China’s ‘walls of kindness’ quickly become mountains of rejects

A “wall of kindness” in southwest China for donating warm clothes to homeless people has been shut down in less than 10 days because it had turned into a “clothes dumpster”, state media reports.

A long row of hangers was installed onto the wall in an underground pass near a railway station in Kunming, Yunnan province for people to leave unwanted clothes for those who need them, according to the China News Service.

The aim was to “not let any homeless person to shiver with cold in the frigid winter,” the report said.

“Walls of kindness” – often painted in bright colours with added row of hooks on them - have sprang up in public areas across Iran and spilled into neighbouring countries, as people take matters into their own hands to help the homeless cope in winter.

But such kind gestures did not bode well after they were introduced to China.

Kunming’s “wall of kindness” was keenly received among locals after it was promoted on social media. More walls were installed in other areas of the city, including inside some residential communities.