Authorities in South China shut down factories over child-like sex dolls

Authorities in Guangdong province have suspended production at multiple factories in Dongguan and Huizhou after an investigative report exposed a widespread online trade in sex dolls featuring childlike characteristics.

The crackdown followed a report by ThePaper.cn, which found that e-commerce platforms — including Taobao, JD.com, Pinduoduo, Douyin and Xiaohongshu — were hosting listings for dolls designed with children's facial features and body proportions.

The products, often marketed as "ball-jointed doll (BJD) figurines" or "anime dolls," ranged from 70 to 140 centimeters in height and were priced from several hundred to thousands of yuan. According to ThePaper.cn, some factories in the two cities also offered customization options, producing dolls as small as 40 centimeters with explicitly childlike traits and various sexual functions. Certain facilities were found to manufacture dolls made to appear "pregnant."

Late Wednesday, market regulators in Dongguan said a joint task force with public security authorities had raided one implicated factory and seized related products. Officials said targeted inspections would be carried out to strengthen oversight.

Earlier Wednesday, a district market supervision bureau in Huizhou said a multi-departmental team had ordered a local factory to immediately halt production pending further investigation.

The revelations have sparked public outrage and drawn sharp criticism from media.

China Women's News condemned the sale of such dolls, saying they "cross a red line of both regulations and morality." The commentary said the products commodify and normalize the sexualization of children, potentially encouraging harmful behavior and crimes against minors.

It urged e-commerce platforms to strengthen review mechanisms and proactively remove listings that run counter to "public order and good morals."

As investigations continue, related hashtags have gained traction online, and several major e-commerce platforms have removed the listings.