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

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 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.

  
  

• 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. 成都市天仙桥北路6号（东门大桥旁）海成大厦1楼

  Comments from Utopians:

  "The bar is nice." -- suehiro, Feb 24, 2009

  "Went to the new MC bar, just opened three days ago. The club was great. Mostly young, local Chinese guys/ Lots of ducks (MBs) but also many nice guys just out for fun. The atmosphere was great. Music was OK. Dance podium in the middle of the bar. It also has a sauna next door." -- lvlc2405, Sep 28, 2009

• 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.

• 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

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

Chengdu Star Male Massage (0)151-1889-0336, (0)150-1893-4533 (English and Chinese), email. Gay-owned massage business. Handsome, friendly Chinese masseurs offering relaxing massage for men. Outcall only. Utopia Member Discount

Mr Strong Massage Appointments: (0)13795369578, email. Gay-managed 24-hour outcall massage by male therapists. Chinese, Thai and oil massage. They offer a number of massage styles and masseurs are young and strong. See their website for real masseurs who are available to give you quality service in your hotel or home. Utopia Member Discount

• Baiguoyaun Tea Bar
  Al fresco tea patio near the Estate Exchange Building at Houziman.
• Panda Square
  Near Shudu Bld, Zongfu Rd.

• Blue Rain and Cloud Bath
  15 Baijiatang St.
• 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

  Comments from Utopians:

  "Their sauna is the best I have seen in mainland China!" -- suehiro, Feb 24, 2009

• Qicaiyinxiang Man Club
  8555-6976.
• Xinbaixung
  61 Taishengnan Rd.

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, and all manner of Chinese crafts and edibles. The neighborhood around Wenshu Temple is another one of these pop-go-the-Chinese shopping districts.