Dongguan, a city in southern China in the heart of the Pearl River Delta, has had a mixed reputation. However, Dongguan soon gained the undesirable title of the Capital of Sex. In , authorities finally started to crackdown on the sex trade, and 6, police raided almost 2, venues.
Rather than disappear, it seems the sex trade was pushed further underground. Many of the estimated , sex workers who were working before the crackdown are now forced to work underground and are exposed to greater risks.
Many local manufacturing bosses in Dongguan prefer to hire female workers, who they consider more reliable. As such, there is a population disparity, with 89 men for every women, according to The Independent. After an economic slump and losing out to other neighbouring cities on the manufacturing front, Dongguan is said to be undergoing a high-tech rebirth. As part of the Made in China campaign, city leaders plan to transform industry, develop smart manufacturing, and become a centre for robotics manufacturing for artificial intelligence and other high-tech electronics.
However, it remains to be seen if the city will ever be relieved of the shadow cast by the notorious sex trade. Public domain. Save to Wishlist.
