Naughty stuff in Chengdu (China)

At a Chengdu bookstore, I was surprised to find a translated copy of Fahrenheit 451, the classic novel about censorship.

 There’s also a riverside spot we often go to where a man openly sells banned or risqué books. A chat with the seller here gives us a glimpse into the local people’s interests. Pre-internet, designers would scour foreign magazines here for inspiration. This relaxed atmosphere is one reason I love Chengdu. People here seem more relaxed compared to other Chinese cities.

Among the books at the riverside, I spotted an old Chiang Kai-shek poster with his face and name crudely crossed out in red ink — a workaround for selling prohibited materials.

Ou joked that someday I will be banned from China for encouraging mischief among the locals.  My crossed face will be sold here.

At the museum, we spotted something. Wow!! Pr0n!

Not really! That is the poster for a “Stunning Chengdu Human Photography” exhibition at a local museum, touted as the world’s first 3D nude exhibition. Chengdu locals like Ou take pride in their city’s boldness in breaking taboos.

According to Ou, the models are ordinary residents who volunteered when the call for models went out. When I asked what motivated these women to bare all, she nonchalantly remarked, “A woman wants to preserve the memory of her youthful body.”