A summer job with a daily wage of 300 RMB (about MYR 176) plus free meals and accommodation is extremely attractive for university students. Although the job requires workers to act as "wildmen" at a scenic spot, it drew over 2,000 applicants vying for the position, with only 10 finally selected, sparking widespread discussion.
According to Jimu News, the "Jifa Agricultural Dreamland" scenic area in Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China, posted a recruitment ad in late June to hire 10 university students during the busy summer tourist season to play the role of "wildman," responsible for interacting with visitors and performing shows.
The part-time workers' duties include imitating "wildman" howls, making fire by friction, climbing trees, roasting sweet potatoes, and dancing around campfires. The daily work lasts 11 hours, with three breaks in between, and includes free meals and accommodation.
According to Mr. Ma, the project manager for the scenic area, they originally thought it was just an ordinary part-time job posting, but were surprised to receive over 2,000 applications. After online interviews and screening, 10 lively and quick-witted university students were selected.
One sophomore performer, Xiao Li, revealed that the job is both fun and lucrative; he has been performing for a month straight and plans to continue until the new semester begins. Since some students have already returned to school, there are currently only six "wildmen" left performing at the scenic spot.
Mr. Ma added that after the peak tourist season ends in September, the "wildman" show will switch to weekends and holidays, but college students will still be recruited as part-timers. In addition, the scenic area has launched a "visitor wildman role for free admission" event—participants who complete a series of "wildman" tasks can have their entrance ticket waived.