PHOTOS: The Faces and Stories Behind The 'Little Ads' in China

By Ryan Kilpatrick

You see them pretty much everywhere you go in China, increasing in frequency as you travel from Shanghai and Beijing to lower-tier cities and less affluent neighborhoods. "Escort." "Air condition repairman." "STD treatment."

Maybe the trade they deal in is legally ambiguous or maybe they just don't have the money to pay for proper advertising, but these dodgy "little advertisements" scrawled or plastered across walls are as ubiquitous across China as overloaded motor tricycles and lairy chengguan.

If you've ever wondered about the human beings behind these mysterious, scribbled phone numbers, then this fantastic photo essay by photographer Stamlee is for you, getting to know the men and women behind the "little advertisements" of Shangrao, Hangzhou, Wenzhou and elsewhere in eastern China.

The Seal Cutter

40-year-old Pang Ping is a master of the ancient Chinese art of seal cutting. After he was detained for three months for replicating a government seal, however, Pang says he's reformed his evil ways and is no longer in the business. Much as he'd like to make an honest living out of carving chops, with market prices at RMB5 a pop there's just no way to do it without producing the fake official seals. Pang now works on a fishing boat.

The God of Gamblers

From a deck of "magic" poker cards to remote-controlled mahjong tiles, Teacher Wang will set you up with the tools to turn 'luck' in your favor. "I used to be a magician," he explains. "Whether you use what I teach you on the stage or on the betting table is none of my business."

The Hired Gun

"I didn't know what was in the packages. Once I did, I didn't dare make any more deliveries." Using his gun to pay for his son's hospital treatment, this 'hired goon' used to make RMB50 as a specialist deliveryman. Now, he spends his nights scrawling advertisements on city walls, for which he gets RMB200 a month.

The Working Girl

Seven hours of rest punctuate her long working days. "Receiving guests" from 10:00am until 3:00am the following morning, this failed businesswoman from China's interior makes more RMB25,000 a months - most likely more than any of the other "small ad" placers. After working as a call girl for one year, she went back to her hometown to open a clothes shop. When business faltered and her family needed to buy a home, however, she returned to her old profession in Hangzhou.

The Back Alley VD Doctor

In China's poorer cities, "little advertisements" offering STD treatment are amongst the most common - often paired conveniently with those offering prostitutes. When the photographer turned up at this "clinic" in the outskirts of Hangzhou, the boss quickly pulled the signboard down and explained in a non-local dialect, "We just do massage treatment!"

The Pig Breeder

Uncle Chen was one of the few to respond immediately with gusto and openness. "If the breeding succeeds I charge RMB100 a go," he states, showing off his magnificent boar.

The Marching Band

Weddings, store openings and the unveiling of new buildings all call for a bit of pomp and ceremony, in the village as in the big city. In Huzhou, Mr. Lu and his band can sort you out. They haven't quit their day jobs and only perform in their spare time, but when they do they can each make a cool RMB600. 

The Handyman

As more and more new developments offering inclusive property management services pop up, Mr. Chen and his ilk have become a dying breed. Still, he says offering repair and renovation services from the back of his e-bike beats his previous factory work any day of the week: he's his own boss and always gets paid on time, cash in hand - around RMB7,000 a month.

The Hopeful Parents

"Missing" notices for children are a depressing common sight across the country. Chen Lindong and Zhao Min came from Guizhou to find work in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. Since their four-year-old son Shilou disappeared on December 3 last year, they're been posting these notices every single day. So far, they've had no success.

The Trickster

'Gorgeous young woman seeks rich man's sperm.' Sound too good to be true? You're definitely right. The voice on the other end of the line voice is sweet, soft and straight to the point. She offers to meet you at the entrance of a nearby hotel. Call me when you get there, she says. "I can see you from upstairs," she gushes when you do. "You're so handsome, I'm satisfied." But there's a catch: "send RMB300 to this account so I can arrange a physical examination for you..." Send it or don't, you'll never see the "beautiful woman" the voice belongs to.

[Images via Sina]

You May Also Like...

For more China news, click "Read more" below.