In a bizarre twist that feels straight out of a gossip-worthy tale, people are cashing in £1,100 a month just by dressing up as the legendary ‘Monkey King‘ in China. The Taihang Wuzhishan Scenic Area is offering this peculiar gig where lucky recruits can enjoy the perks of being a mythical figure from Chinese lore.

Playing the part of Sun Wukong, the protagonist of the classic Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West,’ the hired actors find themselves in a heated cave, lounging in hammocks, and munching on bananas handed to them by intrigued tourists. It’s a job that involves recreating the tale of the monkey trapped in the rocks of the Wuzhishan mountains, greedily devouring food offerings – which, conveniently, the actors get to take home as their reward.

But hold on, it’s not all glitz and glamour in the world of monkey kings. A viral video showing a child enthusiastically stuffing a banana into one of the actor’s mouths has added a touch of reality to the fantasy.

Despite the unexpected banana encounters, the job listing went viral, leading the attraction to declare free entry for visitors from January 8 to February 8. Now, they’re on the lookout for a third adventurous soul to join the ‘Monkey King’ roster. No fancy degrees are required, but the key qualifications include a fondness for Sun Wukong, some acting flair, and, most importantly, a lively, cheerful, and friendly demeanour to entertain the curious tourists.

The manager at the scenic site revealed, ‘There are no academic requirements. Mainly, [the recruit] must have a fondness for Sun Wukong, a certain level of acting talent, and a lively, cheerful, and friendly disposition to interact with tourists.’ Move over Blackpool Zoo’s seagull deterrents; China’s Monkey Kings are taking centre stage in the world of peculiar job opportunities! 🐒💰 #MonkeyKingMadness #BananaBonanza #ChinaGigAlert