ZOO CHEEKY BEGGARS
Fussy festival organisers in southern China have ordered beggars to stay in specially constructed cages – so they wouldn’t spoil the view for paying visitors.
The zoo-style cages – so low the inmates couldn’t even stand up – were designed to keep the beggars away from the thousands of tourists attending a huge temple fair in Nanchang, Jiangxi province.
But the fair – like a religious holy day, market and funfair all in one – has become a magnet for down and outs looking for handouts from festival-goers.
“This year we decided we would no longer accept beggars wandering everywhere, distressing our guests and spoiling it for everyone else,” explained one organiser.
“The beggars are quite comfortable in their cages, people send them food and water as gifts.
“They can leave whenever they like but they have to leave the city too, they can’t go into the fair,” they added.
But the cages have infuriated human rights campaigners in China who’ve branded them a human zoo.
“They are treating them like zoo animals. What will they have to do next – tricks for their food?” said one.