Jinjin Houge/Douin
An employee dresses up as a monkey king at Wujishan Scenic Area in northern China’s Hebei province.
Hong Kong
CNN
—
You don’t need to be an acrobat, or even have supernatural powers or the ability to ride on clouds.
All you need to do is be a fan of the legendary Monkey King of China and be able to eat as many bananas as you can throw at them for free.
If that sounds like the ideal job description, it’s probably worth sending your resume to Wujishan Scenic Area in northern China’s Hebei province.
The tourist destination is looking for people to portray mythical Chinese characters and is willing to pay suitable candidates $842 per month, state news agency Shangyou News said. Instead, they must hang out in caves at the base of the mountain and be fed by tourists.
The Chinese legend of the Monkey King is as popular in China as the Western Grimm fairy tales. It has nurtured the imaginations of countless children and inspired numerous film and TV spin-offs.
This story tells the story of Sun Wukong, a monkey born from stone, who acquires supernatural powers from a Taoist martial artist. He fights like a warrior, wields a golden magic staff, and travels on clouds accompanying the holy monk Tang Sanzang on his Journey to the West to obtain scriptures in India.
The journey begins at Mt. Goji, or “Five Finger Mountain.” There, the Monkey King is ensnared by the gods, angered by his youthful arrogance. Tan frees him and the two embark on an adventure.
But the lucky job seekers in Wuzhishan Scenic Area have to stay put.
The job requires him to wear a monkey mask and costume and hole up in a cave at the base of a mountain, according to a video circulating on social media.
An important part of this role is accepting snacks provided by the visiting children, such as apples, instant noodles, and, inevitably, lots of bananas.
“What kind of great job is that? Endless free food and a paycheck,” one user joked on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.
Jinjin Houge/Douin
An employee dresses up as a monkey king at Wujishan Scenic Area in northern China’s Hebei province.
Additionally, only minimal experience is required.
“There are no educational requirements. The main conditions are a passion for Son Goku, acting talent, being lively, cheerful, and able to interact with tourists in a friendly manner,” a manager at the site told Commercial News.
The manager added that two staff members had already been hired to play the character and only one more was needed.
If you’re worried about what eating too many bananas will do to your waistline, there’s no need to worry.
The manager stated that the actors did not have to eat all the food provided on the spot. Instead, he said, today’s actors usually save some of their bananas to share with colleagues after work.
The company also installed electric heaters inside the cave in case it gets too cold.
A clip circulating on social media shows one of the actors saying that he loved pretending to be the character from an early age.
“We hope to convey the joy and memories of childhood and spread Chinese culture, while also focusing on the mental health of children and teenagers,” he said.