Monkey abuse at Longquan Ancient Town Drama Fantasy City in Luquan District, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, has sparked widespread outrage after videos emerged showing animals being subjected to cruel treatment during a live performance.
Footage shows a macaque wearing a metal muzzle and a yellow vest being forced to kneel on the ground while a man spoke to a crowd that included children. The performer then covered the monkey’s head with a black cloth, tied its arms to a plastic pipe, and simulated shooting the animal with a prop gun. The monkey fell motionless to the ground.
In other clips, a monkey was seen tethered by a long rope around its neck, while two additional monkeys appeared tied up in the background. The videos provoked strong reactions online, with viewers condemning the acts as animal cruelty and demanding accountability.
Longquan Ancient Town staff told media outlets that the monkey performance was operated by an outsourced team. The attraction said it only provided the venue and was not involved in daily management of the show. Following multiple complaints, the tourist site confirmed it had terminated the contract with the performance team and removed the act from its schedule.
Officials from the Luquan District Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism Bureau acknowledged the public outrage and confirmed that an investigation had been launched. Authorities stated that the performers were part of an external group and not direct employees of the attraction. The inquiry into the treatment of the animals is ongoing.
This incident has renewed discussions in China about the treatment of animals in entertainment, highlighting the gap between regulatory oversight and outsourced performance practices. Experts argue that the use of animals in live shows without strict monitoring often leads to situations where welfare standards are ignored.
