Love Land

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - GlobalPost May 20, 2009 05:48 ET

China sex park: "Love Land" is no Disneyland

DiggThis

What does this week's controversy say about sex and society in China?

By Kathleen E. McLaughlin - GlobalPost
Published: May 20, 2009 05:55 ET

BEIJING — For all its bravado, China often seems a land sexually conflicted.

Prostitution is illegal, yet street-side brothels and hotel in-call services are open and thriving in most cities. Pornography is against the law, yet sex shops proliferate in even the smallest of neighborhoods. But a widely trumpeted sex park that made headlines around the world went a bit too far for everyone’s taste — especially for government officials, who shuttered the project before it got off the ground.

Given the confusing contradictions, the ultimate fate of Chongqing’s Love Land was hardly surprising. Grand plans for a park that loudly and boldly put sex on display, with sex technique workshops, giant models of genitalia and over-the-top exhibits were slammed shut over the weekend after park developers boasted of their project in the press. Love Land may have taken China’s sexual revolution just a little bit too far.

“In some ways, the concept of the sex park and its sudden closure represent the same phenomenon, a sense in China that sex has been repressed and should be ‘opened up’ to match the culture of sex abroad,” said sociologist James Farrer, author of a book on youth sex culture in Shanghai. “And ‘opening up’ in China means commercial exploitation.”

Farrer continued, “As for the closing of the park, it reflects the reality that Chinese are indeed conservative about sex, at least in public, though not necessarily very conservative in private.”

Lu Xiaoqing, vice president of the company that touted and began building the park, sounded more like a contrite schoolboy than a businessman peddling sex secrets when he spoke to Chinese press Monday about why the development had been scrapped. Lu told journalists in Chongqing that his company erred by failing to get proper government permission to build the sex park. Love Land, he said, proved instead to be a black eye to Chongqing.

“We wanted to build this park to increase our own name and business, so we were wrong,” Lu was quoted as saying.

Despite being a far more open society sexually, the failed experiment proved China does have some limits.

Comments:

1 Comments.

Login or Register to post comments

Posted by Loren on May 25, 2009 09:37 ET

One point: While sex shops do proliferate at least the ones I've seen do not sell pornography. Toys do exist but the boxes are a lot less explicit than we are used to.

Recent on China and its neighbors:

Opinion: China contributes to Dalai Lama’s mystique

HDS Greenway - Worldview - February 8, 2010 11:05 ET

The more the Chinese threaten and scold, the more they promote the Dalai Lama's importance around the world.

Adventure travel: The Great Himalaya Trail?

Jason Overdorf - India - February 4, 2010 07:11 ET

Why walk Everest, K2, and other mountain giants? Because they are there.

Opinion: How did China get double-digit economic growth?

Joel Brinkley - Worldview - February 3, 2010 11:17 ET

By dealing with some of the world's most repugnant regimes. Iran is just the latest on a long, long list.

Analysis: Taiwan says hello to arms

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - February 2, 2010 14:56 ET

Taiwan asked for weapons from the US years ago, and most on the island back the deal.

Analysis: China's tougher than before

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - February 2, 2010 13:12 ET

Washington is hardening its stance, China is rising to the occasion and there's likely trouble down the line.

Special Report

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 28, 2010 17:24 ET

20 correspondents, 20 countries and a world of pain. Meet the ground truth of the global economic crisis.

Mac Rumor Alert: What Apple's "iTablet" could mean for Asia

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 27, 2010 09:48 ET

Here's the latest chatter about the supply chain of the coming Apple gadget — if it really exists.

Kidnapping in China

Colum Murphy - China and its neighbors - January 27, 2010 06:40 ET

As the number of child kidnappings in Shenzhen grows, so too does distrust between parents and police.

China v. Google: Beijing fights back

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - January 25, 2010 20:14 ET

The Chinese government takes a swing at Hillary Clinton. How bad can this get?

Taiwan rocks: They're loud. They're angry. They hate the Chinese government.

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 24, 2010 08:25 ET

Meet Chthonic, Taiwan's premier metal act. Don't expect to see them in China anytime soon.

The Fantastic Five: Best photos of the week

News Desk - General - January 23, 2010 09:16 ET

Best pictures include a Madrid storefront, aid delivery in Haiti and an aboriginal Australian Elvis impersonator.

Police shut down Mr. Gay China competition in Beijing

Dinah Gardner - China and its neighbors - January 15, 2010 12:59 ET

Restrictions on homosexuality have relaxed in recent years, but state still keeps a watchful eye.

Unesco, China and a Uighur mystery

Kathleen E. McLaughlin - China and its neighbors - January 13, 2010 06:39 ET

What are the Chinese up to in the Old City of Kashgar, the Uighur "Jerusalem"?

Economic worries in Indonesia? Blame the Chinese.

Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 10, 2010 07:56 ET

A new regional trade deal raises tensions between two rising economic powers.

Can China save General Motors?

Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 9, 2010 10:06 ET

Seven thousand miles from Detroit, GM builds a great wall of Buicks.

The Whiskey Diaries: Scotland in Taiwan

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 5, 2010 06:36 ET

Can Taiwan produce a world-class tipple?

Taiwan's over-the-top pleasure dens

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 4, 2010 06:44 ET

Love Motel 2.0

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 4, 2010 06:42 ET

Taiwan's love motels are stepping up their game with outrageous themes, web movie marketing and extra privacy.

Holiday shopping: The next big thing in Taiwan?

Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - December 23, 2009 06:59 ET

A look behind the booming business of e-books. It's a page turner.