China’s Crackdown on Danmei: Female Fans Mourn as Idealized Male Romances Disappear

As authorities clamp down on male-male romance fiction, many Chinese women are losing a private escape

For Cindy Zhong, like many young women across China, a quiet evening once meant sinking into a passionate Danmei story — a genre of male-male romance that is written and read largely by heterosexual women. Then her favourite authors and their novels began to vanish.

Danmei presents two men as stand-ins for idealised partnerships, across a spectrum that ranges from chaste devotion to frank erotica. Scholars say the genre offers readers an imaginative space to explore more equal, emotionally focused relationships than those typically modelled by conservative gender expectations.

“Women turn to Danmei for pure love, especially as they face pressure from families, peers and society to get married and have kids,” said Aiqing Wang, a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool who studies Chinese popular culture and internet literature.

What began as an online niche has exploded in recent years: novels were adapted into hit television shows, animations and games, and several titles won international fans through translations. But with greater visibility has come sharper scrutiny from authorities.

Enforcement, arrests and self-censorship

Media reports and online accounts describe interrogations, arrests and prosecutions of writers accused of producing or selling so-called obscene materials. Some authors have stopped publishing or taken their work offline; platforms have removed many titles, leaving only tame stories available. In several cases, local police declined to comment and independent verification has been limited.

Readers and writers describe humiliation and fear that criminal records could destroy future prospects. An AP investigation noted it could not independently verify all online claims about detentions and questioning in cities such as Lanzhou.

High-profile consequences have been reported for some creators. According to past news reports, the author known by the pen name Mo Xiang Tong Xiu faced prosecution related to self-published works; she was later released on parole. Because details vary across accounts, observers urge cautious reporting on individual legal cases.

Platforms shrink and some authors go abroad

Major platforms with ties to the mainland and to Taiwan temporarily suspended services or dramatically reduced available titles. Haitang, a prominent site headquartered in Taiwan, temporarily closed and warned writers to comply with relevant laws where they live; when it returned, users found far fewer stories. Other overseas-hosted sites with large readerships also shut down.

Some authors have begun publishing overseas, relying on readers to circulate physical books or digital files back into mainland China. Others have shifted to translated Japanese or Korean webcomics to find the erotic or romantic content they miss.

Why readers care — and why demand may persist

Fans emphasise the emotional and aesthetic appeal of Danmei: ornate, poetic language; deeply felt romances; and the freedom to imagine different gender dynamics. Popular English translations of works such as Heaven Official's Blessing and Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation helped build a global following.

“When I was writing, I felt so powerful that I could create a world,” said Zou Xuan, a teacher who formerly wrote Danmei. “Chinese female readers can no longer find a safe, uncensored space to place our desires,” added Zhong, an educator in her 30s.

Scholars say the appetite that fuelled Danmei is part of broader shifts in female cultural expression that are unlikely to disappear. “The awakening of female consciousness, the desire to read and not be ashamed of what they want to read is irreversible,” said Xi Tian, associate professor of East Asian Studies at Bucknell University.

For many readers, the crackdown has made the genre harder — but not always impossible — to access. Some have stopped reading Danmei; others spend more time hunting for the racy material that first drew them in. As platforms and authors adapt, the story of Danmei reflects larger tensions over creative freedom, censorship and the private lives of readers.