Homosexuality in China was traditionally widespread in the region. Historically, homosexual relationships were regarded as a normal facet of life, and the existence of homosexuality in China has been well documented since ancient times. Many early Chinese emperors are speculated to have had homosexual relationships, often accompanied by heterosexual ones. Opposition to homosexuality and the rise of homophobia did not become firmly established in China until the 19th and 20th centuries, through the Westernization efforts of the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. Homosexuality was banned in the People's Republic of China, until it was legalised in 1997.

Traditional terms for homosexuality included 'the passion of the cut sleeve' (?剛?銋???, Mandarin, Pinyin: du?nxi羅 zh蘋 p?), and 'the bitten peach' (???? Pinyin: f?nt獺o). Other, less literary, terms have included 'male trend' (?琿◢ Pinyin: n獺nf?ng), 'allied brothers' (擐???????? Pinyin: xi?nghu? xi?ngd穫), and 'the passion of Longyang' (樴??????Pinyin: l籀ngy獺ngp?), referencing a homoerotic anecdote about Lord Long Yang in the Warring States Period. The formal modern word for homosexuality/homosexual is tongxinglian (?????扳?, Pinyin: t籀ngx穫ngli?n, literally same-sex relations/love) or tongxinglian zhe (?????扳??? Pinyin: t籀ngx穫ngli?n zh?, homosexual people). Instead of this formal word, 'tongzhi' (???? Pinyin: t籀ngzh穫), simply a head-rhyme word, is more commonly used in the gay community.