Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
A Gay Filipino in Shanghai
By Mikee dela Cruz
PUBLISHED: AUGUST 2010
PHOTOS BY M.D. DELA CRUZ TAN

SHANGHAI, SHANGHAI. Surprises await those willing to check out the city.

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The next stop for my gay visit was D2 – what used to be Deep, I was told.  This one, completely unlike Eddy’s, is somewhat impersonal.  Why so?  It’s a gigantic venue – a warehouse turned dance club, more apt for a DJ Tiesto (and his likes) gathering than a weekend romp venue.  It is fun, nonetheless, dancing with out lesbians – and in Shanghai, there are many of them openly out, kissing their partners in the middle of D2’s dancefloor (I still can’t find them in Metro Manila).  And if the dancing is getting too boring?  Head to the second floor, where the gays/MSMs are, standing around a well-lit bar, checking each other out, hoping to finish the night with someone.

IN AWE. Even food (topmost photo) are given some twists in Shanghai, with siopao turned into porcupines. The past (e.g. use of the Three Old Men) and modernity (e.g. French Quarter) continue to merge in the city.

Worth noting here is that many Filipinos, by the way, are queens D2 – in many sense of that word.  They are the bitches, picking on the not-so-pretty; and, as they tend to be prettier, they hold courts, choosing the good-looking ones for themselves.  Solution (in case this is problematic): chat with them – Filipinos have that tayo-tayo (regionalistic) tendency (as should be for expats), and those in Shanghai are nice to fellow Filipinos.

With bars open until 8.00 AM in Metro Manila, club-hopping is a must – something that isn’t possible (I guess for now) in Shanghai, since bars close early, not later than 5.00 AM.  Meaning, considering their distance from each other, visiting two bars in a night should suffice (particularly when picking up, or getting picked up).  Else, cut visits short to check other clubs – extensive list below.

Back at the French Quarter, grabbing coffee after mass-clubbing, three other gay guys – Westerners (they were at D2, too) – were already planning their next going-out. 

“Did you see that one with the thingie on?” one o them asked, hand tapping his head.

“You mean that one with…”

“No, that’s a different one.”

The other chimed in: “He means the one who studied in London.”

“Oh, that one…”

The conversation continued, exhaustively going into: picking up, preferences, partying, drink prices, bitching, et cetera.

It was no different from elsewhere.

Though maybe that’s too big a generalization.

Yes, human rights issues –particularly pertaining the gay community – remain (e.g. no Mr. Gay China here).

But generalizing about China is NOT only not fair, but limits the discovery of the places the likes of Shanghai has to offer.

Do we really know China?

Maybe not.  But it’s always there for the discovering.

GAY VENUES GALORE