The Elephant House

One of our very good friends here in Linyi is passionate about guns and shooting. Because guns are illegal in China, he makes do with BB guns. His BB guns, however, are not like the ones you might have had as a kid. These are serious BB guns. He has so much fun with his guns and extravagant BB gun battles that he has designed and  built his own, and as far as I know China’s only, BB gun shooting club, Elephant House. Right here in Linyi!

It’s the Elephant House because it occupies an actual, former elephant house, part of the Linyi Zoo. Two elephants were brought to the zoo, but after one died, the remaining elephant was sent back to its zoo of origin. The elephant house remained empty, never imagining its next tenant would be a bunch of crazy guys who love to shoot things!

The interior of the elephant house has been converted into a bar/hostel with kitchen, lounging areas, private rooms, pool table, DJ booth and dance floor. And let’s not forget the indoor shooting range for timed accuracy shooting competitions! There’s a full-on military theme, with lots of army surplus, Chinese propaganda posters and photos of club members at previous shoot outs.

DJ Booth with army surplus

Dance area. Those ammunition boxes are the stairs up to the platform!

Propaganda posters & photos of friends

The bar is made of ammunition boxes

The lounge areas are sandbags and ammunition boxes

Third floor has private rooms

Propaganda poster detail – This says something about the PRC crushing the capitalists, etc.

Indoor shooting range

The BB Guns (not including the pistols)

A few of the retired guns, on display

One of the crazy shooters

Bar dog “Manchester United” (Yes, that is really his name.)

Outside, there is a whole complex of bunkers, walkways, sandbags, wooden buildings and screens for shoot out games.

JTFA Students with Ivan, December 2007

My prisoner!

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