Terrified dogs and cats crammed into rusty cages. Bats and scorpions offered for sale as traditional medicine. Rabbits and ducks slaughtered and skinned side by side on a stone floor covered with blood, filth, and animal remains.

Deeply troubling scenes as China celebrated its ‘victory’ over the coronavirus by reopening squalid meat markets that started the pandemic 3 months ago.
The shocking scenes came as China finally lifted a weekslong nationwide lockdown and encouraged people to go back to normal daily life to boost the flagging economy. Official statistics indicated there were virtually no new infections.
The market in Guilin was packed with shoppers yesterday, with a fresh dog and cat meat on offer, a traditional ‘warming’ winter dish.