China's dog meat festival opens despite rumours of a ban
The annual festival at Yulin in the Guangxi region has been the focus of protests by animal rights groups
A notorious Chinese dog meat festival opened on Wednesday with butchers hacking slabs of canines and cooks frying the flesh despite rumours that the authorities would impose a ban this year.
After initial reports of a ban on the sale of the meat at the summer solstice event in the southern town of Yulin, animal rights groups said vendors and officials reached a compromise setting a limit of two dogs displayed per stall.
But multiple carcasses rested on some stalls at the main Nanqiao market, with stiff pointy tails, leathery yellow skin, eyes shut and bared teeth as if in a final growl.
Behind two long rows of dog butchers, other vendors sold more typical fare like cow tongues and pork hocks and trotters. But even they sold some dog parts, including liver.
The market also features poultry, tanks of fish and vegetables and fruits, including big bundles of lychees.
There was a heavy police presence outside the market and at all intersections.