Guo Zhiyong, 35, from China’s westernmost Xinjiang Province, was found on Taiwan-controlled Kinmen Island, about 2 km (a mile) off the Chinese coast, early on Wednesday morning, Taiwan’s coastguard said on Thursday.

He was carrying a backpack containing a life jacket and a child’s inflatable swimming ring. He also had a document typed partly in Chinese characters and partly Roman letters that made references to Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese action film star Jet Li, said Pu Yu-lin, deputy captain of the Kinmen Coast Guard Inspection Unit.

Flanked by police and with his face covered, Guo said he had come to Taiwan to see democracy and called himself a “political researcher”.

“I want to ask you a question — are Taiwan and China both parts of the Republic of China?”, he told media on the island, referring to Taiwan’s official title. “If they are one country, then why am I illegal? Where are the human rights in Taiwan?”

China, officially the People’s Republic of China, and Taiwan split in 1949 after a civil war, and remain politically separate. China has not ruled out force to retake Taiwan.

When asked what he thought of the democracy he found, Guo held up his handcuffed hands and said: “It’s terrible.”

(Writing by Jonathan Standing; Editing by Ron Popeski)

YILAN, Taiwan (Reuters Life!) – For those in search of an unusual camping experience this summer, a Taiwan cemetery offers a nice view, great feng shui and a natural chill.

Sakura Cemetery Park, a 45-hectare graveyard in Yilan County in Taiwan’s northeast, has become one of the country’s most popular campsites, allowing campers to pitch their tents in a parking lot right beside the tombs.

Opened two years ago, the cemetery is selling underground spaces for more than 7,000 deceased — and offering 15 campsites free to up to 10 families as part of a special event.

Visitors said they were attracted to the park-like grounds by the unusual idea and the beautiful view. The cemetery is located 750 meters (2,400 ft) above sea level and overlooks the scenic Yilan Plain.

“This is quite novel,” said Ni Wen-chen, a 40-year-old civil servant there with a co-worker.

“I heard this is a park-styled cemetery with beautiful scenery, so we are here to see if we can camp.”

The Mortuary Services Office said that since the cemetery opened for camping on June 25, roughly 100 people have already stayed there. Most weekends in July are booked up.

A camping event for 100 families will be hosted on July 16, with a concert planned for the same day.

Yilan County Magistrate Lin Tsong-shyan said he hoped that the camping events would help promote the idea of park-styled cemeteries.

Most Taiwan cemeteries are crowded with tombs and have little space to walk. Few people visit aside from the annual tomb-sweeping day because they also have a solemn image.

“In the future we wish to promote the beautiful landscapes for other cemeteries. I think this is a possible improvement,” Lin added.

The Mortuary Services Office assures prospective visitors that 24-hour security and most Taiwan citizens’ respect for ancestors will allow campers to rest in peace.

“I’m not scared at all,” said camper Sun Chih-feng, adding that the trip was a way to be close to nature and teach his children to respect life.

“We and the cemetery each have our own world. It does not affect the camping atmosphere, but could be a rather special experience.”

(Editing by Elaine Lies)

The young man, known only by his stage name of “Igo,” entered a phone booth on Sunday night and was covered with 3.6 tonnes of dirt.

His life was sustained by a breathing tube, which members of his performance troupe also used to give him water every two hours, and sensors were attached to his body to monitor physical responses such as body temperature and heart rate. An alarm was set to sound if any of these indicated danger.

One hand stuck out from the tank, which was set outdoors, allowing Igo to write on a drawing pad to communicate with the outside world and to shake the hand of well-wishers.

“This hand can interact with people and also provides us with important messages,” said Chang Chia-lun, the art director of Igo’s Mirror Theatre Troupe, during the four day ordeal.

“IF he gestures with the pinky, then the plan will be immediately terminated to release him. But he has not given us the sign so far.”

A hammer was at hand to break the acrylic walls of the phone booth if needed.

Chang said things had reached a critical point just three hours after the ordeal began, when Igo’s heart rate surged to 220 beats an hour. But within thirty minutes, he calmed down.

More than 10,000 visitors shook Igo’s hand, which protruded from a hole in the booth, and took photographs standing beside it. Others sent gifts and flowers.

“Hot. Holding on until completion of the challenge,” Igo wrote at one point. Temperatures rose as high as 28 C.

Not everybody was impressed, though.

“I don’t think this is a good presentation, and I don’t even think this is magic. It is just a human body challenge,” said Erica Chen, a 30-year-old designer.

Five hours before it ended, the sensors detached due to heavy rain, forcing his friends to monitor his condition by watching his hand.

As the clock ticked down to the final second on Thursday evening, men began to dig down from the top of the booth.

A grimy Igo, supported by assistants, finally staggered from the booth, thanked the crowd in a weak voice, and went off to hospital in a pre-arranged ambulance.

The stunt, Chang said, was not just a physical challenge but also a reminder to love the earth while reflecting on recent disasters around the world.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies)

TAIPEI (Reuters Life!) – A Taiwan magician who had himself buried alive under tonnes of dirt, leaving only his hand free, successfully reached his goal of enduring for 100 hours despite an apparent panic attack only three hours after beginning.

The young man, known only by his stage name of “Igo,” entered a phone booth on Sunday night and was covered with 3.6 tonnes of dirt.

His life was sustained by a breathing tube, which members of his performance troupe also used to give him water every two hours, and sensors were attached to his body to monitor physical responses such as body temperature and heart rate. An alarm was set to sound if any of these indicated danger.

One hand stuck out from the tank, which was set outdoors, allowing Igo to write on a drawing pad to communicate with the outside world and to shake the hand of well-wishers.

“This hand can interact with people and also provides us with important messages,” said Chang Chia-lun, the art director of Igo’s Mirror Theater Troupe, during the four day ordeal.

“IF he gestures with the pinky, then the plan will be immediately terminated to release him. But he has not given us the sign so far.”

A hammer was at hand to break the acrylic walls of the phone booth if needed.

Chang said things had reached a critical point just three hours after the ordeal began, when Igo’s heart rate surged to 220 beats an hour. But within thirty minutes, he calmed down.

More than 10,000 visitors shook Igo’s hand, which protruded from a hole in the booth, and took photographs standing beside it. Others sent gifts and flowers.

“Hot. Holding on until completion of the challenge,” Igo wrote at one point. Temperatures rose as high as 28 C.

Not everybody was impressed, though.

“I don’t think this is a good presentation, and I don’t even think this is magic. It is just a human body challenge,” said Erica Chen, a 30-year-old designer.

Five hours before it ended, the sensors detached due to heavy rain, forcing his friends to monitor his condition by watching his hand.

As the clock ticked down to the final second on Thursday evening, men began to dig down from the top of the booth.

A grimy Igo, supported by assistants, finally staggered from the booth, thanked the crowd in a weak voice, and went off to hospital in a pre-arranged ambulance.

The stunt, Chang said, was not just a physical challenge but also a reminder to love the earth while reflecting on recent disasters around the world.

(Reporting by Elaine Lies)