People's Republic of Zhongtai

The People's Republic of Zhongtai was a micronation founded by Tang Houtu on 12 November 2008 in Lishui, Zhejiang, China in a tongue-in-cheek attempt to avoid having his restaurant inspected by local government officials.

Overview
At about 10 a.m. on November 12, 2008, the law enforcement department jointly composed of Lishui City's Health, and Industry and Commerce, and Public Security and other departments, once investigated some people who did not meet the sanitary conditions and had not yet met. In the process of rectification of the "six types of small industries" (small restaurants, and small beauty salons, and small bathrooms, and small dance halls, and small hotels, and small Internet cafes) that have obtained health permits, A small restaurant called "Zhongtai Fast Food" located near in downtown Lishui has failed to meet the requirements due to sanitary conditions, and the store has not obtained a sanitary license or industrial and commercial license. The business license and other reasons were banned by the joint law enforcement agencies. However, during the process of the ban, the owner of the store, Tang Houtu, claimed that he had established an independent country called "Zhongtai People Encouraged to Return to the Country", its territory is a house with an area of about 40 square meters and a public stall with an area of about 5 square meters at the door of the house. Tang Houtu claimed that his restaurant no longer falls under the jurisdiction of People's Republic of China and is not subject to the laws of the People's Republic of China, so you don't need to apply for documents yourself. On the wall of the store, there is also a specially made national emblem. That is, there are several pieces of paper taped to the wall opposite the store door, with a picture in the middle. This national emblem has turned yellow and is round. On the outside are the circular words "Everyone in Zhongtai advises to return to the country." Inside are the symbols of this "country": sun, moon, stars, and a collection of raining logos. The lower part of the national emblem clearly reads: "-(Tang Houtu's country name)-" in traditional Chinese characters. On both sides of the national emblem is the couplet "Brothers from the same dynasty buy food and help, and when they have a grudge, they ask for food." The store was subsequently ordered to close down by law enforcement officials and some of its business facilities were temporarily impounded. At 1 o'clock at noon, when a reporter came to this fast food restaurant again, they found that the restaurant was still open and there were many people coming to eat. .

Impact
After this incident was exposed by news media, Tang Houtu's restaurant was ridiculed as "the most awesome restaurant in history." Most people who know about this matter in China think that Tang Houtu's behavior is purely mischievous. In fact, he is pretending to be crazy and acting stupid. The purpose is to avoid inspection by law enforcement agencies. Naturally, there is no need to rise to infinite heights to accuse him of pursuing separatism and independence. And punish the crime. Because for a person who is legally illiterate or who is a bit like playing Performance Art, the most important thing is to preach Law and Regulations to him, rather than punishing him with the greatest punishment first. The appearance of people in Zhongtai urging people to return to the country was generally regarded as a farce. However, the nature of the people in Zhongtai's urging to return to the country is very consistent with the concept of a Micronation. That is, although it does not have the status of a sovereign country in international society, it seriously regards itself as a legitimate country: such as designing a national flag and national emblem, establishing a government, and issuing currency, and Stamp, and issue Passport, etcetera. But unlike secession or national self-determination movements, most of these countries only talk about it on paper or online and have not put it into practice. Therefore, people generally believe that these countries are just fiction product.