Rich club
After first denying reports that it was trying to lure members to a “rich club” promising special treatment in the place once home to China’s emperors, the capital’s Forbidden City has admitted to the plan.
A prominent Chinese TV newsman first outed the existence of the club on his blog, followed by wave of outrage on the internet. The Forbidden City, once off-limits to all by the imperial court, is highly symbolic in China and notions of using one of its chambers as a club for the wealthy rubbed many the wrong way.
The BBC quoted a statement from Forbidden City management, saying a private company it works with had planned the VIP club, charging $150,000 per member, without its consent.
"It made its own decision without approval from us to expand customer services and release membership invitation forms," the management said.
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