The culture of keeping a mistress is a unique phenomenon that is common in coastal cities in China. Many Taiwanese businessmen who travel alone to these areas for work often, to relieve their loneliness, find local women to keep as mistresses. This article will explore the culture of keeping a mistress, discussing its origins, mentality, market trends, and how you can face this issue by gathering legal evidence and protecting your marriage.

The Meaning of "Keeping a Mistress" — Why Did This Culture Emerge?

The culture of keeping a mistress originated in the early 1980s when Taiwan and Hong Kong's economies were booming while China was still economically underdeveloped. Despite this, many forward-thinking entrepreneurs had already noticed that China would soon become a vast market and a major economic force, so they moved to China’s coastal cities to expand their businesses.

As large corporations moved in, they stimulated the local economy and fostered the commercial culture. Wealthy businessmen and executives who had come from elsewhere, working to expand their business empires, not only had business socializing to do but also had families hundreds of kilometers away, making it difficult to monitor their actions. As a result, these businessmen and executives often frequented red-light districts after work, indulging in lavish lifestyles, and even directly kept mistresses. This phenomenon is commonly known as "keeping a mistress."

What is the Mindset of Keeping a Mistress?

In fact, people who keep mistresses are not much different from those who have extramarital affairs; it’s just that keeping a mistress typically requires higher financial costs. According to surveys, men working in China not only keep mistresses to alleviate loneliness but also to enhance their social status in front of colleagues after work. Unlike hiring a hostess, mistresses are often given more financial and emotional investment, and some businessmen even keep multiple mistresses— the more mistresses they have, the more advantageous their position in social negotiations.

Keeping a mistress is a unique cultural phenomenon in mainland China. In the past, Taiwan had a "Adultery Law" that punished those who committed marital infidelity through criminal law, but China did not have an adultery law. This situation led many Taiwanese businessmen to feel like they had discovered a new world, where extravagant lifestyles, indulgence, and the culture of keeping mistresses flourished. In fact, not having a mistress in China can even make someone seem unusual. Once this mindset takes root, and with no adultery law to punish such behavior, actions can easily spiral out of control.

What’s surprising is that keeping a mistress is not only popular among corporate executives and business owners; this social game among the elite has also influenced the general public. Even workers with salaries similar to manual laborers can keep mistresses, usually women from rural areas or small towns who move to cities for work. Of course, the price for keeping these mistresses varies, and they are naturally not as young or attractive as those kept by the wealthy.

The Current Situation of Keeping a Mistress in China and How Much Does it Cost?

The culture of keeping a mistress has been popular in China’s major cities for a long time, and as a result, there has been much discussion surrounding this issue. Many Chinese netizens equate the culture of keeping a mistress with the crime of bigamy and believe that it should be clearly classified under the crime of bigamy. Supporters of this viewpoint argue that although a mistress is not married to a man, the cohabitation, sexual relationships, and other intimate contacts are destructive to the family, and therefore equate to bigamy. To address this issue, the Guangdong provincial government expanded the definition of bigamy, classifying those who have an affair and live with someone for over six months as bigamy. Several cities have followed suit by establishing laws to curb the culture of keeping a mistress.

However, as China’s economy has rapidly developed in recent years, the cost of keeping a mistress has risen. Taiwanese men are finding it increasingly difficult to win the favor of women in China. Compared to the earlier days of economic growth, the money offered by Taiwanese men is now much less, but they still hold on to the mindset of the past, thinking they are still at the top, generously offering money to women. As a result, many Chinese women have started seeking out Chinese men to keep as mistresses.

Is It Difficult to Collect Evidence of Keeping a Mistress? How Can You Use the Law to Defend Your Rights?

The situation of keeping a mistress has become widespread among Taiwanese businessmen, but can we do anything to stop their behavior? The answer is yes! Since 2000, China has paid special attention to the issue of keeping a mistress. Although China does not have an adultery law to punish cheaters, it does have a bigamy law to punish those who are married but keep a mistress, with a sentence of up to five years in prison. According to Article 75 of the "Regulations on the Relations Between People in Taiwan and the Mainland," "Crimes committed in mainland China or on mainland ships or aircraft can still be prosecuted in Taiwan, even if they have already been punished in China. However, the punishment may be reduced or waived." In other words, a person who keeps a mistress in China, even if they have been punished there, will still be punished once again when they return to Taiwan.

Yi-Tong Investigation Agency, as an industry leader, has offices in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Assisting spouses in gathering evidence of extramarital affairs in China is part of our service. Protecting justice knows no borders. Yi-Tong Investigation Agency has a professional team dedicated to investigating infidelity in China. In December 2018, we were granted approval to operate in China, making us the first investigation company of its kind in the region. Our agency has received official recognition and is committed to protecting the families of Taiwanese spouses across the sea.

Yi-Tong's professional services in China include:

• Investigation of Taiwanese companies’ relations with Chinese companies
• Investigation of Taiwanese companies’ relations with Chinese individuals
• Surveillance and evidence collection of individuals in China
• Locating people in China
• Gathering evidence of keeping a mistress in China
• Investigation of third parties in China