The Nanfang / Blog

Shenzhen Masseuse Beaten for Refusing to Provide Sexual Services

Posted: 06/24/2014 8:00 am
shenzhen masseuse beating

Xiao Yan has suffered several tissue injuries.

While Guangdong has been singing the praises of the recent crackdown on the sex trade, which has seen over 3,000 arrests since February, one Shenzhen massage parlor has been accused of openly encouraging it.

RELATED: Man Goes for Massage in Shenzhen, Leaves Paralyzed

A 24 year-old woman named Xiao Yan who worked at the Golden Beach Club, a massage parlor in Bao’an District, was hospitalized with several tissue injuries following her refusal to provide “special services” to a client, Guangdong TV reported on June 23.

Xiao Yan lies on a hospital bed.

Xiao Yan’s troubles started two months ago when she was lured to the club by its hefty promise of RMB 10,000 in salary per month. The reality was something quite different, with Xiao Yan earning an average of only RMB 3,000 per month.

However, wage concerns were not her only issue. Among the list of services Xiao was expected to provide were sexual favors. “Some clients requested that we massage them with our breasts. (The club) asked us to massage clients’ genitals, and would give us a monthly salary for doing so. Many clients would be naked and ask to touch us, or even request we use our mouth,” Xiao Yan told the newspaper.

The notice allegedly issued by the club instructs its employees to use “special massaging techniques” on clients.

A signed notice, allegedly issued by the club, emphasized that if an employee doesn’t use “special massaging techniques” on clients, her bonus will be revoked, and the masseuse will be disciplined.

The club, however, fervently denies involvement in any illegal sexual services and claims that Xiao Yan initiated the attack on her supervisor, and that he was merely defending himself. Some female masseuses at the club interviewed by the newspaper denied that any sex is offered by the employees and insisted all services are strictly legitimate and non-sexual.

READ: Foshan Court Rules that Happy Ending Massages
Do Not Amount to Prostitution

It’s no secret that some high-powered officials have been actively shielding the sex trade business from prosecution. Since the province’s vice crackdown, Dongguan’s police chief has been sacked and, just recently, two local police chiefs were arrested for providing protection to the industry.

While it remains to be seen what really happened at the Golden Beach Club, the story has provoked many comments following its publication. By the end of June 23, it had attracted over 2,500 comments on QQ alone.

Most commentators asked Xiao Yan to quickly leave the city for fear of retribution. Aya wrote: “For your personal safety, I suggest you to leave as soon as possible. In regards to yellow (sex trade operators), black (underground organised gangs) and protection rackets, we ordinary people can’t mess with them.”

Related:

Photos: Guangdong TV

Haohao

Mainland Prostitutes Rounded Up in Macau

Posted: 06/20/2014 2:09 pm

macau prostitution bustA late night raid by the Macau vice squad on June 19 has resulted in the capture of 29 mainland women suspected of engaging in prostitution on Jinguang Boulevard in Liudang District, reports Y Net.

Two mainland men were also detained in the raid, and are suspected of profiting from prostitution.

Ever since a crackdown on prostitution in Dongguan began last February resulting in over 3,000 people arrested, there has been an exodus of sex workers traveling to Shenzhen and beyond.

macau prostitution bustmacau prostitution bustmacau prostitution bustmacau prostitution bustmacau prostitution bust

Related:

[h/t @missxq]

Photos: Y Net

Haohao

Just a Gigolo: Male Prostitutes Arrested in Zhuhai

Posted: 06/13/2014 9:24 am

Guangdong police busts an establishment for prostitution. Photo credit: Guangdong Police Department

Male prostitutes in Zhuhai who used the Internet to solicit clients are some of the more than 3,000 people arrested for prostitution-related crimes in the province.

Zhuhai police first discovered the ring in March when an online group named the “Zhuhai Cool Boys Club” caught their attention. Operating via an overseas Internet server, the club poses as a massage service provider, but under the table it was busy setting up its male sex workers with clients.

READ: Meet China’s Hugh Grant Sex Scandal Counterpart, Huang Haibo

After a month-long investigation, police discovered the club was using a bar called Mongkok Pub in Gongbei Xiawan District as a meeting place between male prostitutes and their patrons, China News reported on June 12.

The police raided the bar on May 9, arresting the owners surnamed Wu and Zhang. Six prostitutes were also apprehended at nearby hotels.

Ever since a CCTV reporter went undercover to expose Dongguan’s rampant sex trade in early February, Guangdong has carried out a zealous campaign to clamp down on prostitution. 3,553 establishments in the province were deemed illegal and 1,200 websites related to prostitution have been shut down.

Related:

Home page image: quansn.com 

Haohao

Guangdong Prostitution Crackdown Leads to Arrests, Closed WeChat Accounts

Posted: 06/12/2014 3:54 pm

prostitution crackdown Over 3,000 people have been arrested as part of a police crackdown on prostitution in Guangdong, reports Caijing.

Ever since a high-profile CCTV report on prostitution in Dongguan, 3,033 people have been detained for prostitution-related crimes, of which 1,497 are described as profiteers or operators of prostitution-related businesses. The crackdown involves a total 1,121 cases in which 214 prostitution rings are said to have been busted.

Guangdong police have checked over 947,000 establishments in which 3,553 have been deemed illegal. Of these illegal establishments, 269 have been banned, 19 have had their certificates suspended, and 3,129 have closed.

READ: Prostitution Returns to Dongguan Under Protection of Local Police

As well, Guangdong police announced that 1,200 websites associated with prostitution have been shut down, and that one million QQ, WeChat, and Weibo accounts have been cancelled.

On Wednesday, WeChat announced they have shut down over 20 million WeChat accounts related to prostitution nationwide this year alone.

READ: Shenzhen Raid Captures Enough Prostitutes to Fill a Basketball Court

These announcements come as a group of legal experts allege convicted sex workers have been sent to labor camps for re-education, reports Radio Free Asia.

A letter signed by the group criticized the new “custody and education” system implemented in place of the controversial “re-education through labor” system abolished last year, saying there’s no difference between the two.

Under the new system, the critics allege a person can be incarcerated by police for up to two years without trial for involvement in the sex industry, whether as a sex worker or a client.

***

Related stories:

Photo: cnhubei

Haohao

Shenzhen Raid Captures Enough Prostitutes to Fill a Basketball Court

Posted: 05/27/2014 2:30 pm

shenzhen vice bust prostitution dongguanA police raid upon several Shenzhen establishments has resulted in the arrest of 69 people in various prostitution-related crimes, reports People’s Daily Online.

After receiving complaints from local residents, several Longhua District brothels masquerading as foot massage treatment centers, leisure clubs, or night clubs were raided by Shenzhen police during the early morning hours of May 19. There were so many people arrested they filled a basketball court.

Many of these sex workers are described as originally coming from Dongguan. They apparently went to nearby Shenzhen when a well-publicized prostitution crackdown occurred back in February. Police say the first half of this year has seen a continuous flow of sex workers from Dongguan entering Shenzhen.shenzhen vice bust prostitution dongguan

Related:

Photos: People’s Daily Online

Haohao

Meet China’s Hugh Grant Sex Scandal Counterpart, Huang Haibo

Posted: 05/19/2014 5:12 pm

huang haiboWhen Chinese celebrities get busted for sex scandals, it’s a big deal. When Wen Zhang had his dirty laundry exposed to the public, it resulted in the history’s most read Weibo post. After Edison Chen had his secret stash of photos regarding a “celebrity sex ring” exposed, he hasn’t worked since—and that guy was in The Dark Knight.

Yes, a puritan double standard may be held for China’s most famous, but it seems to be excused for certain people—people like Huang Haibo.

Huang was arrested by police after he was caught with a prostitute at a Beijing hotel. And despite the scandal, the media and netizens remain very loyal to him: one figure puts Huang’s support as high as 80% (if one can put the internet into a percentage).

Huang apologized immediately for his actions, and it’s been readily accepted. Friends of Huang have defended him by saying he was drunk at the time of the incident, while some Weibo comments have suggested Huang was framed, as someone as rich as him “won’t require to rent a hotel room for the solicitation of sex”.

We’re not quite sure if being drunk is an adequate excuse, but maybe any talk about Huang is presumptuous without talking about what he does for a living: being liked, and getting paid for ithuang haibo

If you’re not familiar with the popular actor, then you won’t be aware his fame originated from starring on Hey, Let’s Get Married as “Guo Ran”, the ideal perfect husband.

Readers would also not know that Guo Ran is considered the model husband by which men should pattern themselves after: a completely loyal, docile man who never expresses anger or really any personal opinions at all.

So is the scandal justified? Is it okay to excuse unmarried bachelors like Huang for having specific needs while ridiculing others?

As China’s equivalent of the Hugh Grant sex scandal (minus the transsexual and the smoking hot wife), we’re probably going to see more forgiveness awarded to this guy for every mistake that he makes. For our part, we hope Huang gives back in China’s upcoming versions of Four and a Half Weddings and Tropic Thunder.

Photo: Guan News, Baike, sohu

Haohao

Prostitution Returns to Dongguan Under Protection of Local Police

Posted: 05/19/2014 2:08 pm

dongguan vice prostitution undercover crackdown corruptionDespite a crackdown that arrested a few prominent people and reportedly put 200,000 people out of work, prostitution has not been eradicated in Dongguan. On the contrary, it looks to have concealed itself very well with the aid of local police.

So very vice to see you again, but then, maybe you’ve just never left.

A Guangdong TV reporter recently went undercover to investigate a complaint that Dongguan entertainment venues were engaging in prostitution without any reprisals from the police (video here). With the help of a local resident named Wang, the reporter infiltrated several brothels in the Longhua Street area in Longhua New Town, Dongguan. It’s as though we’ve all seen this before

RELATED: Watch Prostitutes Get a Lesson in Using Momo WeChat to Lure Clients

Far from the city center, Longquan Garden by Jianda road is located a kilometer away from Hualong Road. During the day, there is not much pedestrian traffic in this residential area, but at night there is more activity that includes seven to eight motorcycle riders who zip around and ask random strangers:

Do you want to play around? For such a young guy and so full of life, no need to be so coy! The girls are of an impeccable quality; I’ll bring you over.

Through the access of a twisted labyrinth of very narrow alleys, the reporter is ushered into the fourth floor apartment of the Shengyuan Foot Bath. There, he is asked by the proprietor if he is interested in anything:

We have many different prices according to your different needs. For RMB 200 you can have the whole service, top and bottom.

That night, the reporter visited a total of seven establishments that engaged in prostitution that also included the Weiwei Leisure Club located in the 3-star Yinglun Hotel, also an establishment that also offers “foot baths”.dongguan vice prostitution undercover crackdown corruption

Upon visiting the brothels, the reporter reported these places to the 110 emergency services hotline. Some ten minutes later, the police arrived at the Yinglun Hotel, and then some ten minutes after that, they left.

After asking follow-up questions to the police, the reporter was told by a police sub-station representative:

We went there to have a look, and we did not find any prostitution as you described.

All seven brothels visited by the reporter are under the jurisdiction of the Longcheng police sub-station. The closest reported brothel to the police station is the Weiwei Leisure club only 500 meters away.

RELATED: Movie on Dongguan’s Notorious Sex Industry to Be Released

We imagine the Mayor of Dongguan Yuan Baocheng will be shocked at the problem—again. Or, maybe Yuan will be shocked at himself for having said these words at the beginning of April:

“Three months from now, we will have adopted measures that no one would have expected. I can fundamentally make the determination now that whatever cases we find, we will investigate.”

Hopefully his nerves will be soothed by the rousing anthem of civic pride sung by local youths, because it seems his troubles aren’t going to end soon. A recommended replacement work force consisting of robots will just bring up the equally frustrating problem of having to deal with robot whores, but that’s another case of nuts and bolts.

Related:

Photo: Yancheng Evening Report

h/t @MissXQ

Haohao

Deputy Mayor of Dongguan Under Investigation

Posted: 05/9/2014 9:13 am

Liang Guoying, center, is an official that gets to (the) point.

And still the turnover continues as another official in Dongguan is destined for the chopping block.

The Guangdong Provincial Commission for Disciplinary Inspection released a statement that said Liang Guoying, the executive deputy mayor of Dongguan, is under investigation for ”serious discipline violations,” Shanghai Daily reports.

There are no other details released at this time. We don’t know what crimes Liang is accused of, or why. However, we can all have full faith that Liang is as good as guilty as the provincial watchdog wouldn’t waste our time by announcing an investigation into a person that’s plain innocent.

RELATED: Mayor of Dongguan: “I Had No Idea Prostitution Was
Such a Big Problem”

It hasn’t been announced if Liang’s investigation has to do with the prostitution crackdown the city underwent last February, but Liang would be joining a list of accused persons that keeps growing in prestige:

  • 865 arrests made
  • 36 police officers involved of which 9 are in criminal detention, 13 face disciplinary action, 14 are under investigation
  • Yan Xiaokang, Deputy Mayor and head of the local Public Security Bureau
  • Liang Yaohui, a deputy in the National People’s Congress

WATCH: Dongguan Youth Sing for City Pride [Video]

 Photo: Xinhua, NewsCenter
Haohao

No More Clubbing for Guangzhou Officials

Posted: 05/8/2014 8:00 am

When night clubs meet officials, it’s bound to be epic! Officials should resist them, but still they fall for them. It’s often the set piece to a tragic fall when decadent cadres are seen dancing and singing with young girls as well engaging in some under-the-table activity.

Just look at what happened to the poor Shanghai officials who were caught on camera during their fun outings. Four Shanghai court officials were sacked last year after a video clip showed them spending a night with prostitutes at a night club.

In order to stave off corruption in Guangzhou, the city’s Discipline Inspection Commission has introduced the “Ten Prohibitions”: ten guidelines on official conduct to hopefully revive the last remaining moral standards in Guangzhou officials, reported the Nanfang Daily on May 7.

One prohibition says that Guangzhou officials cannot enter night clubs or cabarets. Another one for some reason is more specific and says that officials are not allowed to park government cars at golf courses, night clubs or cabarets.

Other prohibitions cover banquets, use of government cars, relationships with businessmen, receiving gifts and kickbacks from attending events, and giving out autographs or calligraphy (润笔费).

Some netizens applauded the detailed and ambitious rules, but most greeted the new rules with skepticism with many dubbing them as “halfway measures”.

刘胜军改革, a columnist for Financial Times’ Chinese edition, wrote on Weibo, “This is attending to the symptoms, but not curing the real disease (治标不治本) .”

我是北腿老爸 commented, “This tells the officials to stop horsing around and start finding an Ernai (a “mistress” in English).”

Another Weibo user named Mia-tendo wrote, “Does this mean the ladies have to go to officials’ houses and deliver the services at their home?”

Another Weibo user Yunzhi杨云志 asked the question that probably got every official thinking: “Not even if they pay for themselves?

Home page: Shanghai court officials filmed in an elevator at a luxury night club.
Photo credit: Sohu 

Haohao

Dongguan Hotels Suffering, Occupancy Down 90% After Sex Crackdown

Posted: 04/25/2014 9:14 am

More than two months into Dongguan’s sex trade crackdown, the once bustling city is currently suffering from dwindling visitor numbers and a tepid hotel business that used to generate RMB 300 million ($48 million) in revenues annually, Time Weekly reported on April 24.

Visitors at Houjie, one of the main red light districts in Dongguan, have dropped 50 to 60 percent since the February crackdown, said one cab driver surnamed Li. Meanwhile, a downtown center in Houjie called Kangle Nan Lu has seen an 80 to 90 percent drop in visitor traffic. Li estimated that at least 80,000 people have left the town after the crackdown.

One person associated with a 5-star hotel in Houjie said, “The hotel business has entered a cold winter.” The city’s number of 5-star hotels is the third largest nationally after Beiing and Shanghai, but the crackdown has put a brake on investments towards its hotels.

Another reason Dongguan hotels are expecting more lean times is due to the government clampdown on extravagant government spending. Five-star hotels were often the venue on which government officials splurged public spending on lavish meals.

Despite government’s hardline stance on the sex trade, some brave souls have managed to keep the old business afloat. One person called Ah Jing still ferries prostitutes to different hotels. Currently managing 15 prostitutes, Ah Jing drives the xiaojie to the customer’s hotel for the special service.

It is hard to predict how long the aftermath of the crackdown is going to effect the city. However, it seems the effect is continuing to ripple wider and wider at the same time the city is also battling dwindled export figures as the country’s economy slows.

Home page photo: China News 

Haohao
AROUND THE WEB
Keep in Touch

What's happening this week in Shenzhen, Dongguan and Guangzhou? Sign up to be notified when we launch the This Week @ Nanfang newsletter.

sign up for our newsletter

Nanfang TV