BEIJING -- area code (86-10)

Everyone you meet in Beijing will tell you how much the city has changed in recent years. While not as radical as the space-age transformation of Shanghai, solemn Beijing is slowly re-furbishing its historical and cultural assets as it upgrades its infrastructure. The official "color" of Beijing, gray (!), is being blended with warmer pastels, and garden landscaping is optimistically employed to combat the pollution and dust. Even more changes are expected as the city prepares to host the Olympics, including a government campaign to eliminate swearing, spitting, and littering.

Peking Man

Population is 12 million (that's half a million Utopians). Beijing is bursting with young men, and the abundance of good looking soldiers and policemen is stimulating to say the least. While a lot of fun can be had flirting with friendly locals, Beijing is not a place to visit for the nightlife or a quickie holiday romance ("419" in contemporary local gay slang, as in "for one night"). Gays here who are educated and self-aware tend to socialize in small circles of friends, visiting bars and saunas only occasionally and in groups. If you are able to make a local friend, then you'll have an inroad to meeting the single men in their network, although this may take more time than a visitor on vacation will have.

Many locals caution that bars and saunas here are filled with "moneyboys" on the prowl, mostly needy men from other provinces. Stories of blackmail, robbery and thugs abound. Cruising areas seem to be more seriously at-your-own-risk than elsewhere in Asia. Saunas are traditional public baths -- small, shabby, and without private spaces. If the men you meet don't have a job and come from elsewhere in the country, you can assume they are looking for financial assistance.

Never-the-less, a number of venues have found a steady clientele and signs indicate that the emerging middle class will shortly experience an explosion of gay lifestyle opportunities that accompanies growing economic power around the country.

Warnings from Utopians:

"In terms of crime, Beijing is probably one of the safest cities of comparable size anywhere in the world. In fact, it is so safe that people may let their guard down and expose themselves to being robbed or worse. It is best to avoid wandering into isolated areas alone and it is important to keep valuables and bags secure at all times. Occasionally, there have been reports of people being robbed on remote parts of the Great Wall. Such incidents are rare--hundreds of tourists visit these sites daily without incident, but it is best to be cautious. Pickpocketing occurs in Beijing, though foreigners do not seem to be targeted in particular. It is important to secure belongings before entering crowded areas or before taking buses or the subway. It is also important to keep bags secure in restaurants." -- qwehk, Dec 7, 2007
• Beijing Gay Scene Updates message forum
• Lesbian listings
• Men in Beijing message forum
• If you're traveling to Beijing, there are some charming Beijing luxury hotels to visit that are very accommodating. While they are beautiful, luxury hotels aren't for everyone. You can find great, cheap hotels in Beijing as well, so you can travel to China on any budget.

The Utopia Guide to China (2nd Edition) is an expanded and updated guidebook to the gay and lesbian scene in 50 Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Included are bars, discos, spas, and restaurants. Enjoy hundreds of savvy comments and recommendations from local Utopians and travelers. Click here to order

MANifesto 57 Nanchizi Dajie, 010-65-245-8850, email. MANifesto is Beijing's first retailer of premium men's underwear, swimwear and fitness gear. Just 7 minutes walk north from Exit B of the Tiananmen East Subway Station (near the Forbidden City). Check out the latest sexy designs from international brands such as C-IN2, N2N, DT Underwear, Ajaxx63 and Private Structure. Be sure to ask the cutie store manager, Jason, to show you the goods. Open 2-10pm Tue-Sun. 南池子大街57号 Utopia Member Discount

• BGLAD
  Beijing Gay, Lesbian, and Allies Discussion is for those belonging to or wishing to support the gay/lesbian/bi/trans community in Beijing. Multicultural and multisexual, their aim is to bring these individuals together in a safe space that is supportive, friendly, and really FUN. They meet every 1st and 3rd Sun of the month in Sanlitun and welcome non-Chinese to join in.
• Promen
  An English-speaking gay professional social network for those who are tired of weekend clubing. They meet every Thu and encourage activities such as sports, music, sightseeing, movies and home gatherings.

Purple Dragon 119/5-10 Surawong Rd, Bangkok, (662) 238-3227, FAX (662) 634-0292, email. Asia's oldest and largest gay tour company offers hundreds of options using local English-speaking guides throughout Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), India, China, Singapore and Bhutan. Specializes in programs focusing on culture, cuisine, adventure and aesthetic improvement programs. Utopia Member Discount

Click here for Beijing hotels and accommodations.

Click here for Beijing bars and clubs.

Click here for Beijing cabarets.

Click here for Beijing discos.

Click here for Beijing karaoke.

Click here for Beijing Massage and Spas for Men.

Locals warn that cruising places in Beijing are not safe for visitors. Gay men in these places are often cunning hustlers and tales of robbery and abuse are sadly common. We recommend that visitors leave these places to Chinese-speakers who are familiar with the territory. If you bring someone back to your room, guard your valuables and be prepared to call the police if an attempt to threaten or blackmail results.
• Beijing Lido Holiday Inn Hotel lobby
• outside Diaoyutai guest house
• Dongdan Park (beware of hustlers in extortion gangs)
• Liu Pu Kang Park
• outside main gate of Beida
• San Li He Park
• Starbucks by Pacific Center
• Tiananmen Square and nearby park
• University areas
• near Wenhua He Yuyan Daxue

  Warnings from Utopians:

  "Beware of deceptive and dangerous moneyboys working the China World mall complex! They speak good English and are openly gay. Only after you've had fun will they suddenly get very nasty and demand money." -- gongfuzi, Nov 11, 2006

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The Wudaokou area is suprisingly nice, busy and very cruisy. The small cafés and bars are full of young and curious university guys eager to talk and make new friends." -- lagoon, Dec 8, 2006

  "The cruising space near the lake on the Tsinghua campus is a place where you can always get action: under the trees or take-home. Make sure you find the bigger of the two lakes (they are separated by a street) and then look for the bathroom. Prime cruising ground is the dark lane south of the bathroom, but the whole lake is cruisy. I have seen some pretty open stuff late at night, and have met several nice grad students." -- Demand, Jul 25, 2006

  "The area around the Wudaokou subway station (on the #13 Line), which is surrounded by many of China's elite universities (but which for a long time was pretty dead), has really blossomed into a major night spot over the last year. There are no strictly gay clubs that I know of, but some great hangouts. The Starbucks in front of Tsinghua East Gate (100m west of the subway station) often has cute guys eager to make conversation, although not all are gay. In addition, the area near the facilities on the big lake at Tsinghua University is a pretty famous cruising spot, especially around 6-8pm. The Foreign Language School, about 200m east of the station, is filled with Chinese gays. It seems to me that many university students who major in English and most who major in other European languages are gay. The school campus has its own student bars and cafes in which it is easy to meet guys (also check out the swimming pool)." -- stepup16, Apr 29, 2006

• Fu Jia Luo (Beijing and rural specialties)
  23 Dong Si Shi Tiao, 8403-7831. Great noodles and country-style cooking! Handsome young waiters in traditional folk garb run around shouting orders and refilling your tea cup from giant copper kettles. The food is fantastic, so please don't order fried rice and sweet-and-sour-something. Instead, try the fresh savory pancakes stuffed with spiced meat, sweet and crunchy lotus, fabulous roasted and grilled meats and fresh vegetable salads Beijing style.
• Golden Barn (tea)
  52 San Li Tun South St (east side), Chaoyang District, 6507-0192, 6502-5142. Next door to G&L Secret Garden and Pink Loft (see below). Upscale tea house with folksy/modern interior (furnishings and lamps are for sale). Large collection of Chinese and English books to read. Interesting flower and herbal teas, plus snacks. Groups of gay friends come here to play cards and chat. Very cozy and great service from attentive staff.
• Han Tsang (Fujian cuisine)
  Hohai Lake (in back of Beihai Park), 6404-2259. Indoor and outdoor dining. The place is packed which is a good reflection on its tasty Fujian specialties like roast chicken, duck, and spicy eggplant. Very close to all the trendy little bars springing up in the nearby local hutong.
• Pink Loft (Thai and Asian)
  6 San Li Tun South St (east side), Chaoyang District, 6506-8811. Next door to G&L Secret Garden and Golden Barn (see above). Trend-setting new eatery on multi-levels with fabulous interior design featuring electric magenta detailing as its name suggests. This restaurant and its two neighbors are a bright spot on Beijing's nightlife scene. Popular and expensive by local standards.
• Tasty-taste (café)
  Worker's Gymnasium, North Gate, 6551-1822. A coffee shop with excellent desserts. Groups of gay friends hang here, especially weekend afternoons. In summer you can sit outdoors on their patio and ogle the shirtless soccer teams working up a sweat while you sip your cappuccino.

Click here for Beijing saunas for men.