A coffee shop in eastern China has gone viral for its entry rules, which prohibit a whole host of bizarre infractions, from discarding black stockings to stealing tiny turtles from a pond, UNN reports with reference to the South China Morning Post.
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Yi Nan Ping Cafe is located in the ancient city of Qingzhou, a popular tourist destination in Weifang, Shandong Province, and is known for its signature pineapple americano and picturesque courtyard.
Recently, visitors noticed a huge sign near the cafe's entrance, almost as tall as an adult, which began with a sharp admission: it was written "out of complete powerlessness."
The sign listed a number of infractions that the owners said they had to deal with: from smoking indoors and frivolous negative reviews to walking pets off-leash, despite the cafe being pet-friendly.
Among the most unusual rules are prohibitions for visitors with smelly feet from taking off their shoes indoors, putting their feet on stools, and stealing tiny turtles from the cafe.
The owner, surnamed Liu, told a local radio and television station that the cafe's pond once housed more than 70 tiny turtles, but about half of them had been stolen. "I am deeply saddened," Liu said, adding that the turtles were gifts from regular customers.
He also said that some visitors threw tea, melon seeds, and other garbage into the pond, harming the environment.
Another rule targets so-called "fake socialites" — a popular internet term for women who create the appearance of wealth through carefully staged displays of conspicuous consumption. Often, such visitors, associated with frequent changes of outfits and photo shoots in chic establishments, were accused of leaving behind discarded black stockings, false eyelashes, clothes, and cosmetics, which bothered other visitors. One of the phrases on the sign reads: "I beg these fake socialites not to come. Please go somewhere else. Our cafe cannot offer you any emotional value."
Liu told the media that smoking and card games are also prohibited in the cafe, and he expects parents to ensure that their children do not damage the premises. "We understand that children are naturally very active, but parents who do not follow basic rules are not welcome," he said.
An employee of the establishment stated that the announcement was posted in February and that all the violations listed in it had indeed occurred.
The incident sparked widespread sympathy on social media in mainland China. One netizen wrote: "I admire the owner's frankness. Every establishment has unwanted customers, but few dare to speak about it openly." Another user wrote: "Behind every absurd rule lies an even more absurd story." "I fully understand Liu's frustration. I also own a restaurant. Of the 200 spoons I bought, only 55 are left, the rest were stolen," said a third.