Gaydar is launching in China, possibly the world's largest community of gays and lesbians.

The portal will serve as a social networking destination for the Greater China gay and lesbian community, including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

The region is estimated to have a gay population exceeding 50 million people. In recent years, mainland China has shown a high degree of tolerance and open mindedness towards its gay community.

Gay bars and clubs are not uncommon in major cities of China and some of these cities have also hosted gay pride marches in recent years.

In partnership with GoConnect, an online and mobile media company, Q Soft Consulting, Gaydar's parent company, will launch the Chinese language portal under the GaydarNation brand.

The two companies already have an established relationship with GoConnect representing Gaydar.com.au in the online advertising market in Australia for the last six years.

Initially the new Chinese language GaydarNation online portal will provide news and other useful information related to the gay community in the region, a dating service and directory listings.

Future content will reflect that of the English language social networking portal gaydarnation.com including news, travel features and entertainment.

Through the new partnership with GoConnect, QSoft Consulting intends to provide proactive support for the gay and lesbian population at the local community level of the Greater China region.

QSoft Consulting has been actively involved in sponsoring the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras event for a number of years under the Gaydar.com.au brand, helping the event rank among the top Mardi Gras events in the world, and it is expected similar support will be extended to the Greater China region.

GaydarNation China is planned for launch before the end of 2008.