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The Naked Traveler
by JRG DeMarco

After the city is clear of Olympic crowds and gets back to itself, Beijing is a slowly blossoming place for gay men. In another column, we’ll tackle a couple of even hotter gay towns, but because the Olympics had you eyeing the ancient capital (and all those hot men wandering the streets and hanging from balance bars or swimming through blue water) for a couple of weeks and wondering just how gay it might be, this time we visit Beijing.

The city is making slow but steady progress toward gay friendliness. Whereas only a few years ago, it was not easy finding your place in that city, China has moved along with the times and changed. Gradual and subtle are two words that describe that change; the results are evident and speak of as yet unrealized potential.

A few words to the wise: in a nation such as China, where the social situation is developing and evolving rapidly, the traveler has to remember that bars, clubs, saunas and other venues which existed at one point may have closed. Sometimes they are replaced in the same space, sometimes in other locations. What remains constant is the fact that these types of places exist, you just need to use that naked attitude to find them.

Another thing to remember when searching for that skinful experience in China, the word “gay” is not often used — yet. Instead you will see the term “alternative crowd” or alternative something. Alternative is the operative word right now.

Bars and clubs are slowly emerging in Beijing, but they are there and not going away. Destination (bjdestination.com) is one of the finest places in which to experience that alternative crowd. Located near the West Gate of the Workers Stadium, Destination celebrated its fourth anniversary in August, 2008. A large venue, it houses a dance floor with great sound and light, and plenty of men. It’s also a very modern cocktail bar (with several different bars in the building) that pulls in a diverse crowd of locals, visiting suits on business jaunts, tourists, and others. Here you’ll get an eyeful of hot men and with a cute and very friendly wait-staff, you can’t go wrong.

TenBar (bjtenbar.com) is a widely known, well respected, and heavily visited bar. Cool, traditionally influenced décor gets you in the mood for what this place has to offer. Aside from the requisite alcohol filling station, TenBar offers meals and even guestrooms. But more than that, it offers male entertainers. The site is largely not in English but when you hit upon the menu item that leads you to the pages and pages of entertainers, you will get an idea of the sort of naked experience you’re about to have when you enter their doors. TenBar is not to be missed when you travel to Beijing.

There are other bars popping up and other old stand-bys you will want to experience. On/Off with its crowds of locals and a new internet café is one of them. YiKu (also known as the Bear Den) (blog.sina.com.cn/bearden) welcomes bears and their admirers. There’s also the Boyfriend Bar, Dushi Qingdao (Love Island in the City), Lai Lai Dance Hall, and Emperor's Treasure Bar among the many bars which offer drag shows, special events, and more. Mixed clientele (gay and straight) bars are also available — Club Top, G&L Secret Garden, L’etage Bar, and others (some of which are gay-owned) have a gay friendly atmosphere and some have specially designated gay nights.

But, Naked Travelers are looking for even more bare experiences and for that the many spas and massage centers are where you’ll want to find yourself. This capital city has plenty of them, enabling you to try a different one several times a day (who tired of being massaged?) every day you’re there.

Beijing SPA de Feng for Men (spadefeng.com/bj), located in the central business district (or CBD, letters which you may see appended to some place names), is one of the more upscale places to put your body into the care of others. It comes with a long list of services and types of massages. The menu will tickle your senses and the masseurs will move them into high gear. You will be pampered and prodded, scrubbed and pounded — and all for a very fair price. The Sea Crystal Scrub, Brazilian waxing, four handed massages, and others services will keep your naked flesh singing. Your masseurs will engage you and inform you about the differing services you can purchase, some even in packages. The spa is located near the Ritz-Carlton Hotel which gives you an idea of the upscale nature of the place.

The list of places is long and varied. Asia Dragon Spa for Men Only, located outside Zi Jin Park, is gay-owned and in the outskirts of the city proper. A cab is the way to go if you want to visit this spa — and you will. This day spa takes care of you from top to bottom.

Beijing LTMan Massage and Spa (ltman.com/en_menu.htm) is a gay managed hot spot and well worth a visit. Like all the others, they know how to take care of you and do it with professional and well-trained, and very hot men.

Others you may find interesting are Beijing Lan Ying International Beauty Centre for Men (lybeijing.com/) which is a top of the line spa for men, A Man’s Touch Spa, Man’s Power Spa, and more.

Saunas in Beijing are a bit different from what you may be used to in other places but they are still a naked traveler’s best friend. Kai Yang comes closest to Western style saunas with its pool and open shower area but it also has drag shows. Feng Fan Wei Ye, Mingren Yuchang, and Shui Yuan should also be on your list. Some offer massage and other services.

Beijing is changing and becoming more open and accepting where it counts. The Naked Traveler finds it irresistible and so will anyone interested in a nakedly good time.

posted Aug. 29, 2008