Loading ...Some people have reservations about visiting China for the Olympics on humanitarian grounds. But one man in Beijing is more concerned about the city’s cleanliness for the big event. Guo Zhanqi, a retired restaurant owner, spends his days in Chaoyang Park, Beijing, paying people two yuan (13 pence) apiece for dead flies.
The 60-year-old man was inspired by both Mao Zedong’s campaign in the 1950’s to get rid of pests and by the large amount of flies that plagued the interior and exterior of his own restaurant.
“It was extremely disgusting,” he told Beijing Youth Daily. “I want everybody to start killing flies.” Rewording Beijing’s Olympic bid slogan, he says: “No flies, new Beijing. No flies, great Olympics.”
He may not be quite as crazy as he sounds. In preparation for the upcoming international sports event, the authorities in Beijing have been promoting campaigns against spitting, littering and queue-jumping. Their aim is to improve the city’s environment. Many in the international community would prefer that the country improve its human rights record instead.
The Olympic Games will be held in Beijing from August 8-24, 2008. Beijing is the second largest city in China with a population of 13 million. You can visit the official Olympic website for information on flights and hotels.