Pork Bun Restaurant Turned Protest Site Favorite 

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s latest attempt to cultivate his image as a man of the people is creating some unintended consequences. Qingfeng Restaurant, an unassuming local eatery where Xi ate a meal of pork buns, fried pig liver and vegetables last month, has since become a staging ground for residents to protest against their local governments.

A photo circulating on social media shows a group of demonstrators holding signs detailing their grievances against local officials, for corruption, allowing forced demolitions of peoples’ property, and other issues. Observers have taken to calling the restaurant Beijing’s newest “letters and calls” bureau, the national agency where citizens can file complaints about local officials. These petitioners are often detained before they can reach Beijing.