Kunming Dwarf Park: Empowering or Discriminatory

Since opening its doors in 2009, Dwarf Empire has been a divisive subject. Critics are aghast at its mere existence and criticize it, while others admire it for providing employment where opportunities for disabled people are sparse.

Located in the outskirts of Kunming, Dwarf Empire is a mountainside theme park equipped with mushroom shaped castles and fairytale-like trimmings. Its employees - all dwarfs - are the main attraction. At regular intervals, dozens of the parks employees dress as medieval knights, powerful khans, butterflies and cooks, and perform slapstick sketches and dances.

The parks critics are plentiful, ranging from disabled rights groups to celebrities. Famous actor Warwick Davis, who is also a dwarf, expressed distaste after visiting the park as part of a hit UK TV series. Many in this camp argue that integration diminishes prejudice, while isolation reinforces it; many others wince at the thought of tourists ogling out of morbid curiosity at dwarfs in fancy dress.

Chen Mingjing, the park's creator and a self-made business and real estate mogul, views it differently, as do many of his employees. As far as Chen sees it, the stable employment, tailor-made accommodation and reasonable remuneration for the 100 dwarfs that the park currently employs is much better than 100 dwarfs eking out a living through odd jobs.

While life in Dwarf Empire remains far from idyllic, many employees say it offers them a sense of community where they are able to share the same challenges. For some, the feeling of being among equals outweighs the awkwardness and surreality of the performances.

Employees live on site in purpose built dormitories (the mushroom houses are just for show) making simple tasks such as brushing teeth or cooking easier; sinks, among other things, are customized to a special height. Males live on the first floor, female live on the second floor and couples live in studio rooms.

"We hope that the dwarfs can have a sense of community here and get a feeling of home," said a senior from the park.

One thing both critics and supporters agree on though, is the fact that the park is inundated with job applications, highlighting the lack of opportunities for disabled people in China.

The company plans to expand its permanent working staff from around 100, to more than 2,000.

Liu Jiexia, a 24-year-old park employee from Yunnan's Yuanmou county left home and came to the park without telling any relatives.

Liu said the only person who loved her was her grandfather. After he passed away, she experienced discrimination at home.

There are similar stories too. Another park employee, 27-year-old Xu, graduated from Shanxi Medical University with a bachelor's degree in pathology. But he was unable to find a job after graduation and experienced discrimination from employers.

In 2012, Xu took a 37-hour train journey to the park and decided to stay after a battle of the mind.

According to Xu, it's good to stay with the other dwarfs in the empire without discrimination. "Most of the visitors here can respect us," said Xu.

Xu hasn't realized his dream of becoming a doctor, but he has assumed responsibilities at the park to help the residents solve health problems with his medical knowledge.