A recruitment notice from a Hebei tourist attraction seeking individuals to play Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, has recently sparked interest among netizens.
The notice, featuring an image from the Taihang Wuzhi Mountain tourist spot in Handan, Hebei province, follows last year’s initiative to have real people portray the mythical character from ‘Journey to the West’, who was famously trapped under the Five-Finger Mountain.
On January 4, Shangyou News reached out to Taihang Wuzhi Mountain for confirmation. Mr. Shen, the person in charge, affirmed the recruitment’s authenticity, stating it began in the spring of last year.
We already have two Sun Wukong performers. This year, we’re looking to add another, as we’re still searching for the right fit,” he explained.
Mr. Shen detailed that while educational qualifications aren’t stringent, the ideal Sun Wukong performer should possess acting skills, a lively and friendly demeanour, visitor interaction abilities, and a genuine love for the character.
Regarding compensation, Mr. Shen revealed a base salary of 6000 Chinese Yuan (approximately RM4k), with potential variations based on performance.
Good performers may earn more, especially those who interact with visitors or engage in live broadcasts,” he noted.
In May last year, the hashtag #YoungManDressedAsSunWukongInScenicSpotGetsFedToTheFullest trended.
The Paper reported that a Taihang Wuzhi Mountain staff member dressed as Sun Wukong mingled with visitors, receiving an array of fruits and snacks.
The performer’s schedule included 2.5 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon, with breaks during less busy periods.
Six months on, Mr. Shen confirms that visitor enthusiasm remains high. “Performers rest in the cave, switching every 2 hours due to the intensity.
They’re often so well-fed by visitors with offerings that lunch becomes unnecessary,” he said.
Surprisingly, Sun Wukong receives diverse treats, not just bananas. Visitors have offered snacks, instant noodles, fried chicken, beer, and more.
Each performer ends their shift with a sizable collection of snacks, shared among the staff.
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