Vacation-style therapy

休假式治疗 (xiūjià shì zhìliáo): vacation-style therapy

Wang Lijun hoofs it onto the U.S. consulate compound.

In early February 2012, Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun was demoted after a falling out with Bo Xilai, reportedly over involvement by Bo’s wife, Gu Kailai, in the murder of British expatriate Neil Heywood in November 2011. Fearing for his life, Wang fled to the U.S. consulate in Chengdu. 70 carloads of armed police reportedly pursued Wang from Chongqing to Chengdu and proceeded to surround the consulate while Wang was inside. After a failed bid for asylum, Wang left with Chinese security agents and was taken to Beijing.

Shortly after his departure, Chongqing government information offices stated that Wang was “seriously indisposed due to long term overwork and intense mental stress” and that he was undergoing “vacation-style therapy.” Vacation-style therapy quickly became a meme.

“The truth” gets “vacation-style therapy.”

The U.S. consulate in Chengdu offers “political asylum” and “vacation-style therapy” 24 hours a day. (Rebel Pepper)

Wang Lijun makes a run for the Chengdu consulate with Bo Xilai hot on his heels.