Top News

On Jan. 30, market regulators in Changsha said they had formed a joint task force with public security and cultural authorities to investigate Zhou Yuan, a self-styled “sexual intelligence” instructor whose viral courses sparked intense debate over empowerment, sexuality and the objectification of women, Zaobao reported.

Zhou, who is in her 40s and previously worked in banking, later launched a private training operation centered on what she calls “sexual intelligence.” She branded herself as a “Chinese sexual intelligence master” and began selling courses aimed primarily at women.

Her classes focused on topics such as how to please men and how to enhance female allure. In widely circulated short videos, Zhou demonstrated techniques including prolonged, intense eye contact and posing in an “X-shaped” stance to attract male attention, according to Sixth Tone.

One of her most prominent offerings, described as a top-tier course on “conquering men,” was reported to cost up to 88,000 yuan (US$12,668), with some media outlets citing prices as high as 100,000 yuan.

Chinese media estimates say Zhou’s programs attracted tens of thousands of female participants and generated 24-27 million yuan in revenue. Those figures have not been independently audited or confirmed by authorities.

The controversy intensified after Zhou’s content went viral, drawing criticism from academics and online commentators who accused her of reducing women to tools designed to serve male desire.

Some critics described the operation as a “training ground for mistresses,” while others said Zhou exploited the emotional anxieties of successful women struggling with intimacy or strained marriages.

One commentator warned that her business risked drifting into a regulatory gray zone bordering on the adult industry.

Zhou has pushed back against the accusations, insisting her courses were designed to empower women. She has argued that developing “sexual intelligence” allows women to take a more confident and active role in intimate relationships, rather than remaining passive.

In August last year, Zhou reportedly organized a two-day “sensual exploration” camp in Xiamen, southern China, where she lectured on sexual intelligence and bodily pleasure. Some online accounts described provocative elements at the event, though those details have not been independently verified.

As scrutiny mounted, Chinese media reported that from Jan. 22, Zhou’s social media accounts were suspended across major platforms, and her online lectures and promotional videos were removed.