A bizarre and highly publicized case out of Nanjing, China, has taken Chinese social media by storm. Uncle Red, a 38-year-old man, has been exposed for cross-dressing as a woman and deceiving 1,691 young men into romantic encounters over a span of three years. Despite widespread coverage, the controversy shows no signs of slowing down, as netizens continue to dissect every detail of the case.

Without makeup, Uncle Red looks like an average 38-year-old man, according to many netizens. Some even claim that he would be unrecognizable in public without his signature heavy makeup and wigs.

sister-hong-chinese-scandal-crossdressing-real-face
  • “He actually looks worse with makeup,”
  • “His face is normal for his age, but his personality is extremely strange,”
  • “Without the makeup, he looks his age maybe even younger. But with all that makeup, he looks like a 50- or 60-year-old aunt. No wonder people thought he was 60.”

These are just a few of the many reactions flooding social platforms.

For three years, Uncle Red maintained a strict daily routine waking up at 5 a.m. to begin his transformation. He would apply thick white foundation, bright red lipstick, don a wig, attach silicone breast inserts, and wear women’s clothing. He lived his daily life as a woman, frequently posting lifestyle videos and selfies to social media platforms to enhance the illusion.

sister-hong-chinese-scandal-crossdressing-real-face-1

To appear more youthful and attractive, he heavily edited his photos before uploading them. He also imitated a female voice for an extended period, convincing many that he was genuinely a woman.

According to Chinese media, Uncle Red seduced young men online and invited them to his home, requesting that they bring small gifts such as household items. No expensive gifts were required. This low-effort strategy allowed him to maintain the façade and build intimate connections. Among the 1,691 men reportedly deceived were college students, fitness trainers, and other young professionals.

Sister Hong case psychologycollage-people-indoors-alcohol.

As the story continues to go viral, many netizens remain shocked not only by the scale of the deception but also by the effort Uncle Red put into maintaining the illusion. Some reactions are humorous, others angry, but most agree that this case is one of the most extreme examples of online identity manipulation in recent years.