I've always been a little confused about how to spot an establishment that will offer.... you know.
I'm only referring to SOUTH CHINA right now, as HK, Macau, Taiwan, and other parts of asia have totally different rules and local cultures.

Are there usually some clues? hints? dead giveaways?

For instance, one funny story happened in my early days. A group of 3 buddies - young, naive, inexperienced and looking for trouble - go out wandering a smaller 2nd-tier city in southeast china.

We spot this massage place with one of those twirly lights that barbers usually have, except that this one was pinkish-red neon. So I thought, "this has got to be it!!"

NOTHING HAPPENED. We weren't even offered anything extra. NOT EVEN A HINT OR A FLIRT from a girl!!

Since then, I've known to go to the hotel saunas for some guaranteed action. KTV works too.

But those establishments that you see right off the street with all the suggestive neon lights..... how do you tell them apart???

Someone flags you down and says "sexy massaggeeeeee?"

;)

or ladys in miniskirts yell "swai guh!!!" and wave at you

Stay in a mid price range hotel (shitty hotels like the kind I stay in don't do this) and put down a western sounding name, in the middle of the night your phone will ring offering such services, if they hear a woman's voice the phone gets put down on you immediately. You can then hear the phone ringing down through all the other rooms.

Happened to me in Hangzhao and Huang Shan and Beijing.

The pink lights are also rather a dead give away.

I've been told, and if you can read Chinese it'll help of course, if the name of the place is XXX Sauna, then they offer extra services. If their name is XXX Massage or XXX Spa then it's veggie. Don't know how true that rings but so far it has not failed me.

Another simple hint: If the door has a transparent window and cannot be locked, nothing much is going to happen. If the door is opaque and can be locked, there's a very good chance for more.

i would straight up ask if fs is offered or tip a cabbie for suggestions

Here ya go:

Sauna 沐桑拿浴
Massage 按摩
Health Center and/or Spa 健康中心

[ Last edited by  ruggers15 at 15-1-2010 11:40 ]

when i was in macau this summer. in the casino floor was approached by these hot woman.
i thought they were strange. they kept asking me if i was massageee and we go her bedroom.
it took her 4 times get me to understand it. i ended taking her offer. that was wild ride...

Had one crazy experience a few years ago. Was in a karaoke bar in a hotel (not a room ktv, but a stage). Ended up being approached by another foreigner with the mamasan together. The mamasan was too shy   because of her lack of English to approach me. The other foreigner could speak Canto...
My experience is that most hotels have some sort of accomodation, being it the beauty/hair salon, the massage/sauna or the ktv/nightclub.
Outside of hotels I have not much experience. One time a local massage parlor where they were asking if I wanted massage witha big wink and some streetwalkers asking if I wanted massage.

stayed it the raddison in hanzhou once
the massage place there offers "special services" i was first pretty surprised it being in a western branded hotel
but the place worked like clocwork

I stayed in a 3 star hotel before in Beijing I was approached for massage in the lobby area while I was waiting for my friends to arrive, , I was pretty surprised. I was told most girls will be surround by areas around the hotel.