Astute readers will remember that last year I gave the inside scoop to Hong Kong Pride, and it was a real novelty. Hong Kong, a British colony for a century, is an island of Western modernity is a sea of Chinese traditionalism. The Middle Kingdom and the East in general is still getting its collective head around this whole “gay thing.” It’s not to say Pacific Asia is homophobic, it’s just really unfamiliar with the concept of what the West would call “gay pride.”
Well, from June 1-7, China gets its yearly crash course with the 5th annual Shanghai Pride. For those of you who don’t know, Shanghai means “on the sea” in Chinese, and is the largest city on the planet. Emblematic of China’s rapid-fire leap on the world stage, this LED-studded cityscape is one of the most dynamic humanity has ever made. This is also the perfect opportunity to see how the East pulls off a Pride.
It’s also an opportunity to see just what can happen when a culture begins to throw off 5,000 years of repression. Contrary to what one might think, Shanghai, once known as the Pearl of the Orient, has a THRIVING gay culture—with 23 million people, it goes without saying that the gays have got to be in there somewhere. Huaihai Road, one of the great shopping capitals, is the city’s “official” gayborhood, and easily reached by the Huashanlu Train Station. 390 Shanghai, Shanghai Studio, Transit Lounge, and the history Eddy’s Bar, the oldest in the city, form a four-pointed circuit of Eastern hospitality.
So too, do the gay spas, like the Sunshine Club Healthy Spa (give ‘em a break, the names make perfect sense when written in Chinese), Causeway Bay, and China Boys Club. Did I mention Shanghai was also once called “The Whore of the East?” Moving right along…
Shanghai is also an immense city; an earthquake could hit the southern part and actually take a few minutes to reach the northern part. Gay bars and establishments are all over; Huaihai is simply the most recent ‘hood to immerge from the woodwork. Other gay spots, like the Blend Café & Lounge, are in the charming French Concession section of town, west of the historic Bund waterfront, a notorious gay hangout/pick-up point after dark. On the weekends, the Angel Shanghai, also just off the Bund, hosts the largest gay dance party in the city.
And don’t worry: You wouldn’t be the first one to make naughty the term “East meets West.”
For more information, go to shpride.com. Steele Luxury Travel has very low business class seats to Asia starting at just $3,200 roundtrip! E-mail [email protected] for more details.