Sex, a centuries-old taboo considered by most of Chinese, is creating a buzz in this conservative country.

Claims that approximately one fourth of Chinese adults had multiple sex partners in 2006 by Pan Suiming, director of Institute of Sexuality and Gender at Renmin University of China, has prompted society to open debate over weather China has become morally corrupted.

Pan said having multiple sex partners is indicative of a partially victorious sexual revolution during an interview with Life Times on July 6.

Touching on the line of a topic which the whole nation is trying to avoid, the sexual scholar believed Chinese are close to an open and transparent attitude toward sex.

Pan's astonishing claims were part of his survey Chinese's sexual behaviors and relations: 2000-2006 of 6,010 Chinese aged between 18-61. The survey on sex takes into account premarital sex and homosexuality, both are on the rise on the back of the country's double-digit economic acceleration.

Practice of having sex with more than one other person gained a momentum in the past. Its rate occurrence advanced from 16.9 percent in 2000 to 25.3 percent in 2006, a seven percent increase year-on-year.

The figure was six percent in the 1980s, a time when China launched its reform and opening up in a bid to salvage its ravaged economy.

Pan's findings were unpopular as many believed the sharp-rising rate indicates the country is close to the fall of morality.

"Loyalty to marriage is an enduring theme of society and is placed in the deep of people's soul. His findings cannot change the fact," a netizen, only identified by his nickname Xiao.Xiao.Xiao wrote on the popular qq.com.

But the expert defied public opinions, arguing the results of his survey marked a progress in people's attitude toward sex.

His findings indicated women, usually passive in sex, have become much more active in the human practice. "The exodus of women from rural areas to urban cities has contributed to the changes in women," said Pan.

Pan said the improvement in women's educational background is helping the inferior group rid the conventions that women are for bearing and raising offspring for men.

"The longing for of love and happiness led to changes in women's attitude toward sex," said Pan.

"And easy practices of abortions and conception controls also had a great impact on women," He said.

Of course, a victorious sex revolution cannot be sided apart a variety of spiced-up sexual activities.

Pan's survey finds that sexy caresses on women are rising and couples prefer varied sexual activities.

A harmonious society must include sex, which is no longer a revolution but a part of our lives, said Pan.