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Travel & Resources: CHENGDU

Please help us keep these listings current and correct. Special thanks to oatmen, millaecuti, liuming, suehiro, thierrym, lvlc2405, lasha, jonathan8000 and buzifrancois!

CHENGDU (Sichuan Province) -- area code (86-28)

General Information

    So may Chinese gays say the same thing: Chengdu is a gay paradise. But don't visit expecting rainbow flags and pride parades. What they mean is that gays in Chengdu feel tolerated and blend in to the point that there are very few gay-only bars. In fact, gays here seem almost invisible. They go to whatever popular clubs and restaurants they want to and socialize in groups that include their women and straight friends. Even in the few gay-only clubs, you won't find much in the way of spaces for private encounters. Gays here flirt and hug and trade phone numbers with those they may be interested in. You will almost instantly be asked if you like anyone in their immediate group and easy-breezy matchmaking seems to be part of Chengdu's laid-back lifestyle. And life here is decidedly relaxed. Food is delicious, spicy and inexpensive (unless you dine in the many themed "Chinese village" shopping neighborhoods where both foreign and Chinese tourists are overcharged for everything). Chinese gays also claim that Chengdu has lots of cute guys, but, like its reputation for being a gay paradise, this is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

    Population is over 10 million (that's more than 400,000 Utopians).

  • Chengdu Gay Scene Updates message forum
  • Men in Chengdu message forum

Chengdu (c) 2009 by John Goss


Organizations

  • Chengdu Gay Care Organization (CGCO)
      3/F 1st Club Jiuba, Hongxing Rd Erduan (just down the hall from the Bian Zou drag cabaret show bar), 8662-7577, Chinese language hotline: 8815-1415. Chengdu's regional HIV/AIDS outreach center and tongzhi (queer) community organization. Funded in part by a UK NGO. They have a very positive presence in town. Information board in the hallway and Chinese language litereature available for those that drop by. They also host occasional meetings, film screenings and other educational programs.


Popular Spots

Bars and Clubs

    • Beatles Bar
        No. 67, 3rd Section Western First Ring Rd, near Mianyang Hotel. Gay bar for drinks and relaxing. Mixed ages.
    • MC Club
        1/F Haicheng Dasha, Tianxian Qiao Bei Rd, 8666-6029, 135-5367-4529. North street of Tianxian Bridge (6) (tianxian qiao bei jie 24 hao). Set back from the main road down a driveway at the base of the Haicheng Bld. You can see a Sports center sign from the road. MC sauna is below it and the bar is beyond it, around the corner. Large gay club with patio seating facing the river and large indoor seating with bar and small stage for performances. This is the happening gay club in Chengdu. Opens about 9pm and runs until very early in the morning. Packed on weekends. Free show. Entry is cheaper before 8pm.成都市天仙桥北路6号(东门大桥旁)海成大厦1楼
    • Mu Di Di (Destination)
        Ge Lin Pu Lan Te (Green Planet Hotel), 63 Huaxingdong St. Look for the round, red Budweiser sign on the 2/F exterior of the hotel. A beautifully designed gay bar and karaoke club.


Cabarets

    • Bian Zou (Variation Bar)
        3/F 1st Club Jiuba, Hongxing Rd Erduan. Ask your taxi driver to go to the Bowling Hall near the Wanfujing Shopping Centre 万福井 in Zongfu Rd 总府路. When you are outside the main door of the bowling center, walk east on the street parallel to Zongfu Lu towards Hongxing Rd. 100m ahead, at the crossroad with Hongxing Rd, you will find this place on your righthand side. Another simple way to get there is to get to the crossroad between Zongfu Rd, Dacisi Rd and Hongxing Rd Erduan, and walk north on the western sidewalk of Hongxing Rd Erduan. You will see the glittering sign for "1st Club Jiuba" on your left hand side. Take elevator to 3/F and get ready for one of Chendu's most exotic experiences. Before the show, male staff in street clothes parade on stage ("What are they doing?" we asked. "Rehearsing," explained the hostess.) and then eagerly chat up customers who are urged to buy drinks for them (no thanks). The show itself, while a few decades behind Bangkok cabaret, has been updated with new routines, better costumes and some amazingly professional dancers. Don't sit near the front unless you want to become part of hostess' comedy schtick. As soon as the show ends the drag queens get changed into "Priscilla" style clothes and head to another gig. 一加一酒吧 红星路二段


Karaoke

    • Journey of Romance Bar
        No. 23, 3rd Section Renminzhong Rd.


Massage for Men

      Dragon Asia Male Massage
        +86 158-1476-9734, email. Gay-owned massage business with branches in more than a dozen cities including Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Handsome, friendly masseurs offering relaxing massage therapy for men. Booking is easy and they speak excellent English. Just select your masseur from pictures on their website (all pics are of their real staff). Then call to confirm and your masseur is on the way within minutes. 24-hour outcall, direct to your door.

    • G-house Spa for Men Only
        186-0001-8040, email. Gay-owned spa for men only in Chengdu's CBD. Call for directions to the facility and they'll fetch you from the vicinity. Stylishly designed secret garden, with cozy rooms amidst quiet and relaxation. Purest botanical essences, imported from France and Canada. Tailored to suit the needs of men -- with treatments carried out by professionally trained masseurs. Treatments include relaxation massage, 4-hand massage, sea crystal scrub, waxing, and more combining Chinese tradition, yin and yang, and aboriginal elements. They have adopted traditional music and the theory of Chinese medicine based on the balance of elements (gold, wood, water, fire, soil). After your treatment, enjoy healthy refreshments. Utopia Member Discount


Meeting Places

Chengdu (c) 2009 by John Goss

    • Baiguoyaun Tea Bar
        Al fresco tea patio near the Estate Exchange Building at Houziman.
    • LinZhongCan Tea Garden (林中餐) UTOPIAN VERIFIED APR 2012
        RenminZong Lu, just north of Tianfu Square, at the intersection with YuHe West St (西御河) (the Sheraton hotel is on the corner). Cross the street and follow the side street (YuHe West) to just before the next T junction. You will see the entrance to the garden on your left. Locals waste away hours on sunny afternoons under the trees, drinking tea and playing Mahjong and card games. After entering the garden, choose a table to the right (closer to the facilities) and keep an eye on the facilities and will see guys come and go. You may be able to make a friend when visiting the facilities. It is a mixed crowd, so like always, use discretion and play safe.
    • Panda Square
        Near Shudu Bld, Zongfu Rd.


Saunas and Fitness for Men

    • Blue Cloud and Rain
        Near Galaxy Sauna. Facilities are basic. Inexpensive entry fee. Patrons are mainly blue collar locals with little English spoken, but you can still find a way of having a very good time. Most customers here never rub shoulders with foreigners and are curious. If you are looking for an authentic Chinese experience this is a place to go.

        Comments from Utopians:

        "This sauna/bathhouse that was formally close to Wenshu monestary has resurfaced on the other side of the city. Go to the Southwest Traffic University gate (西南交通大学) in 2nd Ring Road (北二环路). With your back to the gate, face the street, turn left and walk to the first traffic light. Across the street you will see a building with a rounded facade that looks somewhat like a boat. Cross the intersection and turn left following the side of the building. Instead of going into the courtyard entrance about 2/3 of the way down the side of the building, just keep on walking all the way to the end of the building. Then, turn the corner and you will see a boom and security cabin. Continue bast this to the back side of the building where you will see some single story buildings to the utmost left hand side. There is no sign or indication, but this is it. New location, but the same old furniture and croud. If you are into older blue coller workers on the rough side, this is the place for you." -- millaecuti, May 25, 2012

    • Galaxy Sauna

        Comments from Utopians:

        "Discovered a new sauna in Chengdu. It is north-northwest. Go to the Southwest Traffic University gate (西南交通大学) in 2nd Ring Road (北二环路). With your back to the gate, face the street, turn left and walk to the first traffic light. Across the street you will see a building with a rounded facade that looks somewhat like a boat. Cross the intersection and turn left following the side of the building. About 2/3 of the way down you will see an entrance with a sweeping staircase on the right. Go into the courtyard and look for the steps on the left. You will see a red banner with (银河) in white characters draped over the railings. This is your destination. All patrons are locals in their late 40's and older with the occasional youth liking older men. The place is run down, with showers, a dry sauna and TV room on 2/F and sleeping facilities upstairs. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea. Keep in mind that the entrance fee is a mere Y$25 and that should give you an idea what to expect." -- millaecuti, May 5, 2012

    • MC Sauna
        1/F Haicheng Bld, 6603-8798, 135-5367-4529. North street of Tianxian bridge (6) (tianxian qiao bei jie 24 hao). You can see a Sports center sign from the road. MC sauna is below it. Beautifully decorated and men's club right around the corner from their popular bar (see listing under Bars). Lockers, showres and steam, foot massage and body massage rooms, PC stations with Net, bar. More of a social/relaxing space than a typical cruise sauna. Clean and well-managed. Busiest on weekends. 成都市天仙桥北路6号(东门大桥旁)海成大厦1楼
    • Qicaiyinxiang Man Club
        8555-6976.
    • Xinbaixung
        61 Taishengnan Rd.


Shops and Salons

Chengdu (c) 2009 by John Goss

      Fun to visit and colorful for your cameras (but expect high prices for mediocre food), Chengdu's "Chinese Village" themed shopping areas are like Disneyland's Main Street -- an idealized version of the charming local neighborhoods that got plowed under and built over in the great drive towards progress. Jin Li Ancient Street next to Wuhou Temple (this funerary temple and its gardens has a steep Y$60+ entry fee compared to Y$5+ for Wenshu Temple or Y$10+ for Qingyang Temple) is the most famous and packed with Chinese tourists. Kuan Xiangzi is more trendy, with clubs and restaurants that come alive in the evenings, yet you will still see residents doing synchronized dance routines, toddlers in split pants answering the call of nature, elaborate ear cleaning experts waiting to use their specialized tools on you, sugar-glass blowers and drizzlers making elaborate sweets that are works of folk art (see photo above), and all manner of Chinese crafts and edibles. The neighborhood around Wenshu Temple is another one of these pop-go-the-Chinese shopping districts.



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