nightlife

Beijing, Shanghai, and provincial capitals nationwide have growing queer scenes where you'll find gay clubs, gay saunas, and even gay yoga classes. Shanghai even has its own bear bar (Chinese bears are affectionately known as "pandas"). What helps China's gay men and lesbians -- known as tongzhi, or comrades -- is that there is little antigay religious sentiment; gay bashing is almost unheard of. Even China's home-fostered religions, Taoism and Buddhism, are tolerant of same-sex love.

To negotiate gay nightlife in the City of Love, you really need to know the schedule. Things really get going after midnight, but bars are packed from around 11 P.M. Clubs fill from around 1 A.M. and finish up just in time for you to make your morning meeting.

When even the mayor is openly gay, it should come as no surprise that Berlin's nightlife is jumping every night of the week. Bars are clustered round Schoneberg's Nollendorf Plaza, Kreuzberg, Tiergarten, and Prenzlauer Berg. Loosen your tie and leave your briefcase at the hotel; whatever your fetish or fancy, you can be sure to find it in Berlin.

The evening starts late in Buenos Aires and ends early (in the morning). Don't think of hitting the clubs before 2 A.M. and don't expect to get to bed before 6 A.M. You'll need to plan your social life carefully if you've got big meetings early in the day.