China — Legal Help

Prostitution and solicitation are illegal under the 1991 Decision on Strictly Forbidding Prostitution and the 2006 Public Security Administration Punishments Law; penalties range from 10–15 days administrative detention and CNY 5,000 fines to criminal charges for organisers. The "custody and education" system was formally abolished in 2019, but administrative detention remains. Age of consent is 14 (raised to 16 where the older party holds a position of trust, per the 2021 Criminal Law amendment); the minimum age for any form of sex work is not separately codified because sex work itself is prohibited.

Drug offences carry the heaviest penalties in the region — trafficking above 50g heroin or methamphetamine can be capital. If detained, request consular contact immediately; embassies (US, UK, AU, CA in Beijing plus Shanghai/Guangzhou consulates) can visit but cannot intervene in Chinese legal process. Retain a licensed Chinese lawyer; foreign firms cannot litigate directly.