More than 50 advertising posters seeking a mistress that were placed in several Beijing arts colleges, including the prestigious Central Academy of Drama, have triggered fierce criticism.

The ads, placed by a man calling himself "Piao Ge", who claims to have won 13.83 million yuan ($2.85 million) in a sports lottery on Feb 20, call for a pretty and shapely mistress 18 to 22 years old. He promises a daily salary of 2,000 yuan to "ensure my lady can show off her famous brand costumes to her friends".

A man surnamed Huang, contacted through the telephone number listed on the ads, told METRO yesterday he is serving as an agent for "Piao Ge" and is paid 2,000 yuan per day for his part-time job as a beauty hunter. "I'm a computer salesman and work at a store near the Central Academy of Drama," Huang said. "A friend introduced me to 'Piao Ge' and then I started my agent work."

Huang said he had verified the identity of "Piao Ge" by checking the Internet for news of lottery winners. He said he doesn't care that he has been stridently criticized by netizens, many of whom have branded him a pimp.

"I just do it for an excellent salary," he said. "And so far, more than 10 girls have contacted me. They sent their resumes and photos. Most of them are definitely hot."

As the ads were posted during the art college application exams period, when campuses have been crowded with applicants and their parents, it intensified fears that such ads would damage the colleges' reputations.

Li Chun, a 21-year-old student at the Beijing Film Academy - one of the universities Huang targeted for his client - said she was astonished to hear about the ads posted on campus.

"I couldn't believe there would be young and pretty girls who want to trade themselves just for money," Li said. "If it ever happens, it will be very shameful," she said of those hiring.

Some students at the Central Academy of Drama tore down more than 10 of the ads and said they were angered by the "humiliating" content, according to the Beijing Morning Post.

Li Hongxing, a lawyer with the Beijing Jingshun Law Firm, called the advertisements a violation of the marriage law.

Li added colleges could sue "Piao Ge" because his behavior constitutes indirect discrimination and humiliates students and their colleges.

-China Daily/Asia News Network