Screenshot of the Knews video

A new form of business providing "shared sex dolls" has recently become popular in multiple Chinese cities including Shanghai, Suzhou, Hefei, Shenzhen and Dongguan, media reported. By paying the relevant fees and costs, people can use the shared sex dolls to have a so-called "adult experience."

The range of services can cost from around 180 yuan ($25.92) to 500 yuan per hour. "We provide condoms, lubricant, small snacks, beverages and mineral water," one staff member from a Shanghai shop said in a video report by Knews.

A shop owner said in the video that his store provides different kinds of dolls and can also make customized dolls according to the specific tastes of customers. The intimate parts of the dolls are disposable and changed for each client that receives a service. 

Such stores are reportedly popping up in official buildings and residential communities, with no conspicuous signs outside, and they can be found on a life services app. 

However, some stores have disappeared from the app as of press time, which might be due to increased numbers of media reports. GT reporters tried to visit two stores in Shanghai, but they are not open any more.

Notably, some stores do not carry licenses from the relevant authority, which is required as they provide overnight accommodation. Others have been found to own licenses for health care or foot massage businesses.

What's more, the sanitation condition of the dolls and shops is far from being qualified, and the shop owners have shown limited desire to verify the identities of their clients, which could possibly lead to minors receiving services, Knews reported.

Paid sexual services are illegal in China, but it is still unclear as to whether such services by dolls should be considered illegal as well.

Peng Xiaohui, a sexologist at the Central China Normal University, believes that the businesses could play a positive role in driving economic development, employment, social stability and promoting sex education, and therefore he hopes it could see large-scale development.

"It poses no harm to others or public assets, meets people's normal demands and even helps prevent sex crimes. Bachelors and married couples that live separately, and certain disabled people who are not able to form long-term relationships, can use sex dolls as fixed sexual partners for a period of time," Peng said.

He suggested the authorities should provide licenses to business owners and formulate regulations on the venture to prevent it from being involved with illegal sex trades and reduce the spread of sexual diseases. "Ideally, there should be well-trained health staff in each store to teach people the correct way to use the dolls," Peng said. "Minors should not be allowed to receive services as well."

A staff member of a market watchdog in East China's Hangzhou said in a June report by thepaper.cn that there have not been any explicit regulations announced to ban such services. 

Wang Fu, a Beijing-based lawyer, also confirmed with the Global times on Tuesday that there is currently no law that prohibits such operations. However, Wang believes it is not necessary to evaluate such businesses with laws if it poses no threat to moral or legal values, and good hygiene and privacy protection can be ensured.

"I think it is a kind of recognition of humanity," Wang said, suggesting the government should set some rules to let the venture develop in a sound way instead of intervening too much.

Chinese netizens were split on the provision of such services. Some said that it goes against public order and moral ethics, while others believed that ordinary people should allow such businesses to grow as it can meet the requirements of some people and the businesses do not allow harm to befall actual people.

Some netizens expressed concerns about the lack of sanitation in the shops, and the subsequent spread of disease that could be promoted.

"If such shops can keep up good hygiene practices, it might be a good way to reduce the number of sex-related crimes. It could be a positive business venture as long as it operates in a qualified way," one netizen said.

Many netizens suggested that the authorities should not consider a total ban, but instead provide guidance on how the businesses can operate in a qualified way with adequate health guidelines and supervision.

"We can't totally ban it, and we need to acknowledge people's normal physiological needs," another commented.