Not the right approach
In their pursuit of economic growth, some local governments may have just gone too far, as the recent row over the rights to use the name of a notorious fictional character for promoting the local economy has shown.
The fictional character is none other than Ximen Qing, the protagonist in the controversial novel, The Golden Lotus. In the novel, Ximen is portrayed as leading a life of debauchery with seven concubines, oppressing the common man and taking part in dirty deals with corrupt local officials.
It is ludicrous that the three local governments should vie for being the hometown of Ximen, as he is not even a historical figure. More ridiculous, Ximen has long been considered an epitome of debauchery and hooliganism in Chinese culture.
