute has claimed on his blog to have had sex with Chinese film director Jia Zhangke (贾樟柯) who is currently attending the Cannes Film Festival. And Shanghaiist knows once something is claimed on a blog, it is absolutely true. more ›

While April is Alcohol Awareness Month in the States (some of you might be in the dark). If you are living in China, it might as well be Promoting the Gay Agenda Month Online Gay TV Awareness Month with news of the arrival of three online gay TV shows. Earlier this month, we reported about China's first online TV show about issues relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities within China. Aired... more ›

At the risk of appearing as though we are once again fellating the "gay agenda", we thought we'd point out the interesting news announced Thursday that China aired its first program about gay and lesbian issues ... online. The show is called 同性相连 in Chinese and Gay Connections in English (although the Chinese press release calls the program Connecting Homosexual People) and it premiered its first episode of a 12-part weekly series on April 5... more ›

Gay in the city and want to meet new people without A. Consuming unseemly amounts of alcohol, B. Making a Gaydar or Fridae account, C. Begging friends for introductions, D. Gyrating on the dance floor? more ›

China announced yesterday it is tightening its adoption rules for foreigners. Starting May 1, the following groups of people will not be allowed to take home a Chinese child: more ›

After almost half a year, Shanghai’s iconic “alternative lifestyle nightclub”, Home Bar, officially reopened last week under its new brand, Pinkhome. It has been transformed from its previous existence into what is China’s first gay multiplex including a dance club, restaurant/lounge, and hotel. As some readers may remember, there was a pre-soft (is that a word?) opening last October for the bar, after which the establishment was closed again until renovations were completed. For those of us privy to that event, the ground floor décor looked much the same as it did in October, though, vastly different from the old, gritty, but lovable Home. more ›

The Sun Yat-Sen University (中山大学) in Zhuhai made headlines recently with the establishment of the first gay support group on a Chinese university campus. This is the first legally registered student group, which will perhaps set a precedent for similar groups at Chinese universities that are still informal or unregistered. You can read an interview (in Chinese) with Ai Xiaoming and Li Yinhe (the latter recently made headlines again because she "endorses" wife-swapping) and learn about some of the issues involved in setting up a gay-rights or gay-themed student group at a university. Apparently Sun Yat-sen University has a history of openness -- they even staged a performance of The Vagina Monologues there. The new student group is called "Happy Together" (an homage to Wong Kar-wai, not The Turtles) in English and in Chinese it's known as the 彩虹社 (caihong she or Rainbow Group). more ›

Ever heard of Space Bar? Not many people have. It’s a well-kept secret in the gay community that just opened up a couple of months ago. more ›

The other night Shanghai’s No. 1 Fag Hag was sitting around with some friends trying to list all the gay/lesbian bars in town. We named 14 and at the same time came to the conclusion that Shanghai is in desperate need off a pub crawl. more ›

In most countries, single-parent adoption is legal, but regulated, while gay adoption is banned. To circumvent the regulations, same-sex couples wishing to adopt overseas typically have one partner file as a single parent. Think of it as a don't-ask-don't-tell policy. But if you are an officially-married gay couple, hey tough luck! Your best bet would be to adopt a child from your home country. more ›

No, Shanghaiist isn't talking about xanadu or China's “rediscovered” Shangri-La. And, we are definitely not referring to the Tongren Lu establishment that just opened (no offense, but Tongren sucks!). Anyone who reads Danwei (or China Daily) knows that "lala" is a synonym for lesbians. So, welcome to the long-awaited post on Shanghai’s lala land. more ›

Although, Shanghai’s No. 1 fruit fly is usually up for a night of loud music and cheek-to-cheek dancing with a crowd of gay men, lately work has been grueling and we lack the energy required to compete for space on a podium at Club Deep (trust me … as one of the only women in the club we still have to elbow our way through a bunch of other shameless exhibitionists). These days, we have been in search of a quiet oasis where we can hear our friends talk and are not entertained distracted by the meat market going on around us. more ›

This past week featured an appearance by two very special ladies, drag queens Gwen and Bling (see photo). Their website describes them as follows: more ›

For gay men around the world, the gym is always a potential hunting ground, and, no, not this type of hunting. Shanghai is no different from any other metropolis in this regard (but is put to shame by this place in “conservative” Singapore, which Shanghaiist believes to be the only 24-hour gay gym with foam parties in Asia ... please leave a comment if we’re wrong!). more ›

That’s right, Shanghai’s No. 1 fag hag ran into a sleuth of bears or "pandas”, as they prefer to call themselves, right in the heart of the French Concession. As Shanghaiist has previously mentioned, the city has its very own bear bar, Bobo. (See here for updated address.) Located in the basement of a swanky apartment complex, fortunately or unfortunately, the small drinking establishment was not filled with wild, gigantic, hirsute men as in Shanghaiist’s vivid imagination. more ›

Every gay man Shanghaiist knows has a taxi driver story. It’s not the typical long-way-around-the-block taxi tale either. The details vary by person, but they all start at the end of a long night at a popular gay bar. more ›

Almost impossible to find if you're not in the know, Shanghai Studio, is bizarrely located in part of an underground car park. No one can say they accidentally stumbled into this bar (a phrase Shanghaiist hears all too often in gay bars)! more ›

Shanghaiist is Shanghai’s No. 1 fag hag, just ask any gay man. There is a dearth of information on our great city's thriving gay community in the media. That's why we’ll be featuring different aspects of the scene, including entertainment venues, parties, and personal stories in the near future. more ›

Shanghai Daily's China Press Blog translates an Infomation Times story about an anonymous phone service, with offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou, offering help to homosexuals regarding health, legal and psychological matters. more ›