Maggie's in Beijing Re-opens, Unfortunately
While I debated whether writing about it would give it more publicity, I thought it at least worthwhile for people to know about the seedy side of expatriate life in China. That's because Maggie's isn't so much a bar, as it is a graphic nexis of foreign Johns and Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian prostitutes.
Blatant prostitution is relatively rare in China compared to other Asian countries I've visited. One big exception is Maggie's. While I've known many tourists, male and female, who have spent a fun-filled night of innocent dancing and drinking at Maggie's (It's also known for its hot dogs and billiards), I personally can't block out the entire premise of the bar.
It doesn't help that the first time I went there, I was with several female friends. Our biggest mistake was that our 'girls night out' was exactly that, and none of our male friends were with us. Apparently that signaled to the clientele that we were for sale. The evening included leers and propositions, and ended abruptly when a friend was inappropriately touched.
I later learned that local Chinese are often blocked from entering the bar, lest they ruin it for the ones they allow in -- yet another reason why I'll never go there again.
I was delighted to learn this summer that authorities shut Maggie's down in March, ostensibly for a building code violation, according to Jonathan Ansfield in Newsweek's blog.
Ansfield, who runs a cafe near Maggies, wrote that he had it on good authority that it was closed because someone sent an anonymous letter to the police alleging discrimination against Chinese from entering, alluding to the legendary semi-colonial-era sign in a foreign concession that said: "No Chinese or dogs allowed."
Ansfield writes: It is commonly accepted as fact that illicit entertainment operations in China, as in other countries, have some sort of accommodation with neighborhood police, if not official connections who trump the police. But when senior authorities receive a tip from the grassroots or crackdown orders from on-high, they can be compelled to go over the local officers’ heads and probe their turf. Often, the ensuing investigations crack open the Pandora’s box. So it was in the case of Maggie’s, this official alleged.
Apparently after getting the letter, police initiated a sting on Maggie's and found that the bar discouraged some Chinese from entering because it's apparently a "members-only" joint. (This may be true, if by membership they mean foreign passport holders). During their crackdown, police also saw several customers leaving with women they met inside and go straight to nearby hotels.
They followed five of them (in one instance, even kicking down the door to a five-star hotel room) and uncovered evidence that concluded that Maggie's was a "platform" for prostitution.
What's the Chinese word for "Duh...."?
The bar was then closed and had been shut through the Olympics, up until this month.
Since Maggie's opened in 1993, rumors had swirled that it must have close ties with Beijing police or even higher-level officials to stay open for so long. While it's moved locations several times, it's clientele seems to have remained the same.
Maybe the owners of Maggie's should put up a sign in front that reads: "Only dogs allowed."
Comments
Refreshingly frank. And to the point.
Is this another example of Chinese Face. Brothels are everywhere here. This is what I would call two faced.
Wow, the moral outrage just drips from this article. When are you going to write about the Karaoke Brothels or the “Chinese” nightclubs that offer female companionship for a price and encourage customers to take girls out for a price, of course?
Oh, by the way, many of these “clubs” discourage, if not outright forbid, foreigners from entering.
While Maggie’s may be exactly what you say it is, your denunciation rings a little hollow in a country that still has a tradition of concubinage for the rich and a well established system for luring, buying or kidnapping young rural girls into prostitution.
I am a long time resident of Hong Kong and work extensively in Mainland China so i know whereof I speak.
I agree - this speaks through the voice of a moral righteousness which befits the invasion of other nations, rather than the understanding of them. To infer that prostitution is rare in China reflects a postcode existence.
By this logic, because I am against prostitution in China, I am morally righteous and an outside invader. Perhaps you could ask a Chinese prostitute if she had the choice, would she pick a different profession?
Had lots of great nights at Magggies. The girls are much nicer than the stereotypical local who dates foreigners. At least here you know you are with a prostitute!!!
“prostitution is relatively rare in China compared to other Asian countries”
have you ever been in China ??????
Oh I get it, this post must be a joke, right?
“Blatant prostitution is relatively rare in China”?
How could someone who has a “chinese culture blog” be so naive about chinese culture?
Why do you think every Chinese single run hotel (even 5-star ones) has a 24-hr “massage center” or “sauna”? Haven’t you noticed all those “hair salons” and “barbershops” in China where no one is actually cutting any hair??? How do you think they stay in business??
If you want to make moral judgements about Chinese culture, go see the red light districts in the Netherlands, or visit an FFK club in Germany.
Lisa…. you wrote this article a while ago and got bashed because of your tunnel view on Chinese society.
I actually pity you: grown up in the bible belt..then getting thrown into a seedey corner of China by accident… you are a sad girl. I only can wish that you may find a good guide to show you life as it is: sex dominated and power hungry.
Greetings.
Peter, if in your world Boston is in the bible belt, and “by accident” means willingly, then you are correct. I really don’t understand people who think that just because you are against prostitution or the objectification of people, you are somehow a puritanical religious zealot. If so, then I must be the first ever atheist religious zealot. I’m sorry that you can’t imagine that people could have complex thinking that involves more colors than just black and white.
My comment is to several of the past commentators. If you cannot say something intelligent or in this case write then you really shouldn’t write anything at all. Just because the Internet has lowered the barriers for sharing one’s opinion does not mean a carte blanche. Think before writing or in this case judging.