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| Travel & Resources: GUANGZHOU |
GUANGZHOU (Guangdong Province)
-- area code (86-20)
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Guangzhou is a huge city, spread out along waterways that are lit at night by computerized laser and lighting shows. The pace of modernization here seems slower, so Guangzhou is a treasure trove of traditional and period architecture, and a short walk off the beaten paths will reward the visitor with fascinating glimpses of the daily life of its 7 million residents (300,000 of whom are Utopians).
Men in Guangzhou message forum
- Guangzhou Gay Scene Updates message forum
Shamian Island is a tiny parcel of land packed with European heritage buildings and garden parks. It's a great vantage point for the nightly public light show and an easy and fun stroll. Don't be surprised if you are asked, "Are you adopting a baby?" here, as this seems to be where China's unwanted children, primarily female, find new and loving parents. It also explains why there are so many baby clothes shops tucked in beside the art galleries and tea houses.
There is a lot to see and do in Guangzhou, so you won't run out of activities if you stay a few days.
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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
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Warnings from Utopians:
"BE CAREFUL! I had met a friend, a Chinese guy who denied being a MB. We had a nice time together. Next morning the guy had gone to the police station and said that he had been raped! Later this guy, along with his friends, tried to attack me and demand payment. We were caught by the police and told that business with a prostitute can cause two years prisonment! Police did not believe the rape story and believed the guy to be a MB. But it seemed like the police wanted to punish me because I was gay. To be a gay is not illegal in China, but one way or another they sought to punish me. They decided to detain me for two weeks. The Chinese guy got the same penalty and detention. I can tell you that it was not nice to be in a prison in China. My lesson: People's Park is very busy and you can find local guys very easily there. But be careful, don't play with prostitutes because it is illegal. If you are asked by the police, never admit that you have given money for sex because it really is illegal. There are many ordinary guys just seeking for a partner, too. I met some nice guys who were not MBs. Chinese men are very shy, except the MBs. If you want to meet someone, you just better take a initiative in friendship. You have to flirt! Most of the Chinese guys are honest and friendly. I just had a very bad luck! Have a safe trip to China and don't get messed up with hustlers!" -- jarmo, Jul 19, 2006
Click here for Guangzhou hotels and accommodations.
- Xiaozhou Village
- Way off the tourist circuit (at the moment) and difficult to find, but if you are a fan of traditional life and architecture, this small village of quaint canals and no cars has plenty of Ming Dynasty buildings preserved in their original state. You'll see clan halls, ancestral temples, wood carvings, craftsmen, locals playing mahjong by the winding tree-lined canals, and a home whose walls are made of oyster shells. There is even a village theater presenting Chinese operas in the evening. Artists have begun to relocate to this quiet haven and restoration and refurbishment for tourists is just beginning, so catch it soon before it becomes Disneyfied like so many of China's other famous water villages. Pay a local Y$20 (US$3) to give you a walking tour. Make sure your taxi knows the place or you'll never find it. About 35 minutes drive from downtown (under US$25 for the round-trip fair and waiting time). Ask your taxi driver to wait and take you back!
- Bear Pub
- Liu Rong Bld, 61 Liu Rong St (behind the 7-11 store), 6127-6012.
- Fabula Club
- G/F and B/F 28 Shui Yin Lu (south end, close to the cross road with Huanshi Dong Rd, 3760-2691, 137-1171-8455.
Comments from Utopians:
"The Fabula Club is in a separate room from the bar area. This makes it easier to chat in the bar area without the disco speakers blasting next to you. Both areas have full service bars. Love the open ceiling and minimalist decor." -- jonhgz, Apr 24, 2008
"Currently popular. Not that good, but one of only a few choices for local gays." -- suehiro, Mar 10, 2008
- HJ Club
- 43 Zhu Si Gang Er Ma Lu, Dong Shan Kou, 3761-1490, 135-5602-8101. Shows on Fri and Sat night. Pub is newly opened and a number of gays, especially foreigners, are attending. Full monty stripping brought unwelcome attention, but the place is still rolling.
Comments from Utopians:
"Popular spots: HJ Club and Wilber's, the bar/restaurant opposite HJ Club. Of course there's Bear Pub, and Velvet is getting gayer and gayer." -- suehiro, Jan 17, 2008
- Velvet
- 1/F no 403 International Electronic Mansion, Huanshi Dong Lu, Chinese Overseas Village, 8732-7801, 8732-7802.
Comments from Utopians:
"I went to Velvet Club when the other clubs emptied and at least 30% of the crowd there was gay there. Good music." -- suehiro, Jan 20, 2008
 Asia Massage
 Utopia Member Discount |
 Guangzhou Star Male Massage
Utopia Member Discount |
Comments from Utopians:
"I've tried Guangzhou Star Male Massage and had a delightful experience. The masseur was friendly and very skilled." -- jonhgz, Apr 1, 2008
 Mr Strong Massage
Utopia Member Discount |
Neil Massage
Utopia Member Discount |
- Beijing Rd
- CITIC Plaza, Tian-He District (the tallest building in Guangzhou), facilities on each floor of the shopping plaza
- Gyms
- Look in the parks. Very cheap, with steam bath, dry sauna and swimming pool, not exclusively gay (be discreet).
- Ji Nian Tang (underground station)
- Pearl Riverside near White Swan Hotel
- People's Park (gays usually hang out on the west side of the park)
Comments from Utopians:
"I checked out People's Park the other night. The facility on the west side is indeed cruisy, with an endless stream of men going in and out. Outside, under the trees and on the benches, men are sitting and looking to connect. I initiated a conversation with a nice guy my age, and we had a good chat. Later we had such a fun time. My advantage is speaking Chinese. Was I lucky that night!" -- Fip, Jun 29, 2006
"I recently checked out People's Park and found that the gay part of the park has shifted slightly...there is now just as much interaction in the bottom left hand corner of the park, near the dancing area (as you face the entrance with your back to the subway). It seems that the park is under increased police surveillance...probably due to prostitution in the area, and in-the-know gays are no longer hanging out so much in the top left corner close to the smaller toilets. This park is full of gay unemployed migrants, so while they can be cute, chatting to them does carry its attendant risks. For example, even if you make it clear to them you are not looking for a moneyboy they may not quite believe you. As far as they are concerned you are rich and they NEED the money! I have found the phrase 'Meiyo Renminbi' (loose translation: 'It's not possible for me to give you money.') has worked to clear up misunderstandings." -- JayCool, Jun 29, 2006
"Just had a visit to People's Park (by the Metro, please get off at Gongyuan Qian station). It was very cool and it not difficult at all to find some who wanna get aquainted with foreign guys. Some of them were young and quite educated (beware though, many are MBs). Two guys I met tried to speak English with me and it was quite nice." -- Jasperberg, Mar 13, 2006
"People's Park (Remin Park). It's true there are a lot of gay men hanging around the WC on the western side of the park. I went there 3 times and walked into the very small WC. It was packed and there was a consistent stream of men going through the place. In China the cubicles are mostly open and you do your business in an open gutter-type of drain. Not real comfortable if you aren't used to that sort of thing. There were quite a few older Chinese guys and it was very smelly and unclean. I sat outside on a bench one time and no one approached me. I'm definitely not unattractive or unapproachable so I'm not too sure how it works. There is definitely a market for someone to start a clean sauna in this city because there were at least 50 to 70 men at any time in this park looking to connect." -- Chinaboy, Feb 4, 2006
- Shamian Tennis Court
- Intersection of Zhongshan 4th Rd and Cangbian RD
Warnings from Utopians:
"Haizhu Square Park is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and full of out of town migrants working as pickpockets. I have twice had someone attempt to steal my bag there. I would suggest its not a good idea for visitors to attempt to make connections there. People's Park (which has its own risks ) is a lot safer than Haizhu." -- JayCool, Jun 29, 2006
"There is a a big bookstore in the Sharp Bld where Chinese gays hang out looking for contacts. If you are reasonably discrete you can strike up conversations on 3/F near the WC. It seems a good place to meet middle class, educated gays who may be hard to locate otherwise. Subway stop there is Tiyu Xilu." -- JayCool, Apr 22, 2008
"It's true that Starbucks in the street on the right hand side of Garden Hotel is full of gays, including gay Chinese university students and even gay Arab business men." -- JayCool, Apr 26, 2006
"The Starbucks near the China Hotel could be a good place for meeting guys on weekends." -- Jasperberg, Mar 13, 2006
"In the last 18 months with Starbucks introducing itself into China, this is also a good place to meet and be greated by many Uni guys who will happily want to chat to improve their English and partake in oral exercises." -- bambamrubble, Mar 1, 2006Comments from Utopians:
- Wilber's Bar and Restaurant (European)
- 62 Zhusi Gang Rd, , +86-20-37611101, FAX , email. A renovated house turned into a brasserie with three floors of roomy dining and a barbeque terrace. The service is welcoming. They offer an eclectic menu of European cuisine. Great wine list and fabulous Martinis and Margaritas. A destination for gays and their friends. Open 5-11pm for dinner and until 3am at the bar. Gay-owned. 62 号 竹丝岗二马路
Comments from Utopians:
"Apart from business, the best thing about Guangzhou is its restaurants and the food. Forget western style food -- McDonalds, KFC and Pizza hut -- try the local restaurants and you will be very surprised. Even a bad restuarant here is better than most Chinese restaurants in the west. If you hate Chinese food in your own country, it is very different here and a hell of a lot better, so give it a go." -- bambamrubble, Mar 1, 2006
 Tang Lee Food Art (Cantonese cuisine)
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- Chung Mei Li Jian Mei Zhong Xin
- 5/F 228 Haizhu Bei Lu, 137-1177-7714. Get off at the Xi Men Kou Metro station and exit to Guangxiao Lu. Walk along Zhongsan Liu Lu, turn left into Haizhu Bei Lu and watch for the shop numbers on the right side of the road. In about 5 minutes you will come to the building. Take the lift inside to 5/F. Their facilities include gym, karaoke, sauna, steam, table tennis, recreation area, large and small rest areas.
Comments from Utopians:
"Actually quite grubby now and certainly not cleaned regularly enough. The owners will not let foreigners stay the night here. If you are non-Chinese you will be booted out at 11pm. The clientele in this place tend to be older, 30+, even quite a few guys in their 50s. The atmosphere is quite working class." -- JayCool, Mar 26, 2008
"Chung Mei Li sauna is a great place. Staff are very friendly and helpful and always cleaning. Hours of access are from 2:30pm-midnight. The steam room hops! Definitely a place to visit." -- sensei, Oct 31, 2006
"I paid Y$20 on a weekday, but entry is Y$25 on weekends. Small place for locals. The guys leave early so you should go early to catch the young and handsome ones. A few older and chubby guys also." -- Fip, Jul 27, 2006
"Go after 6pm. Morning is for classes and there can be woman around. Spacious, but there is no aircon." -- SGuy, Jun 2, 2006
- Sunshine Men's Club
- 10/F of a hotel for business travelers at a crossroads at the top end of Lujing Lu (across the road from a small children's park). The entrance is in the lobby of a hotel for business travelers. You catch the lift up to the sauna. Well decorated.
Comments from Utopians:
"Hygiene level is now terrible...broken showers, a WC that looked like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. I think this is a sad fact of life in gay Chinese venues, even in bigger cities like Guangzhou. The venues open with a lot of excitement and good intentions but then the cleanliness standard and general comfort level go rapidly down hill. This reflects the low self-esteem of gays in China generally and the fact that the owners are really just making money out of a community that lacks pride and hasn't yet got itself organised. If any enterprising gay business people are reading this, we need your skills in Guangzhou, so why not open up a clean venue here that operates with style and confidence? No real private rooms as none have lockable doors. The general crowd is more macho, reserved and more into muscle. There is a lot of posing, preening, and gawking at Sunshine, and whilst real action does go on, it's a strange atmopshere of group groping...not always friendly, and not always safe as condoms are still only used by about 50 per cent of the patrons. " -- JayCool, Mar 26, 2008
"If you like men who are in in their late 20s and upwards or bulky men, this is the place to be. Lack of mood lighting. No frills, just basic." -- gymer39, Feb 8, 2007
- Y.K. Club
- 3/F Li Kang Mansion, 970 Kang Wang Bei Lu (opposite the gate of No. 4 Middle School), 020-8890-5500, 137-1142-3573.
Comments from Utopians:
"I visited a new sauna at Guangfu Zhong Lu, and found it clean and well managed (for now). It is really a series of small TV lounges, with two showers and a steam sauna. The place is quite new and the crowd was relatively small, which I prefer because Chinese saunas can get way too crowded and out of control when they become well known. The patrons were chatty and some spoke English, with a variety of ages and body types. This is not really a heavy cruising scene as there is almost no privacy - the rooms are light, not dark, and they are only seperated by trellis type partitions. Therefore this may be a good place to meet a guy for a conversation or rendezvous but seems not suitable for quick fun." -- JayCool, Apr 21, 2008
"The sauna at Chenjiaci has now moved to 7/F, Liwan Workers Club, 393 Guang Fu Zhong Lu, 137-1118-0246. It is close to Chung Mei Li Jian Mei Zhong Xin; Guang Fu Zhong Lu is the road parallel and to the West of Hai Zhu Bei Lu." -- yinghuantang, Apr 11, 2008
"There are now 4 Sauna's in the GZ city region, but nothing spectacular. Hong Kong, Shenzhen or Beijing saunas are cleaner and better operated, but things change fast, so always expect something different when you arrive." -- bambamrubble, Mar 1, 2006
- Private Structure
- GZ Dynasty Mall. Sells sexy underwear for men.
- Tiku
- Fuquianlu 11 (northwest of Peoples Park). A small shop selling a good selection of intriguing underwear.
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