Learning skills to serve the super rich

Specialized schools and institutes have set up in China to teach the art of being a Western-style butler as the sector starts to take off

Dressed in a black tuxedo, with a bow tie and white gloves, Tang Zhiyong is struggling to iron a newspaper while keeping his feet straight and his waist tilted at exactly 30 degrees.

Part of a course designed for budding butlers, the 31-year-old from central Anhui province is hoping to follow in the time-honored European tradition of catering for the super rich.