Beijing police have arrested 77 people in connection with suspected prostitution at three of the city’s top nightclubs, which have been ordered to shut.
The suspects were among hundreds of people first detained in December during a crackdown on the sex trade, the police said on Tuesday in a statement.
The three venues – the Baoli Club, Landai Club and Lihai Mingyuan Club – were described by The Beijing News as offering the most decadent entertainment in the capital.
The Lihai offered shows featuring women dancing in their swimsuits, while the Landai boasted a 2,000-square-metre stage for performances, and the Baoli, a private club, was rumoured to be patronised by senior executives of big companies.
To recruit staff, a company run by the owner of one club would advertise for “showgirls for motor races” aged 16 to 28, but then put them to work as hostesses, according to The Beijing News.