China, Asia

Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China and the second largest city, after Shanghai. Beijing is recognised as the political, educational, and cultural center of the People’s Republic of China, while Shanghai and Hong Kong predominate in economic fields. The city hosted the 2008 Olympic Games. Shanghai is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people in its extended metropolitan area. The city is mainland China’s center for commerce and finance, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world’s fastest-growing economy. In both cities there is a growing gay community athough muted and discreet. There are occasional police raids but not often. Gay voices (tongzhi) are becoming louder especially regarding HIV prevention and care. China has decriminalized homosexuality and also declared it is no longer considered a mental illness.

Shanghai (photos 1-20) is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world, with over 20 million people in its extended metropolitan area. The city is mainland China’s center for commerce and finance, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world’s fastest-growing economy.  In Shanghai there is a growing gay community athough muted and discreet. Gay voices (tongzhi) are becoming louder especially regarding HIV prevention and care. China has decriminalized homosexuality and also declared it is no longer considered a mental illness. Although there is no explicit law against homosexuality or same-sex acts between consenting adults, neither are there laws protecting gays from discrimination, nor are there any gay rights organizations in China. In one poll, over 80% of Chinese respondents agreed that heterosexuals and homosexuals were "equal individuals" — although ‘Brokeback Mountain’ in 2006, was denied release

A cruise down the murky waters of the Yangzte River led to the city of Wuhan where the gay scene is also murky. But in Beijing and Shanghai gays are more prosperous and homosexuality is coming out with the help of media stories and the Internet. Also see: Gay China Stories Gay China News & Reports 1997 to present Gay China Photo Galleries   By Richard Ammon August 1998 Updated March 2006   Serendipity What are the chances of unexpectedly arriving in a second rate Chinese city (of only seven million) and accidentally finding a hotel across the street from a gay cruise park? Welcome to Wuhan, five hundred miles west of Shanghai. We never heard of Wuhan until a week before we flew to China to sail down the Yangtze River. Three days later down river, our boat anchored along the wharves of this smoggy city where we virtually

Not all gay people live in the dark shadows of China, away from the new prosperity. A number of ‘nouveau comrades’ in Shanghai live well and socialize in warm friendship networks. They tote cell phones, speak fluent English and have above-average incomes; several are in loving relationships. They live active, productive and eventful lives–part of the emerging ‘guppie’ class. Also see: Gay China Stories Gay China News & Reports 1997 to present Gay China Photo Galleries By Richard Ammon September 2000 Revised February 2006 Living the Good-Enough Life in Shanghai The most impressive images of central Shanghai today are it’s architectural grandeur and its material abundance. It looks and feels big with its 14 million people, its great river harbor, towering sleek skyscrapers, countless oldtown lanes, immense new airport, squeaky-clean subway and an impressive new library. The central Peoples Square is a cardiac throb of life with its museums, theatres

Intro: "China is actually very misunderstood. During the last three national Peoples Congress meetings in China proposals have been presented to legalize same sex relationships." So reports an American gay businessman living in China who wants to share the ‘good news’ about modern China and its emerging gay population. Also see: Gay China Stories Gay China News & Reports 1997 to present Gay China Photo Galleries     By Dr. Jason Moore Ph.D Beijing, China February 2007 Gay China From the Inside–a Gay American Living in China Tells Stories about the ‘Good Life’. My name is Jason Moore. I have lived in China now for five years plus. I own my home here. I have a couple of small businesses here. My home is in Beijing. I have traveled to 98 different cities around China , mainly for business but also for visiting. The one thing I have done is

Intro: Far from the corridors of present-day power in Beijing, the city of Wuhan is home to a strange and little-known retreat where China’s fate was once determined. Mao Zedong’s private villa still stands as a memorial to a by-gone era that altered the course of modern Asia. Also see: Gay China Stories Gay China News & Reports 1997 to present Gay China Photo Galleries By Richard Ammon September 1997   Wuhan City and Mao Tiberius had Capri, Frederick the Great had Sans Soucci, and the Ming Emperors had the Forbidden City. Where there is power there are also regal retreats and hide-aways– and usually built for secrecy and safety. A recent self-arranged trip down the Yangtze River (first class on a third-class Chinese boat) landed us at one of these famous retreats, this one in the city of Wuhan about five hundred miles west of Shanghai. Most people arrive