A Chinese man has been living at an airport for nearly 14 years, choosing to leave home because he did not have the freedom to smoke and drink there.
Wei Jianguo, 60, has set up a makeshift bed and food items at the waiting area of Beijing’s International Capital Airport, according to a Daily Mail report.
The man said he found the airport to be warm and cozy. “I can go back home anytime but I will not be allowed to drink,” he said.
Wei’s home is located 20 kilometres away from the airport, China Daily reported.
"I can't go back home because I have no freedom there," he told the newspaper. "My family told me if I wanted to stay, I had to quit smoking and drinking. If I couldn't do that, I had to give them all my monthly government allowance of 1,000 yuan ($150). But then how would I buy my cigarettes and alcohol?"
Wei has settled into a routine while living at the Beijing airport. He goes out every morning to shop for breakfast, lunch and a bottle of spirit. "There's nowhere warmer than here (the airport)", he told China Daily.
The 60-year-old man’s story is reminiscent of the 2004 film The Terminal, in which a man from a fictional Eastern European country has to live at New York 's JFK airport, albeit for grave reasons. His passport is declared invalid because of a coup in his country. He can neither enter the US nor go back home.
The film was inspired by the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian man who lived at an airport in Paris for nearly 18 years. He had lost papers certifying his refugee status during his journey to England via Belgium and France.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
