Send us a text

Ever heard of Dongguan? Few Westerners recognize this southern Chinese megacity that operates as a manufacturing powerhouse—but for years, it harbored a secret economy built around what might have been the world's most organized prostitution industry.
Join me as I pull back the curtain on my three visits to this remarkable city between 2005-2010, where I witnessed a system so thoroughly structured it functioned like a corporation. Within a walking radius of just one or two miles, entire districts operated as adult playgrounds centered around massive KTV establishments resembling Disney palaces. These venues regularly hosted between 1,200-1,500 women each night—a scale that dwarfed similar establishments in first-tier Chinese cities.
The selection process itself, known locally as "Flower Street" (Hua Jie), involved walking through grand ballrooms with crystal chandeliers while women lined both sides wearing numbered plates. The infamous "258" pricing system made services surprisingly affordable: 200 yuan for companionship, 500 for a quickie, and 800 to spend the night—attracting middle-class tourists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia who couldn't afford premium venues elsewhere.
But this world wasn't without darkness. Violence lurked beneath the surface, with stories of gangsters mutilating those who crossed them. The lifestyle of constant drinking, sleep deprivation, and transactional relationships created psychological effects that lingered long after leaving. Around 2015, government crackdowns transformed this landscape, replacing open access with exclusive venues where Instagram-ready hostesses now charge $500-600 just for their company.
Whether you're fascinated by hidden aspects of Chinese culture, international vice economies, or the intersection of business and pleasure, this raw glimpse into a vanished world reveals how economic development created unique social phenomena that few outsiders ever witnessed. Subscribe to hear more uncensored stories from my years living and working across Asia.