How to read this directory
We compiled this from Chinese community sources (彩虹星 / caihongx, 川渝圈, 广同 / gztz, 1314xt, 中同驿站) and the English directories (Travel Gay, Utopia Asia, Spartacus, misterb&b, Rainbow Index), then did the part those sites skip: we flagged the closures and marked what we genuinely can’t confirm. The Chinese listings are richer but can be dated, and mainland venues relocate, rename and reopen constantly — often down unmarked alleys or in tower basements — so even a “reported open” venue can be gone next month. Always confirm locally before you cross a city.
Status key: ● Open* reported operating · ● Closed confirmed / reported closed · ● Unverified named in sources, we can’t confirm.
*“Open” means reported open by current sources — hours and operation still change without notice.
Gay saunas & bathhouses, city by city
| Venue | City | Status | The honest word |
|---|---|---|---|
| CE Sauna · Central Escalator (中環) | Hong Kong | ● Open* | One of Hong Kong’s oldest gay saunas — steam, dry sauna, jacuzzi, cabins. Entry ~HK$150; usually 1pm–midnight. The dependable choice. |
| HuTong Club (胡同) | Hong Kong | ● Open* | Multi-floor sauna, listed as operating in current Hong Kong guides. |
| Gateway | Hong Kong | ● Open* | Long-running Hong Kong sauna, still listed in 2026 guides. |
| Fengfan Weiye Club (丰帆伟业) | Beijing | ● Closed | Once Beijing’s best-known gay sauna; closed in 2023. |
| Beijing Power Spa (男士SPA) | Beijing | ● Unverified | Gay-owned male spa / massage; reported operating but unconfirmed. |
| Red Dragon SPA (红龙) | Beijing | ● Unverified | Male-only spa / massage; appears in listings, status unconfirmed. |
| Federal Sauna (上海联邦) | Shanghai | ● Closed | A landmark of Shanghai’s old bathhouse scene; reported closed in the 2020–2023 contraction. |
| Dinglin Sauna (上海鼎临) | Shanghai | ● Closed | Named in Chinese community guides as a former Shanghai gay sauna; reported closed. |
| Fumin Road-area bathhouses | Shanghai | ● Closed | The wider cluster closed through the 2020–2023 crackdowns; no verified open dedicated gay sauna today. |
| MC Space (MC浴室 / MC同志酒吧) | Chengdu | ● Unverified | The famous foreigner-friendly Chengdu gay sauna, below the MC bar — long a destination for visitors. Recent operating status unconfirmed; confirm before you go. |
| Tropical Rainforest Steam House (热带雨林汗蒸馆) | Chengdu | ● Unverified | Listed in Chinese community sources; current status unconfirmed. |
| Starting Point Leisure Centre (起点休闲中心) | Chengdu | ● Unverified | Listed in Chinese community sources; current status unconfirmed. |
| Chenxing (辰星) & Shihun (失魂) | Chengdu | ● Unverified | Named in Chinese listings as more open-style venues; unverified — treat as leads. |
| HuTong Sauna (胡同健身桑拿) | Guangzhou | ● Unverified | Appears in directories; current operating status unconfirmed. |
| Yang Gang Sauna (阳刚) | Shenzhen | ● Unverified | Listed in sauna directories; status unconfirmed. |
| Legacy directory listings | Xi’an, Xiamen, Kunming & others | ● Unverified | Old Utopia / Spartacus / 广同 entries, many predating the pandemic — treat as leads only, very likely outdated. |
Gay & gay-friendly hostels
One thing China does have that the bathhouse scene lost: a small set of genuinely gay-run or gay-friendly hostels — cheap, social, and a far easier landing than a sauna. These are bookable on the usual platforms.
| Venue | City | Status | The honest word |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nice Gay Friend Hostel (近九眼桥) | Chengdu | ● Open* | A genuinely gay-run/gay-friendly hostel near Jiuyanqiao — walking distance to the bar street. Bookable on the major platforms. |
| Nice Gay Friendly Hostel | Wuhan | ● Open* | Part of the same gay-friendly hostel family; ~24 rooms, central. Bookable online. |
| Nice Gay Friendly Hostel | Xi’an | ● Open* | Gay-friendly hostel pitched at LGBTQ+ travellers, near the historic core. Bookable online. |
| One Star Hostel (一星青旅) | Chongqing | ● Open* | Chongqing’s first gay hostel — see our full story and venue page. |
For the wider list of male-only and budget options, see our male-only hostels in China guide.
The honest bottom line
If a real bathhouse evening is the priority, plan it into Hong Kong (start with CE Sauna). On the mainland, the dedicated-sauna gap is real; most regulars now use the hotel-spa workaround (the international five-star spas run proper sauna, steam and massage, comfortable for a same-sex couple) or book in-room gay massage. Our city-by-city honest pages go deeper: Beijing · Shanghai · Chengdu · Guangzhou, plus the regional best gay saunas in China overview.
Help us keep it honest
This is a living directory, and the one thing the stale guides lack is people on the ground. If you’ve been to any of these — open, closed or moved — tell us and we’ll update it: partnership@unveilchina.com. We’d rather print “closed” than send the next traveller to a locked door.
See the reliable Hong Kong scene →
Compiled from Chinese community sources (彩虹星, 川渝圈, 广同, 1314xt, 中同驿站) and English directories (Travel Gay, Utopia Asia, Spartacus, misterb&b, Rainbow Index). Status as understood June 2026 — always confirm before you go.
