As China changes at an awesome rate, becoming more industrialized, urban, and westernized, this film explores how this has impacted traditional relationships between men and women. Our guide is a young journalist, Yang Li Ne, whose parents have just divorced and whose own marriage is unraveling.

She speaks about love and sex with young Bejingers, as well as older couples from the villages. Many of the young are afraid of commitment and are cynical about love and marriage. Money, not love, they say, is the basis for marriage. Prostitution is rampant; an estimated 6 percent of the national revenue comes from prostitution. Older couples reflect on the vanishing traditions that have given their marriages stability.

A young gay man who was hesitant to be identified describes the homophobia in Chinese society and the secrecy with which gay and lesbians must lead their lives. He talks about the difference between making love and having sex.

Examples of China’s traditional erotic art, which was nurtured by the imperial court, are laced through the film.

For mature audiences.

Association for Asian Studies, 2010