In the historic district of Longquan, in Shijiazhuang, China, what was passed off as “family entertainment” has turned into a national case. At the center of the controversy, monkeys forced to perform, tied with chains and plastic sticks, in some cases hooded or with muzzles, in front of an audience also made up of children.
The videos, released on Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – show animals forcibly restrained, forced to perform tricks under the supervision of so-called “artists”. When they don’t obey, they are pulled, intimidated, scared. A scene that raised indignation and anger.
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Cruelty and humiliation passed off as folklore
According to reports circulating online, some monkeys were held with their hands tied behind their backs, immobilized to increase the scenic effect. In one particularly shocking passage, one of the performers even asked the audience if they wanted to “taste monkey meat”.
Words that fueled the accusation of systematic mistreatment of wildlife. In 2026 we cannot talk about simple “folkloric” performances: let’s call things by their name. These are vulgar shows based on violence, intimidation and humiliation of animal life.
Activists recalled that macaques are a nationally protected species, and that their exposure in these conditions is not only ethically unacceptable, but could violate animal protection regulations.
Mobilization on social media
The reaction was not long in coming. Thousands of users have shared the videos, launched appeals, submitted formal complaints to the competent authorities asking for immediate intervention. A digital mobilization that transformed a local event into a symbolic case of new sensitivity towards animal welfare.
And fortunately the echo of this protest reached those responsible. The Longquan tourist area has in fact officially announced the termination of the contract with the performers involved. A decision that came after days of pressure and reports. A signal that demonstrates how public participation can impact institutional choices.
The images of those tied monkeys struck a chord. Not just for what they show, but for what they suggest: that the line between entertainment and abuse is thin and that the collective consciousness is increasingly ready to react. We can no longer afford to justify practices that harm the rights and health of animals by branding them as traditions. An immediate paradigm shift is needed.
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