It's not only overseas tourists who come here. It is allegedly the second most popular tourist site for Chinse tourists. Other than Festivals like Chinese New Year and the annual national holiday for a week at the start of October, expect the city to be quite crowded, although when I was there one year in mid-March it did not seem very crowded.

Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in the country. The first Emperor of the Han Dynasty established the city as the country's capital aorund 200 BC. when it was named Chang'an. The city wall constucted during the much later Ming Dynasty around the 15th century is the oldest such wall in China and the best preserved. About 4 meters wide many tourists enjoy a walk or run around its 14 km length. Naturally the city has since expanded outward way beyond the wall. But most of what you will want to see is contained within the wall's perimiter.

Right in the centre are the two amazing structures - the city's Bell Tower and only a few minutes walk away its Drum Tower. The Bell Tower has an almost magical appearance when lit up after dark.

There are two Wild Goose Pagodas in the city. This is the larger of the two located in a major park. Many older residents like to visit the 44 meter high Giant Wild Goose Pagoda park and dress in old style Imperial clothing for photographs.

Apart fom the terracotta army, another primary reason for visiting the city is its Muslim Quarter. Xi'an after all was the eastern end of the Silk Road and cultural and religious influences flowed both ways. A flourishing Muslim population continues to live in the city and the Muslim Quarter, just a short walk from the Drum Tower, is fascinating. The main Beiyuanmen Street in the Huimin district is packed with vendors selling all kinds of Muslim Street food as well as many restaurants. Off it are many smaller streets, one of which will lead you to the city's Great Mosque, still in use today. Strange at first to see a mosque built in Chinese style! At one time there were 14 mosques in the city, but most were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The Great Mosque is both a gathering place for the city's estimated 60,000 Musllims as well as a major tourist attraction.

Much of the rest of the city is fascinating with interesting little courtyards if you are prepared to wander into side streets 

I would leave visiting the terracotta army to the end of your visit. Explore the city first and enjoy its many sights. The terracotta army really should be the climax of the visit. There is just one sight which I would definitely not recommend. There was a Tang Dynasty Dinner show with dinner being optional. I went one evening just to see the show. That meant sitting at the back while the diners were at round tables covering most of the audience area. Just looking at the food being served, I am glad I opted out of that part. It looked tired and boring! I also spent much of the evening wishing I had not even bought a ticket for the show. It was much as one would expect from a tourist-oriented somewhat tacky show. To be fair the Chinese seemed to be enjoying it. I walked out at the interval! Just not my sort of entertainment.

I flew up to Xi'an from Guangzhou where I had been visiting a dear friend. Getting there is easy but the airport is 50 kms outside the city and taxis are not cheap. But there are regular buses and the metro. 

After some research, I narrowed down to Ed*n and Ch*ll Sp* since they have some photos of their masseurs (face blurred) on their telegram channel. Unfortunately, I can't add Ed*n's contact so I had to settle for Ch*ll Spa.

The appointment was at 2 pm and I arrived about 10 mins early. The place isn't difficult to find but you have to climbs some steps to get to the lift lobby. I was brought into one of their rooms which was basic but had an ensuite shower. Payment was collected after the session (the session can be paid by card, no extra surcharges. Tips only by cash). 

The masseur came in around 10 - 15 mins late, which was slightly annoying but the session wasn't cut short which is good. First impression was that his body is exactly the type I like and is even better than the picture.  Looks wise, he is good looking but I wouldn't say he is the classic handsome type. 

He has a chatty friendly personality which I actually preferred, but he did say some customers don't like it 🤭

I had a pretty interesting conversation with him about his experience with different clients and he seems amenable to some pretty questionable requests 😅

Massage wise was average but I wasn't really here for a massage 🫣

However, his 🌬 skills were really quite good tho and he was pretty enthusiastic 🙈

Tips ( for reference only as it may differ between masseurs)

HJ HK$500

BJ (by him) HK$800

Full Service HK$1500

Massage for 90mins is HK$480

Just one issue which i didn't really mind...the stats may be inaccurate online. When I asked the masseur, he was actually older than what was indicated online and his height is also abit shorter. 

I have some notes that the Red House & Ximending district is where the gay clubs and bars are located, but that's about all I know so far.

Aside from the apps, are there full service massage shops, saunas, or host bars / gogos that I should look into? (preference is bottoms/twinks if that helps)

edit: i'll add this link from PeterS, it's a good starting point for my research https://www.gayguides.com/gay-taipei/

On gayhk.com there are quite a few masseurs advertising their services. What is the going rate for a massage with a happy ending in Hong Kong? Does anyone have experience engaging these services? 

I have made no attempt to to disguise my dislike of Patten, both as a Hong Kong Governor (from 1992)and subsequently as the Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors - a post from which he was fired. I did meet him just once in a very casual setting. He knew nothing about me and my work and he was clearly much more occupied looking around for someone more interesting to chat with. Fair enough. I could never blame someone for that.

No, as I have written before, I resented him for his childishly secret - to all but a BBC TV team which he paid to come to Hong Kong several times to witness his shenanigans -  attempts to find faults in the two documents which Britain and China had jointly signed laying out Hong Kong's future. They made perfetly clear that not a word could be altered without both parties having agreed in writing. Patten set out to embarrass China into putting Hong Kong on to a much more democratic path.

One of those who felt this decade-long faint-hearted attempt at democracy was belated stupidity was a man named John Walden who had been a senior official in the government for decades. As the territory's Director for Home Affairs, he said this -

"If I personally find it difficult to believe in the sincerity of this sudden and unexpected official enthusiasm for democratic politics it is because throughout the 30 years I was an official myself, from 1951 to 1981, 'democracy' was a dirty word. Officials were convinced that the introduction of democratic politics into Hong Kong would be the quickest and surest way to ruin Hong Kong's economy and create social and political instability."

In 1975, hardly anyone in Hong Kong cared about democracy. There was not even a democratic party - finally formed in 1995. It was Patten who, often secretly, encouraged the rise of democracy, and to hell with what China thought. Yet Hong Kong was dependent on China continuing Hong Kong's laissez-faire attitude to politics and its way of life after 1997. Hong Kong people, most of whom had emigrated from desperately poor circumstances in China, were more interested in a roof over their heads, money in the  bank and education for their children. So when Patten unilaterally announced major changes to the Joint Agreements, the Chinese government was as livid as the UK government would have been had the boot been on the other foot. China then cancelled what had been termed the "through train" in terms of how the territory was going to be run and instead installed its own administration. 

But the democratic forces deliberately unleashed by Patten ewere a Pandora's Box. They took root 15 years later in the student body. And as the world knows, even after demonstration and more demonstrations China did nothing. But eventually it could tolerate it no more, as it became obvious that Hong Kong political views were being aired in the mainland. Thus the clampdown of three years ago and the end of democracy in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong which I shall visit again tomorrow is now devoid of the freedoms it once enjoyed and all because one pig-headed man with zero experience of China who should never have been appointed Governor thought he could outwit the old guard in Beijing. He totally failed and thus condemned Hong Kong to a less bright future. In my view John Walden and his government colleagues with similar views was spot on.

 Why anyone would want to climb it beats me. And to do so unaided without any harness or safety device. But some people get their kicks in ways which to me are strange.  And if that is what he loves doing, good on him.

No longer do most Chinese live in their family homes as they have for generations. With marriage and birthrates falling, more and more Chinese have gravitated to the mega-cities. Many are confused by the big cities. They find socialising difficult and do not marry for one reason or another. This trend, too, is common in other north Asian countries like Japan and South Korea where women especially want to express their own independence and feel they do not need a male partner to achieve that. Others are just so busy working to try and make ends meet there is no time for socialising. By 2030 it is estimated there could be as many as 200 million single-person households.

Equally there are some people who just do not wish to be sociable, even to the extent of living alone rather than sharing a flat. Loneliness is increasingly becoming a major probem. Some of these tend to spend most of their time indoors. When the plight of one mid-40s woman who died alone in her flat went on social media, concern was experessed not only about finding the body and then burying it in accordance with Chinese custom, but the effect this might have on the resale value of the flat. So "Are You Dead?" aims to solve this problem. 

Basically the app is incredibly simple. Each morning users receive a large green silent button on their phone. All the user has to do is press it. If one goes unpressed for two consecutive days, the app automatically sends an alert to a designated emergency contact. An interesting phenomenon is that according to some users, the app makes people feel more alive! Go figure!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/20/chinese-app-are-you-dead-exposed-deepest-darkest-fears

Some gays have moved to the southern end of South Bay. The problem with these two beaches is there is no direct public transport. Minibuses occasionally venture on the road above, but it is a dead-end and to be sure you really have to take the bus and get off at Repulse Bay. It's then about a 15 minute walk.

Over on Lantau is the 3 km long Chang Sha Beach. With many more locals now residing on Lantau, it is much more busy than it used to be.  But there is still a gay section if you can be bothered getting there.  If you are based on the Island or Kowloon, allow about an hour.

There is also a duo who are slightly older, taller, equally slim but who have much more engaging personalities. It seems to me they have to be performers somewhere since they react very easily to each other and the camera, but no idea where. They certainly get hundreds of credits from members whenever I have seen them. I have the impression that the larger groups could come from the very few KTV bars dotted around Shanghai and perhaps other major cities where boys are frequently nude. On the other hand, I do not know if the visuals are from mainland China or Taiwan. I feel certain the performers are from the mainland, yet traditional Chinese is used in the captions.

Photo: Getty Images

Just after 7:00 am today Thai time the blaze had been raging for 16 hours and was still not under control. It is believed to be Hong Kong's deadliest fire since World War II. The cause of the blaze has not yet been identified. But experts have been saying it was made worse by the bamboo scaffoding surrounding the tower blocks which were having exterior renovation. Another has been inflammable polystyrene boards that have been covering many of the windows and which did not meet fire safety standards. Bamboo scaffolding is universal in Hong Kong and has been in use in mainland China for centuries.

Two directors of the construction company and one of its consultants have already been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Location of the tower blocks

Photo from CNN website

https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/hong-kong-tai-po-buildings-fire-11-26-25

We had a great time. We stayed at a hotel near Xinbeitou where we could fill the very large tub with water directly from the hot springs. So we enjoyed that for a few days as well as hiking in the nearby Yangmingshan National Park. Hiking up Mount Qixing was a bit challenging, so it is not something I would have liked to do solo.

We also stayed a few nights in central Taipei close to Ximen station. We did a half day trip to Tamsui where the Tamsui river meets the sea, visited the Gallery of Fine Arts, Taipei 101 and had a lot of very good food. Sashimi at the fish market, noodles in various kinds of delicious broth, dim sum. Everything was absolutely delicious.

Public transportation works really well in Taipei. Just purchase an Easy Card, charge it, and go anywhere on trains, metro and buses. Bolt and Uber work well too, and though there is a lot of traffic it seems to flow and not get as congested as in Bangkok.

I didn’t open Grindr or explore other options until I was on my own the last two days. When I did open Grindr, I had more messages than I could handle, but I decided to pay a visit to the Soi 13 In Sauna before exploring those options.

It was a weekday and I arrived there around 5 pm, thinking that would be a good time to catch the going home from work crowd. It wasn’t. There were only two other guests when I arrived. One mid-thirties muscular guy, who was not interested in me and another mid-thirties slim guy who was. As forum wisdom has it, you only need one, so I had some fun with the slim guy.

I liked the Place. It was clean and well maintained with showers, onsen, steam room and sauna on one floor and a cruising area with plenty of cabins for privacy on another floor. I particularly liked that except for the relatively small dark room, there was enough light to move around safely and comfortably.

As I was getting ready to leave around 630 pm, activity was picking up considerably. A lot of mid- to late-twenties guys started to show up, so I guess the office crowd works later than I had assumed. I had already gotten what I came for and I was hungry, so I didn't stay to explore the possibilities that showed up as I was leaving.

After dinner, I had a Grindr hook up with another slim mid-thirties bottom. He came by my hotel. Cho Hotel 3, nice little place with hostel vibes, visitor friendly.   

The next day, I had an early start when a local staying in a nearby hotel invited me for a quickie before he had to check out. He was late-thirties with a lean/toned body and we had a very nice round af sex.

I did some more sightseeing and was in contact with a mid-twenties small twinkish bottom. We agreed to meet early evening. He was very passionate and we explored several positions.

All in all, I really enjoyed Taipei/Taiwan. Interesting sights, great food, and more than enough opportunities to hook up.

If the shipment of weapons is delayed for much longer, surely the American right wing will close ranks with most of the Democrats and call "foul". After all, denying aid to Taiwan is effectively providing support for Beijing and the possiblity, however implausible, of an invasion. Trump is playing politics yet again by attempting to push China on trade. This time I think he will be in for a shock.

But there are other hostels which are either gay or have gay floors. Just be careful when using websites. Nomadic Boys allegedly lists the ten most popular gay hotels. All, apart from Gs Guy which is closed, are regular hotels that have absolutely nothing to do with gay men! It's a total rip off.

One popular gay hostel seems to be Miniinn close to the main station. Three of the floors are allegedly dedicated for gay guests. It has become so popular, one website states it will only take reservations two months in advance which I think is probably nonsense. But at around NT$770 (US$25) per night, it's a steal for younger travellers.

Beds in male dormitory room

Superior quadruple room

As KMT Chairman Eric Chu told reporters -

"“All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting,”

This vote and a poll last year should be a reminder to all outside the island that Taiwanese remain deeply split on the independence platform. Many outside commentators, especially in the corridors of power in Washington, push the independence agenda while failing to accept that a majority of voters, although still very small, does not want independence. 

Harbin is fascinating in itself for it was at one time almost more of a Russian city. Many thousands of white Russians fled here by train following the revolution. Even the main streets are posted in Chinese, English and Russian. With at the city's centre a decomissioned Russian cathedral, there are other Russian influences almost everywhere.

But it is for the annual Ice and Snow Sculture Festival from roughly early-January to late-February that most people visit. Hotels get booked up months beforehand and so planning in advance is virtually essential.

Two problems wherever you fly in from. The 72 hour transit visa does not cover Harbin and so you will need in advance a short-term China visitor visa. Secondly, it is freezing cold - around -25C if you visit the Ice Park at night. And that makes it difficult for a stop over if you are flying to the heat of Asia. Who wants to carry really cold weather gear if you can pack everything else into a carry-on? So you are more likely to combine Harbin with a longer trip to other scenic parts of China - of which there are many to choose from.

I flew to Harbin specifically for the Festival. It is the largest in the world and literally takes one's breath away. Located in two parks on the opposite of the river from the main city, transport there and back can be a problem. I took the advice of the hotel and booked a taxi to get me to the Ice Park at night when all the scuptures are lit from within, wait for me at the site and then get me home. I cannot now recall the price but it was quite reasonable. The Snow Park is not open at night and so you only need transport in the morning or afternoon. Make sure you also take in the Snow Leopard park close to the Snow Park

An indoor Ice and Snow Park opened last year in Harbin so that visitors can enjoy the exhibits year roud. I wish I could be enthusiastic about it, but I can't. It sounds more for kids and families. That's true of the winter parks but you are rarely aware of it.  

One problem in Beijing is inevitably the number of both residents and tourists. On one visit, I combined a few days with a visit to the wonderful Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival in Harbin roughly 2 hours flying time north east (those photos make up Part 2 of this Travelogue). Being just a few days after Chinese New Year, Beijing was all but empty and the crowds usually packing the Forbidden City had vanished. Great for photos of which here are some. To get an idea of the scale of this vast 999 room palace, it's best to climb the hill at the back and see the view from there.

Mao's Gate at the front

The exterior wall with the frozen moat

The Official Entrance

A selection of views of the vast interior

Leading to the back gate each door has its rows of 9 bolts - nine being the number reserved for the Emperor

The exterior and interior of the Temple of Heaven

The Beijing Drum Tower close to the north end of The Forbidden City

A few years ago I visited the city and went to several spas.  I was very disappointed by NOT RECEIVING any extra services after the massages at any of the spas.  As a matter of fact, none of the guys took off their clothes!!!  

After four very frustrating and disappointing days in Taipei,  I cut my trip short and flew to Thailand:  from hell to paradise.

Can anyone provide RECENT information on extra services, more than a HJ, at the spas in Taipei?  

=================

From The BBC

Are there any massage places where I can get a happy ending in either city?

What about gay bars? Has anyone visited there recently?

I'm not particularly hopeful but, you never know!

Whilst taikonaut asked about KTV bars and WeChat groups, it would be super useful if terper could also describe what the scene is (if any) regarding paid sex venues such as massage parlours and saunas with moneyboys in attendance, in your city where you live. China is a huge country and we will bear in mind that different cities will have different scenes when it comes to physical spaces, not least because of local government controls and market size.

My own long-ago experience with freelance moneyboys in China is that they can get pretty rough over money - something I have not personally experienced in any other Asian country, but something similar to the stories posted about a certain Vietnamese boy from Screw/Good Boy and other stories posted now and then in the Latin America forums. So, even if I were fluent in Chinese, I would still prefer the relative safety of controlled venues.

It may be an innocent enough racquet sport, but Hong Kong's Education Bureau has unintentionally given badminton a whole new meaning.

In teaching materials it released last week, a module titled adolescents and intimate relationships for Secondary Year 3, suggested that teenagers who wanted to have sex with each other could "go out to play badminton together" instead.

The materials also include a form called "My Commitment" aimed at getting "young lovers" to attest that they would exercise "self-discipline, self-control, and resistance to pornography".

The new materials have raised eyebrows and attracted criticism for being "out of touch". But officials have defended the decision.

Meanwhile social media has been flooded with jokes centered around "playing badminton".

"FWB [Friends with benefits]?? Friends with badminton," read one comment on Instagram that had more than 1,000 likes.

Continues at

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4glreq44y1o

I need Chinese cock to top me 

Are they more bottom there ?

Is grinder there ?