More on Guizhou in a bit, I promise. But for those who follow my Twitter feed, here is a final tally of the hooker cards!
First, an explanation: the Beijing hotel I stayed at is known as a "business hotel" — a popular choice for visiting businessmen. I really would recommend it, overall. Decent rooms, clean, great location, and overall, quiet.
However, with a "business hotel" apparently come certain expectations of a businessman's needs.
Numerous times a day, I would hear a little scratching noise at the door, and then a slither and a soft "plop" as business cards, shoved through the crack in the door, fell to the floor. Coming back to the room after a time out, sometimes I'd find a half dozen of them on the floor. Photo cards adverting prostitutes.
I decided to save them all and see how many I had at the end of my stay.
The grand total: Sixty, three of which are half-sized. Because paper is expensive? Because they are more discreet? Who can say?
Anyway, if anyone out there is doing a sociological study or art project involving sex work in China, let me know, and the cards are all yours...
Dear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteA long time passed since your article about hookers cards. But if you still have the card, I'm interested.
My mail arenea.newspaper@gmail.com.
Thanks