Chinese Human Rights Activists Flock to Local Government Buildings During Labor Day Holiday
Tourist destinations across China have begun tallying their Labor Day holiday tourism revenues. The scale of domestic travel during the just-concluded holiday is perhaps best reflected in the flood of photos shared from across the country.
Here’s a photo of a meandering line of camel riders in Dunhuang—so long that it evokes tales of nomadic invasions during the Han dynasty.
Tour boats on the Li River in Guilin made the waterway look as busy as the Strait of Malacca.
In several scenic spots, tourists could dress in costume and be hoisted up by wires to experience the flying kung fu stunts of martial arts heroes.
Yet none of these were the most popular tourist destination during the holiday. That title goes to an unexpected place: government canteens.
During the Labor Day holiday, more than ten government-run canteens in places like Beijing, Chongqing, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, and Gansu opened to the public, offering affordable meal sets. A typical meal: four dishes and a soup for just 10 yuan (about $1.40), with some individual dishes priced as low as 3 yuan. If there’s one human right all Chinese can agree on, it’s freedom from hunger—unrivaled and unquestioned. When it comes to the right to enjoy food, every Chinese person is an unabashed activist.
This is the Rongchang District Government building.
The most popular of all was the canteen of the Rongchang District Government in Chongqing. It received over 47,000 visitors during the holiday. On May 1st alone, the canteen consumed 1,500 pounds of pork and steamed 280 pots of rice. To handle the crowds, over 50 additional staff were brought in from other locations.
This same district had once hosted YouTube influencer Speed. In one of his videos, a man in a red padded jacket enthusiastically follows him around, urging him to try Rongchang’s famous braised goose. Tourists during the May Day holiday got to try that very same dish. Reports say the canteen chopped up over 800 braised geese daily, and some chefs even developed blisters from the heavy workload.
Behind this seemingly accidental popularity was deliberate local government effort. Especially noteworthy is Gao Hongbo, the 60-year-old Party Secretary of Rongchang District. Known for his outspokenness, he has repeatedly made headlines in China. For example, during the recent Lunar New Year, he urged local officials to buy new clothes for their families to boost consumer spending and sang “Tomorrow Will Be Better” at a local Spring Festival gala. A passionate runner, he has competed in several marathons around Chongqing, with a personal best of 3 hours and 39 minutes.
Gao has competed in several marathons around Chongqing.
After Speed helped make braised goose go viral, Gao embraced the attention—suggesting that marathon medals be shaped like geese, and even that winners receive braised goose as prizes.
Still, not all Chinese citizens are thrilled by the government canteen craze—just as opinions on Gao himself are mixed. Some worry that the canteens’ low prices may undercut nearby private restaurants. But many others have welcomed this display of government transparency and connection to the people.
Editor: Zhongxiaowen
