:: I like sex just as much as the next average adult male (or female), but it’s staggering to see the amount of blatant advertising that goes on in China for sex-related services.

Even just a cursory view of any foreign language publication in Shanghai reveals a plethora of such “services,” most of which are targeted at male readers.

Despite an official government stance against both sexually explicit adverts and blatant promotion of sexual services, pretty much all the expat magazines and papers in Shanghai (Shanghai Daily used to be a prime example of this) have, or up until fairly recently, had sexually explicit advertising.

Online classifieds are even worse though. Check them out, you’ll find sexual service related advertising catering to the straight and gay male population.

If we narrow the field down to Shanghai, there are a few main websites with classifieds we can focus on. If we focus on Craigslist Shanghai, we can actually make some statistical analysis of this advertising.

Such adverts in Craigslist Shanghai typically mention “special services,” and happy endings, below is an example (pardon the grammar / spelling mistakes, it’s quoted content):

I have on offer something quite special, some would say something better than sex.

I am independent massage provider, Visiting you ( out calls only please ) at your private home/residence or hotel, My ultimate goal is to sensualize your mind, entice your body, elevate your spirit.I will fulfill all your desires in the most pleasurable way.

I will completely relax you with passionate, sensual caressing, massaging, and special touching over every part of your body, using my skillful hands and perfect breasts. Words can’t describe how good it will feel. I will let you touch me, as long as you let me do most of the touching! Of course, naturally, with a gorgeous woman being this intimate with you, you will become incredibly aroused, I will let this build up until, naturally I give you blissful relief.

Soft, tasteful music, candles and delicious aromas of essential oils will complete the atmosphere.

I am beautiful both of face and body (and mind, for those that this matters to!) sensual and curvy in the right places, 36C and rounded, sexy bottom. Soft features and cute and alluring smile. . My personality is warm, and I’m comfortable to be around.

Fee: Hot special Sensual massage: 300RMB 90mins

As each advert includes a telephone number, a basic Google search can reveal further information.

The local Chinese mobile phone number: has spammed Craigslist Shanghai 99 times in the last 30 days, although the advertiser has been rather consistent compared to others (see below).

This advertiser uses 13512189744 as a contact number, and claims to be a “young, beautiful, 100% independent Chinese girl named Lily” (again, pardon the grammar / spelling mistakes, quoted content):

I am a young and beautiful 100% independent Chinese girl. I have very soft, creamy skin and a cuddly, warm personality to match.
With a natural and fit 32C/D-24-34 figure I enjoy being a real GFF to distinguished gentlemen. Whether you seek a rslaxing evening with a glass of wine and conversation, or an exciting mid-day rendezvous I will provide you with my complete attention.

I will give you the perfect massage. Our time is unhurried and preferred for the kind gentleman seeking an erotic and romantic confidant. I take good care of my health and body, and my face is beautiful. I am passionate about life and it is my nature to get pleasure from my work. I am playful or serious and have an appreciation of a good sense of humor.

I am looking forward to meet you soon. My phone number:13512189744 (lily)
Romantic massage /2Hr:300RMB
Happy massage /2 Hr:500RMB
Top oil massage/2 Hr :800RMB

Cross checking the whole of Craiglist Shanghai for “Lily’s” mobile number (13512189744) reveals 344 spamvertised ads.

Googling that same number shows that the Chinese BBS’s are also being spammed with this particular advert: example.

This advertiser is named “Anna:”

Hey Guy’s. If you are looking for a sexy, attractive, busty young girl to relax with tonight look no further.

I am Anna, 21 years old, 162cm tall and weigh 45kg. And now I’m living Shanghai.

I enjoy meeting new people. I am an independent, discreet girl ready to get a little naughty with a guy looking for a laid back down to earth cutie! I provide a memorable service, which is both erotic and relaxed. I am very warm, friendly, intelligent and easy to be with and provide a first class service!

Give me a call and let’s see how much fun can we have together!

A cursory check on Craigslist Shanghai reveals that that mobile number (15021931860) has been used 194 times in adverts over the last month, and more interestingly, Anna is also known by a number of different names: Anna, Grace, Nana etc.

Perhaps more interestingly, she also appears to look like different people in her different photo’s.  A more cynical person than I might deduce that the pictures are fake.

The next advertiser, using the mobile number 15901761699, has no name, but has advertised 85 times under different titles / images. of that mobile number reveals more details than the other numbers above.

According to the Google results, the advertiser is actually named Linda Gao (高小姐), and she has an address, a company name, and a Web site.

Shanghai White Cloud Blind Masseuse Club (上海白云盲人保健按摩会所)
#33 Chenjiazhai Rd., Shanghai, China (上海市陈家宅路33号
http://www.shgongguan.cn

Unfortunately the Web site is not reachable, but as all Chinese Web sites require an ICP licence, it’s possible to look up “the responsible party.”

The Miibeian.gov.cn site reveals that the site was registered to Guan Junhua 关俊华, with a government issued ICP number of for a number of (didgy) Web sites:

www.ywlp-sh.com
www.pandot.cn
www.chinamassage88.com
www.shgongguan.cn
www.shgangyun.com

Google ChinaMassage88.com reveals another mobile phone number: , and an address (the other sites appear to be gone / inaccessible).

Unfortunately further research was a dead end – although a number of Web sites have exactly the same email address, and contact numbers. The businesses range from delivery companies to someone selling mail order clothing. There is also a link to someone asking for assistance in Web development / coding.

It’s likely that this is the Web site developer for the massage sites above, but I couldn’t find anything concrete showing involvement in the massage game, so they were probably just work-for-hire.

I backtracked to Linda Gao and searched for the company name instead.  This led to a job posting advert for a spa site.

The job posting has a contact name for the job, which turned out to be Miss Gao (高小姐) again! More interestingly, it also has an address that actually exists, unlike the previous ones, and it turns out to be #298 Tongren Rd. (Shanghai), less than 300 meters away from where I am writing this post.

I pass this address on my way to and from work every day, so I’m quite familiar with the road and immediately realised exactly where I thought this would be: on Tongren Rd., in between the restaurants Malones and Spot Bar, the small “hairdressing” salon (i.e massage parlour). Every day I pass by there I see a bunch of bored, scantily dressed girls, and at least one on a laptop.

Unfortunately when I walked home tonight, my suspicions were dashed, as I realised that the potential location was on the wrong site of the street number wise. I was close though, 298 is actually the sauna *directly* opposite Malones. So, at last I had found the spammers. Mystery Solved. Kudos to them for being computer literate at least!

Craigslist even lists a dedicated to spamming / spreading the word for “special services” in China. Also, just for reference, her are the relveant online China anti-pornography law, and reporting sites

• http://www.scio.gov.cn/glfw/dt/200901/t251447.htm
• http://ciirc.china.cn/

// XD

[Xiao Du (小杜) is a guest contributor on 56minus1]