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Yating Yang

China never fails to deliver strange, funny and almost unbelievable viral stories.
Today, the SCMP offers a glimpse into some recent quirky moments, from a “haunted” flat that keeps getting resold, to a lift that stops at only one floor and a sushi conveyor belt hijacked by a “Mickey” mouse.
Ghostly dwelling
On April 1, a flat in Chengdu, Sichuan province in southwestern China, where there had been an unnatural death, was listed for auction for the third time, with bidding set to begin on April 14.
The listing has once again attracted widespread attention because the property had already been auctioned twice, in November, last year and January, at a higher starting price of 266,000 yuan (US$40,000).

The final bids reached 1.056 million yuan (US$155,000) and 966,000 yuan, respectively, but both auctions failed.
This time, the starting price has been reduced to 166,000 yuan (US$24,000).
According to the auction details, the flat has a floor area of 89.7 square metres, comes fully furnished and is located near an underground station.
Netizens joked: “How ‘haunted’ must it be to be sold three times?”
Private lift
A netizen from Jiangsu province in eastern China posted a video showing a newly installed lift in a residential building that stops at only one floor.
The set-up shocked many and quickly sparked online discussion.

“This is what real power looks like; installing a private lift just for one household,” one netizen wrote.
However, it was later revealed that the lift was jointly funded by several residents.
To reduce costs, exits were not installed on every floor. Residents living on lower floors can take the lift up and then walk down using the stairs.
“If exits were installed on every floor, the lift would cost nearly 500,000 yuan (US$73,000), but this one only cost about 200,000 yuan. The exit is located between the fifth and sixth floors.
“Residents below the sixth floor can take the lift up and then walk down. Those living on higher floors contributed more to the cost,” Jiang, the property manager, told Jimu News.
Rotating rodent
A diner in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province in southeastern China has revealed that while eating at Jinjiang Sushi, they spotted a mouse running along the rotating sushi conveyor belt.

Dishes intended for customers were placed right on the moving belt.
Netizens dubbed the bizarre scene the “Rotating Mickey Sushi”.
Later that day, the restaurant issued a statement saying that a preliminary investigation suggested the mouse had entered from outside the restaurant.
“To address the incident, all food items from that day were immediately discarded. Customers who were dining at the time were given free meals.
“The shop has been temporarily closed starting to undergo a comprehensive deep clean, disinfection and a full inspection to eliminate any potential risks,” the statement said.


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Trending in China

Quirky China: haunted house auctioned 3 times, lift serves only 1 floor, ‘mouse run’ at eatery

A haunted house in China has been auctioned three times; a residential lift serves only one floor and a sushi restaurant featured a “Mickey Mouse” on its conveyor belt. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin/Weibo

A “haunted” house, above, in southwestern China, has been put up for auction three times. Photo: Weibo

One stop only: The hydraulic residential lift alights at only a single floor. Photo: Weibo

An unwanted, four-legged visitor found its way onto the above eatery’s sushi conveyor belt. Photo: Weibo

China woman, 89, climbs from 27th to 21st floor of building to escape locked bedroom goes viral

An 89-year-old Chinese woman has made headlines after climbing from the 27th to the 21st floor of her high-rise building to escape a locked bedroom. Photo: SCMP composite/CCTV/RedNote

The 89-year-old, above, can be seen gripping on to the bars of an air-conditioning unit cage as she makes her way down the building. Photo: Sina

A dramatic longer-distance photograph shows just how much of a risk the woman was taking. Photo: Sina

Firefighters use ropes to secure the “exhausted and frightened” 89-year-old. Photo: Sina

Firefighters, above, struggled and eventually moved the grandmother to safety. Photo: Sina

China ZXMOTO founder revokes ‘not getting a cent’ from government remark after controversy

Zhang Xue, the founder of ZXMOTO in China, who previously said he did not receive “a single cent” in government subsidies later revised his stance after igniting a controversy. Photo: SCMP composite/Xinhua/Sohu

Zhang Xue, above, rose from humble beginnings to the top of his chosen endeavour. Photo: Weibo

A thoughtful Zhang during a meeting at ZXMOTO in Chongqing in 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang sits astride one of his company’s successful motorcycles. Photo: Weibo

Zhang, front row centre, with team riders at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia earlier this year. Photo: Xinhua

Patagonia faces criticism for ‘earth usage fee’ on online orders to curb excessive returns

US outdoor clothing brand Patagonia faces criticism for its new “earth usage fee” on online orders, intended to curb excessive returns. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

In response, some retailers have begun applying large labels to products and implementing return bans if those labels are damaged. Photo: Shutterstock

The growing health and fitness awareness among China’s youth has elevated sportswear to a dominant position in the apparel market in the country. Photo: Shutterstock

By the end of last year, Patagonia operated fewer than 10 physical stores in China, which are popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Photo: Shutterstock

Doctors warn of spinal cord damage as ‘neck-hanging exercise’ trends among China youth

In a bid to replicate cervical traction therapy used in hospitals, a new trend called the “neck-hanging exercise” has emerged among young Chinese people. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote

Groups of young people take part in organised sessions of neck hanging. Photo: Weibo

A woman in a surgical mask performs the controversial “therapy”. Photo: Weibo

Extreme exercise: an elderly man suspends himself from a tree in a park in China. Photo: Weibo

A group of elderly people do their exercises in a park in Beijing. Photo: Shutterstock

Ancient China lavish toilet routines: nobles used silk, Empress Cixi had 28 maids to serve her

In ancient China, commoners used scrap paper for toilet hygiene while nobles opted for silk. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu

In ancient China, commoners typically used a primitive wooden bucket known as a matong, or “horse bucket,” for sanitary purposes. Photo: Baidu

For the average person, public toilets were rudimentary and overcrowded, with some streets temporarily transformed into open-air latrines. Photo: Baidu

Interestingly, toilets in ancient China were often constructed above pigsties, effectively integrating sanitation with livestock management. Photo: Baidu

Reports indicate that Empress Dowager Cixi had 28 attendants managing all aspects of her toilet routine, with eunuchs carrying her toilet into the room on their heads. Photo: History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

News

People & Culture

From an unsold ‘ghostly’ flat, to a residential lift with just 1 stop and sushi restaurant with rotating rodent, bizarre stories abound in China


From an unsold ‘ghostly’ flat, to a residential lift with just 1 stop and sushi restaurant with rotating rodent, bizarre stories abound in China.


Quirky China: haunted house auctioned 3 times, lift serves only 1 floor, ‘mouse run’ at eatery

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From an unsold ‘ghostly’ flat, to a residential lift with just 1 stop and sushi restaurant with rotating rodent, bizarre stories abound in China

Ghostly dwelling

From an unsold ‘ghostly’ flat, to a residential lift with just 1 stop and sushi restaurant with rotating rodent, bizarre stories abound in China