Sexual relations with anyone under 14 are illegal; “she consented” is not a defense

No cost at all. If you’re unsure about the other person’s age, do not engage in any sexual activity.

Sexual contact with anyone under 14 is classified as rape and punished more severely, with a standard sentence of 3 to 10 years. According to official judicial guidelines, any use of violence or coercion to commit such acts counts as rape, regardless of whether the perpetrator knew the victim was a minor. Without coercion, it is automatically assumed that perpetrators know the victim is under 12. For victims aged 12 to 14, if the perpetrator can tell from their physical traits, speech, behavior, or clothing that they are minors and still proceeds, they are deemed to have “known” the victim was underage. The exception of “genuinely unaware of the victim’s age” is strictly limited nationwide.

全国人大 (2020). 刑法（根据刑法修正案（十一）修正，第二百三十六条）. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html；最高人民法院 (2015). 关于「与十四周岁以下幼女发生性关系是否要明知才构成犯罪」的答复. https://www.court.gov.cn/hudong/xiangqing/13363.html

At the time of writing, the original documents issued by the Supreme People’s Court and other judicial authorities regarding handling criminal cases involving sexual abuse of minors, as well as the 2003 official reply from the Supreme People’s Court, could not be accessed. Therefore, the criteria for determining “knowledge of the victim’s age” cited here are based on an official response posted on the Supreme People’s Court website. The legal texts use the term “minor girl.” This guideline applies to all perpetrators, regardless of gender.