Spice up your life!

Sex shop touts toys that provide pleasure

The display window at Night Shanghai exhibits sexy leather underwear, inflatable sex dolls and electric dildos. Shopkeeper Joe says the shop is just facilitating better sex lives. The toys bring nothing bad, only pleasure. (Eric Tsang)

By Eric Tsang

Striding across the aisle in a sex toy shop on Mody Road, a couple was embarrassed by what they saw reflected in the mirrors.

The couple covered their mouths and giggled as they walked around the 1,000-square-foot shop.
Their faces flushed beetroot as they examined the goods hanging on the shelves: red and pink panties rolled up into roses, sexy leather panties, inflatable sex dolls, handcuffs and electric dildos.

These goods all belong to the same family of amusement — a niche for those who seek an adventurous sex life.

They are in Night Shanghai, a sex toy shop on Mody Road in east Tsim Sha Tsui.
Night Shanghai opened in 1994, and shopkeeper “Joe” claims it was the first sex toy shop in Hong Kong.

“It is common to have embarrassed but curious couples coming in here,” said Joe from behind the counter. He declined to reveal his full name.

According to Joe, customers usually come in pairs because the company of a partner makes them feel more comfortable.

Night Shanghai comes to life only when night falls. It opens at 9 p.m. and closes at 1 a.m.
“It’s meaningless to open in the morning,” said Joe.

After all, not many people would be in the mood for buying dildos and handcuffs under the bright sun after having tea at a nearby Chinese restaurant.

With its neon signboard screaming in purple and yellow, Night Shanghai stands out in the dark alley.

The sign in an enlarged Chinese font reads “Night Shanghai for sex toys”.

“I don’t see any problem promoting sex toys in such an explicit way,” Joe said.

Joe is not ashamed of his job as a shopkeeper in the sex toy shop. In fact, when he told his friends about his job, most of them responded positively.

“Sex toys are just facilitators for better sex lives. They bring nothing bad, but pleasure.

“I see that people in Hong Kong are getting more and more open-minded toward sex nowadays.”

With a more liberated environment, Night Shanghai adheres to strict rules to protect youths.
Students in school uniforms and people under 18 are not allowed in the shop.

Night Shanghai’s customers are mostly young adults aged around 20. Both men and women shop in Night Shanghai.

“Most of them are just ordinary people like you and me,” said Joe.

Foreigners make up a big part of the shop’s sales.

“Foreign customers are more talkative when compared to Chinese customers.”

In his line of work, he sees many interesting things. One of his most unforgettable experiences was with a gay couple.

“They requested a bizarre sex toy that I had never heard of before,” he said.

What they requested was a double headed, U-shaped dildo.

“Dildo”, which comes from a Latin word meaning “open wide”, means “fake penis”. Dildos come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors and materials, and each has its own unique characteristics.

The sex toys in Night Shanghai are mainly manufactured in the United States, Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The shop offers traditional dildos as well as those with vibrating options.

According to Joe, toys from the U.S. are hot items, despite being more expensive.

Pointing at a pink electric dildo standing on the top of a shelf, he said, “For example, this U.S. dildo was made in 2004.”

The dildo was made of transparent materials, so the battery and the electric components inside were visible. Users can adjust the vibration frequency and levels of impulses according to their preferences.

“Many delicate configurations are available for users.”

Walking past another shelf of dildos, he introduced a more realistic looking kind. “There is a variety of models for different interests,” he explained.

The realistic dildos are moulded to resemble real penises. They come in different widths and colors.

Lined up on the shelves like exhibits in a show, the dildos looked more like dissected parts of human bodies.

Joe picked one up and said, “This dildo has a darker skin color and a larger degree of erection.”

Joe explained, “Personal choice is the No. 1 consideration in this matter.

“Human sex organs are very delicate. There shouldn’t be any force or pressure in using such toys with your partner.”

Just as an old Chinese idiom says: Excessive happiness without control will eventually lead to dismay.

He said, “I don’t have a doctorate degree in sex toys. It is the customer’s responsibility to check whether he can manipulate his toy well.

“They should know their needs before they come here.”

Before going to Night Shanghai, customers usually select their coveted sex toy from the Internet or from Japanese sex movies.

“After they have chosen a certain product, they come and ask if their dream toy is in stock,” he said.

A dildo may cost up to $900, and the consumers may risk buying one that is unsuitable for them.

“Therefore, it is important that they think ahead.

He said, “After the transaction, services like product return are completely out of the question.
“To some lonely hearts, sex toys are like partners.

“How am I supposed to tell our customers that we are selling them a secondhand dildo?” he asked, his eyes opening wider.

Running a shop that sells sex toys is not easy. There are only a few sex toy shops in Hong Kong, which is evidence of a small market.

“Sales go up only during Christmas Eve and on Valentine’s Day,” he said.

Condoms are the most popular product at the shop. The shop offers an array of condoms in different colors and flavors.

Joe said that many people are too embarrassed to buy condoms from convenience stores.

“Especially when other people in the queue are just buying soya bean milk or ice cream. . . .

“There is no such problem if you shop for condoms here.

“It is way more comfortable because you are supposed to buy lovemaking goods here.

“No one would criticize you, no one would gossip behind your back, because shops like Night Shanghai are impenetrable to old beliefs.”

Night Shanghai does not sell any illegal sex products or controlled substances, such as Viagra.
“Customers find it relaxing to shop here. We put only legal toys on the shelves; otherwise the police would have shut us down already,” he said.

Joe believes that sex toys are part and parcel of a lovemaking experience.

“Cutlery, or in particular a pair of chopsticks, is essential for a dinner.

“In the same way, sex toys, or in particular a dildo or a vibrator, is central to a rewarding lovemaking experience.”

The couple finally found their target. After paying for a toy, they rejected Night Shanghai’s yellow plastic bag.

“This is not because they got a recycled shopping bag. It’s not because they dislike yellow. The problem is in their minds,” said Joe.

(Eric Tsang)