In olden China, the most likely place you'd find cross-dressing would probably be the theatre, where men played female roles because women were not allowed on stage.

Today, many Chinese people continue to maintain traditional attitudes against LGBT visibility, despite homosexuality becoming decriminalised in the country in 1997.

Last Friday, 20 contestants defied societal norms and took part in a cross-dressing competition held at Icon Club in Shanghai.

Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

The second runner-up, who goes by the stage name "Little White", told AFP: "At work, I have to wear a poker face from Monday to Friday, just like a zombie. But Friday nights and the weekend, I can be my real self."

According to the organisers the flamboyant event, which was held over consecutive Fridays, drew large crowds and went off without a hitch or interference from the government.

Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

"Cross-dressing plays a very important role in the pursuit of freedom and tolerance, and is a vital channel for people to see the LGBT community," said Ding Shunfeng, one of the founders of event sponsor, Twone, which makes a dating app.

Image: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images

The younger generation in China is making inroads into pushing for greater LGBT acceptance.

Earlier this month, a 28-year-old transgender man sued his employers for discrimination after he was fired for "not conforming to traditional notions" of gender. The lawsuit came just a day before Chinese courts ruled against a gay couple in the country's first same-sex marriage case.

In February, netizens were angered when Chinese censors abruptly pulled popular gay drama Addiction off air, three-quarters of the way into the series.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.