Xiao Fuxing, a Beijing writer has finished another book recently. The book is not children's tales, but a tale of the famous "Ba Da Hu Tong" (the Eight Famous Alleys), the red light district in old Beijing.

The Ba Da Hu Tong in the late years of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was not simply a place of sensual pleasures, but where people of different social strata got mixed. Thus it was a perfect epitome of the rapidly changing society at that time.

Yan Hong, an online writer in China has also released her novel on the life of prostitutes and courtesans in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Though she claims that her story is "nothing but spoof", Wang Meng, a very famous writer, believes her understanding is based on a youthful lifestyle that will make young people fall in love with classics.

In fact, many books about the old Chinese brothels available can be found nowadays in the book market, some even written by foreigners.

However, some researchers think it is not proper if the society gets too deeply involved in the tales about prostitutes and the corrupt life of decadent elements.

(Chinanews.cn August 9, 2007)