The term “exploring flowers” (tanhua) has taken on a dark new meaning in the digital underworld. Once referring to the third-place scholar in imperial exams, it now labels criminals who secretly film sexual encounters without consent and distribute the videos online.
During the peak of this illicit activity, names like “Mr. Qin,” “Hang,” “Bao Bao,” and “Brother Xin” became notorious among voyeuristic communities, amassing massive viewership. As legal crackdowns intensified, many of these offenders were arrested, yet their shocking “accomplishments” remain startling. Among them, “Hang” and “Bao Bao” stood out for the sheer number of victims they exploited.
“Hang,” real name Wang Moulei, worked as a department director at a foreign company in Shanghai—seemingly a successful professional. But beneath his polished exterior lurked predatory instincts. From 2017 onward, during business trips, he would approach women at airports, restaurants, and hotels, using practiced charm to win their trust. He also connected with women via dating apps. Once a date was agreed upon, he would book a hotel room, secretly filming everything.
From late 2015 until his arrest in early 2018, Wang victimized over 100 women. He produced and sold more than 100 videos to tens of thousands of buyers, amassing illegal profits exceeding 5 million yuan ($690,000). The sheer frequency of his crimes and the number of victims is staggering.
“Bao Bao,” whose real name is Zhao Mou, targeted high-end models, female college students, flight attendants, and white-collar professionals. His live-streamed sessions often featured explicit content, attracting a large following among illicit viewers. Among all “flower-exploring” bloggers, Zhao was one of the most recognized.
Over just over a year, Zhao leaked 294 videos involving hundreds of women. Some were paid to participate, fully aware of the recording. Others were deceived, believing they were having consensual, short-term affairs, unaware that their intimate moments were being streamed to illegal websites.
According to online trackers, Zhao’s videos featured over 100 different women—meaning he filmed a new victim roughly every 1.5 days. The density of his predation is horrifying.
Both Bao Bao and Hang represent how unchecked lust and ignorance of the law led them to ruin. They mistakenly believed their actions were minor offenses, failing to realize their stupidity would land them behind bars and devastate the lives of countless women.