Two photos of the sign outside the Passion Nightclub, shot on May 19, 2010 and Oct 5, 2010. [China Daily]

Beijing's infamous Passion Nightclub had its Chinese sign removed and put its Internet domain name up for sale, though police are expected to lift a six-month ban on the operation next month, local media have reported.

Police denied the moves had anything to do with them, while others speculated that the former top nightclub in the capital might be transformed into a KTV.

The iron gates to the club, which was also known as the Heaven Earth nightclub, were locked closed on Thursday and there were no signs of activity on the premises.

The four large white Chinese characters meaning Heaven Earth have been removed from the sign, the Beijing Times reported on Thursday.

Content was also deleted from the club's website, www.bjtsrjyzh.com, including photographs, employment information and the client member service. All that remains is a statement that the domain name is now for sale.

The statement also left a QQ number, but there was no reply after China Daily tried to get in touch.

According to media reports, the website previously claimed the site was opened in January 2010 and was last updated on May 14, when a closed-for-improvements notice was posted.

Wang Xin, press officer for the security corps at the Beijing municipal public security bureau, said on Thursday that the department has no knowledge of the latest developments involving the club.

"It is entirely a company matter that has nothing to do with the police," he said.

A Beijing resident, surnamed Sun, who lives near the Passion Nightclub, said the nightclub's Chinese sign was removed on Tuesday.

"Perhaps the nightclub is just being redecorated," he added.

According to some insiders, the Passion Nightclub will probably be turned into a KTV, though the club's management has yet to confirm the information.

On May 11, one month into a crackdown on prostitution, gambling and drugs, Beijing police seized 118 escort girls at the Passion Nightclub and ordered it to suspend business for six months for providing shelter for prostitution, along with outstanding fire and safety issues.

Thirty-nine other entertainment venues, including the No 8 Club KTV, the Legend Banquet Nightclub, and the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel KTV, which allegedly provided obscene shows and were believed to be shelters for prostitution, were also ordered to suspend business for six months.

On July 9, the police announced they were standardizing the operation of entertainment venues in the capital and that they would maintain their crackdown on vice.

The police pledged to make weekly checks on the 40 entertainment venues closed in the crackdown to ensure they have not resumed business under different names.

Before the clubs will be allowed to reopen in November, they will be required to be inspected by the relevant administrative departments.

(China Daily October 8, 2010)