775 Yanchang Middle Rd, Zhabei Dist, Utopia Map, 6356-4358, 6356-4798. About two large city blocks west of the Yanchanglu Subway Station. Entrance is between a mini-mart and a restaurant. The biggest gay sauna in Shanghai. Clean enough and friendly. It's a member club so you will fill out a simple form to join the first time and get a member card to use on repeat visits. Take off your shoes in the reception area and trade them for slippers. Lounging clothes provided in a bag which you must return as you depart. 1/F is reception, lockers, gym, karaoke room, showers, steam and massage. The wet area resembles a Turkish hammam, with a big hot bath in the middle and six showerpoints on the side. Most of the fun happens in the adjoining steam and tepid rooms. 2/F has a café, foot massage room, two large TV lounge rooms (one with beds), reading room with Net access, and private rooms (these can be rented at extra cost for more privacy, although the doors have large round windows). Much play goes on in the lounge areas. Just have a rest and see what develops. Mostly local crowd, 30-60yo. Masseurs on hand for an additional fee. Open 24-hours daily. 闸北区延长中路775号 (如家快捷酒店旁边的通道,沪太路东）

OTHER AREAS

415 Baotong Rd (near Zhongxing Rd), Utopia Map, 6629-0256. Take Line 3 to Dongbaoxing Rd, Exit 1. Keep left and go over the bridge on Baushan Rd. Cross the street at traffic lights to Zhongxing Rd. Walk down to the next intersection and turn right into Baotong Rd. Many gay people. (上海铜欣浴池,宝通路415号2楼,靠近中兴路)

Comments from Utopians:

"Huli sauna now has free condoms in the changing area. When walking from the front counter into the changing area, the lockers are to your left and right, stretching along the corridor. At the beginning of the corridor there is a condom dispenser on the right." -- AussieGuy, Oct 7, 2011

"I went to Huli on Sat afternoon. The management were quite welcoming to me (a foreigner) as were the patrons. I also had a scrub for only Y$20, which included a proper soaping of all of me. Absolutely ALL of me. GREAT value if you ask me." -- AussieGuy, Feb 19, 2011

228 Zhizaoju Lu, map and directions, Utopia Map, 021-6313-5567. There are two saunas here, both in the alley entrance to the hotel (the large neon lit facade is easy to spot). The straight one is on the left as you enter and the gay one is on the right, just after the restaurant and before the stairwell. Take Bus 18 or 23 from Renmin Guangchang (People's Square), get off at Xietu Lu and walk through Xietu Lu to Zhizaoju Lu to find Lianbang Hotel. There is also a bus stop right in front and bus 18 and 23 pass by here to the city. There is a lady at reception and she charges foreigners for the VIP room fee (while Chinese pay Y$10 less for a regular room). You probably won't use the VIP room, but an attendant will unlock one for you if you want to use it. Most people just cruise around the open regular rooms. Lockers are large enough for small luggage, yet so flimsy you will be scared to leave anything of value in them, even though there is an attendant on duty. You are given a small towel and a set of tiny pajamas to put on after you shower. No safety supplies, so bring your own. There is a large, dark steam room off the shower area and four little mini steam rooms. The upper floors are where the cruising goes on, but it gets thick with resident moneyboys the higher and deeper you go. These young hustlers are pushy and confusingly deceptive. Diversified range of ages and physiques, from the muscular to the mature. Massage also available from sauna staff. Open 24 hours. You are allowed to go outside for one hour only to eat (with sauna slippers on). Busiest on weekends and weekdays after work. 联邦浴室, 制造局路228号

157 Zhoushan Rd (near Kunming Rd). Gay, but cheap, so don't expect the best facilities. 上海舟山浴池,地址: 舟山路157弄,靠近昆明路