Spring has sprung in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and for one prison compound in the city of Guilin that means trouble. Guilin Prison is a sizable complex, and home to a large peach blossom orchard located within the boundaries of the staff living quarters. In years past, the prison would accept occasional visitors coming to wander through the orchard and enjoy the Spring blossoms. All fine and well.
But this year, something changed. For reasons that are as yet unclear, Spring 2016 has seen a huge upsurge in orchard visitor numbers, prompting the prison authorities to shut the gates on February 25 in an attempt to regulate the number of strangers wandering the grounds. From there the situation only intensified.
The Nanguo Zaobao captured photographs of grown men and women scaling the compound fences, apparently leaving litter, broken branches and dead flowers in their wake. Reporters also photographed a sign erected by the jail staff reminding visitors that Guilin Prison is ‘not a tourist attraction.’
In a scene eerily familiar to anyone who has spent time near ticket booths in China, visitors were spotted trying to barter with guards for ‘admission tickets’, which of course do not exist. Netizens on Weibo were quick to point out the blatant absurdity of the situation, with one user saying, ‘many inside want to get out, but those outside want to get in.’
[Images via the Nanguo Zaobao]
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