Written by Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa'at and directed by Royston Tan more ›

Today is World AIDS Day, and the theme this year is "Getting to Zero" (zero infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths). HIV and AIDS is not perceived as an epidemic in China, but the number of cases has been rising in recent years. News outlets are running a variety of stories bringing statistics and anecdotes from around China and we've collected them here for your perusal: more ›

Chinese-language edition of a campaign by Action for Aids, Singapore for World Aids Day 2011. more ›

So we're a little confused. When we first found out about the new government-sponsored gay bar in Dali, Yunnan, it was supposed to open on World AIDS day. Then reports everywhere said the gay bar was a no go. But today, according to China Daily, the gay bar did actually open, but nobody showed up thanks to all the media attention. "They [gay men] refused to show up at the opening for fear of media exposure and potential discrimination," they quoted Zhang Jianbo, the bar's founder and a local AIDS doctor as saying. Hmm, you sure it wasn't the assertion that you might not sell alcohol that turned customers away? We say advertise a two-for-one margarita night and see how your next attempt at opening up goes. more ›

Woman's thought bubble: "I've heard you can contract AIDS from holding hands or eating with an infected person." Man's thought bubble: "I believe I could get AIDS from a mosquito bite." Voice over guy: "Actually mosquito bites and and holding hands, eating with infected persons can not cause you to contract AIDS. Don't misunderstand AIDS. And even more, don't discriminate against AIDS carriers." "Good friends are friends, whether they have AIDS or not. Let our world not have misunderstanding or discrimination." - Yao Ming. more ›

In light of World AIDS Day, the Shanghai health bureau has reported that from January to November 20, 886 people have been diagnosed as HIV positive, 392 people have become AIDS patients, and 25 people have died from AIDS. Unfortunately, these numbers represent an increase from last year, although 72% of new HIV cases were people from outside Shanghai. The good news is that, at at 2 per 10,000 people versus 5 per 10,000 people, the HIV prevalence rate is still lower in Shanghai than the rest of the country. To help combat unsafe sex (the leading reason for HIV/AIDS infections now), the government is helping us by installing condom vending machines in all public places prior to the Expo. So remember to stay safe and promote awareness.
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It's World AIDS Day! In case you didn't know, World AIDS day is about "raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education" regarding AIDS around the world. So, to do our part, here's a heartbreaking piece on the difficulties of children with HIV in China: they're banned from schools and many are abandoned by their parents and left to live and die in AIDS orphanages. Around 10,000 children in China are HIV-positive, mostly due to bad blood transfusions or mother-to-child transmission. Remember, you can do your part too: get involved! more ›

This World AIDS Day, we witnessed an extraordinarily well-coordinated effort by Chinese media to raise AIDS awareness among the populace and to communicate the resolve of the central government to win the battle against the disease. This small sampling of stories that appeared in state-run English-language media is enough to give you an idea of what went out on Chinese news: President Hu: HIV/AIDS not scary President Hu tells HIV carriers, communities not to be... more ›

China's very first Miss World, Zhang Zilin (张梓琳) was crowned yesterday at the 57th edition of the beauty pageant in Sanya, Hainan. Miss Angola was first runner-up and Miss Mexico was second runner-up. This year's pageant coincided with World AIDS Day and was used by organisers to help raise awareness about the disease. Highlights of the show included a televised speech by former South African president Nelson Mandela, whose son Makgatho died of an AIDS-related... more ›

Occasionally, weird stuff happens in China. It was world AIDS day last week as well as Migrant Worker Rights' Day (in certain areas) and both the government and ordinary citizens organized ways of spreading the message of HIV prevention. Here's two of the more unique things we found: more ›

With visions of sugar plum fairies dancing through their heads, the -Ists began to get into that holiday mood. Well, some did. more ›

As Shanghaiist recently reported, AIDS in China continues to be a serious, rapidly growing problem. Much of the current epidemic stems from illegal blood selling in Henan Province during the mid 1990s. Dr. Gao Yao Jie , an activist for AIDS patients in Henan Province, estimates that up to1 million people are infected in Henan province alone. In spite of this, HIV/AIDS still has a reputation in China as a disease of “marginal groups” like drug users, prostitutes, and men who have sex with men. This stigma keeps many infected persons from getting tested or informing their families/friends/lovers of their condition. more ›

According to the ever-reliable health officials, AIDS is now officially the third most deadly disease in China -- but never fear -- you may soon be able to frequent your brothel of choice and pork away with safety, as plans are afoot to provide education to employees of all local hair salons, massage parlors and karaoke bars, whether they provide prostitution or not, and set up condom machines in the facilities this year. (But we thought people just went to karaoke bars to sing? Confusing.) more ›

Shanghaiist was (un)fortunate enough last December to go to Shangcai prefecture out in Henan, which is where the famed "AIDS village" (艾滋病村）is located. We were shown around the hospitals and schools, always under the supervision of officials. Even though we never paid for the sumptuous meals downed with numerous bottles of beer and rice wine, and were often pestered at night by the hotel staff wanting to know if we needed a "massage", we were inclined to give the benefit of the doubt, at least in terms of moral character, to the officials -- they are skimming, no doubt, crooked, yes, but at least not to a degree that makes them utterly reprehensible, right? Wrong. Maybe -- check out this report (in Chinese) which investigates Shangcai, and tells stories of officials skimming money from overcharging for medicines, not delivering basic promises of patient care, skimming money from the salaries of doctors, and of course, not letting people with a penchant for speaking the truth mouthing off at inopportune moments out of their homes. They said that when one of the most corrupt officials quit his job, the local people set off firecrackers and that it was "more festive than Chinese New Year"! more ›