Civil servant prays for promotion at ancient tower  

山西公务员携女烧香跪拜鹳雀楼：求副科级待遇

“欲穷千里目，更上一层楼”，这是唐代诗人王之涣在《登鹳雀楼》中的名句，鹳雀楼也因为这首诗被世人熟知。然而，最近，在山西省永济市鹳雀楼前的广场上，有一男一女却用纸箱摆起临时香案，在大庭广众之下对着鹳雀楼倒头就拜。跪拜的女子解释说，她的父亲临近退休却仍是一名普通公务员，感觉很没面子，父女两人来跪拜鹳雀楼，是希望能让父亲在仕途上“更上一层楼”，在退休前落实个副科级待遇。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) – An online video showed a man and a woman setting up an incense burner table in front of the famous Guanque Tower in Yongji city, Shanxi province, and prayed for career promotion, according to sxgov.cn.

According to the video, the two people were kneeling and burning incense piously facing the tower when a staffer from the scenic spot security guard came to stop them. The woman explained that the tower could accept their prayers for a better future, and the man continued to pray for a job promotion.

Many netizens criticized their behavior.

A director surnamed Cao at the scenic spot later said they learned that the man was a civil servant who's approaching retirement age. Dissatisfied with his situation, he and the woman – his daughter – came to Guanque Tower to pray for promotion and better pay before retiring.

Cao said it's unreasonable to rely on superstition and pray for promotion, and suggested tourists act civil at scenic spots.

Guanque Tower, built in AD 557—581, is known through the poem "On Guanque Tower," written by Wang Zhihuan of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 – 907).