Red-light district
A
red-light district is a neighborhood where
prostitution is common. The term was first recorded in the
United States around
1890, and derives from the practice of placing a red light in the window to indicate to customers the (often
illegal) nature of the business. This is based on the biblical story of
Rahab, a
prostitute in
Jericho who aided the spies of
Joshua and identified her house with a red light.
Interestingly, one of the many terms used for a red-light district in
Japanese is
akasen (赤線), meaning "red-line district".
Famous Red-Light Districts
Africa
\n* Wagh el Birket - Cairo, Egypt\n* Petit Socco - Tangier, Morocco
Asia-Pacific
\n* Clinton Plaza - Bangkok, Thailand\n* Geylang - Singapore\n* Kabukicho - Tokyo, Japan\n* Kings Cross District - Sydney, Australia\n* Patpong - Bangkok, Thailand\n* Yoshiwara - Tokyo, Japan (in Edo period)\n* Hira Mandi - Lahore, Pakistan\n* Kamathipura - Mumbai, India\n* Wanchai - Hong Kong
Europe
\n* Boulevard de Clichy - Paris, France\n* De Wallen - Amsterdam, the Netherlands\n* Kings Cross - London, UK\n* Reeperbahn - Hamburg, Germany\n* Raval - Barcelona, Spain\n* Picin Park - Belgrade, Serbia\n* Pigalle - Paris, France
North America
\n* The Levee - Chicago, Illinois\n* Barbary Coast - San Francisco, California\n* The Block - Baltimore, Maryland\n* Storyville - New Orleans, Louisiana\n* Sunset Boulevard - Hollywood, California\n* Times Square - New York City, New York\n* Venus Alley - Butte, Montana
Category:Prostitution
