With its ultra-modern skyline, traditional pavilions and colonial architecture, it is a city that blends its history with its future and celebrates diversity in its culture. Shanghai is a bustling metropolis that is a popular tourist destination, both for leisure and business, that offers a rich and vibrant entertainment scene.
In this guide we explore what the city has to offer its visitors who are seeking adult entertainment, from the best erotic massage and escorts, to brothels, strip clubs and more. Prostitution in China is illegal but is largely considered a necessary evil by the authorities. Infringements of the law are usually dealt with as an administrative infraction rather than as criminal activities.
The exception to this is in organised prostitution and associated crimes such as trafficking, running a brothel and pimping. Illegal sexual acts are also dealt with severely. Though illegal, prostitution in China is big business. Image via Flickr. Soliciting and advertising are also illegal but also carry penalties of fines rather than imprisonment. The figures on how many prostitutes work in the country vary is believed to be around the 5 million mark. Most prostitutes in Shanghai are Chinese but the city also attracts sex works from other Asian countries as well as Europe.
After the local ladies, the most common nationality found in Shanghai is Russian and other Eastern European women. In much the same way as other aspects of society, prostitution in China has an imbedded hierarchy. A seven-tier system, the top two known as Baoernai and Baopo refer to mistresses, concubines and escorts. At the third level are the Santing or women who are hostesses in entertainment venues that mainly provide company but also offer personal sexual services.
The fourth tier are the Doorbell Ladies, not escorts but women who telephone men in hotel rooms to solicit their services directly. Fifth level prostitutes are known as Falangmei and relate to the work that women provide in more direct adult venues like massage parlours, saunas, spas and barbershops. Policing in Shanghai is quite lax and as long as the procuring of personal services is done discreetly and without breaking other laws e.
