Shenzhen has opened its first family planning and sex education center in the form of a cafe.

The cafe walls have illustrations of depicting gynecological health and birth control. There is a variety of birth control drugs and devices such as condoms and intrauterine contraceptive rings also on display.

“Anybody can get the drugs or the devices for free,” said Tao Lin, director of the city’s family planning center, which is sponsoring the cafe.

Also on the walls are prints of paintings by the famous Spanish artists Picasso and Dali that touch on sex.

“We want to put sex education in a broader perspective. That is why we have the paintings hanging here,” said Tao.

The cafe has three computers where guests can log on to Web pages on sex education and birth control. It also has books and magazines on the subject.

“We want to provide an environment, in which people can relax and leisurely take in the necessary knowledge,” Tao said.

He said the cafe would hold seminars on sexology featuring noted experts from throughout the country. He said his center would work to establish relations with schools throughout the city so students could be better informed about sexology.

Opening late last month, the cafe had had few customers, Tao said. 

(Shenzhen Daily January 6, 2005)