Beijing Prison opened to the public yesterday, giving law-abiding citizens a glimpse of life behind bars.

The prison, home to nearly 2,000 inmates, is the second penal institute in the city to offer a tour after Beijing Women's Prison earlier this month. All 13 prisons in the city are expected to follow suit.

"Public visits will make prisons more transparent and improve our management," said Li Zhonglin, a senior official of the prison. "It also serves as a warning to ordinary people."

Areas open to the public include living places, work areas and the psychology room.

"I've never visited a prison before and I want to know what it is like behind the wall," said Zhao Wenpeng, 26, a legal professional.

"People talk about prison without actually knowing about it. This causes a lot of misunderstanding," he said.

After seeing a cell in which 12 inmates live, Zhao was surprised at how tidy and bright it was.

"The inmates each raise a fish and a plant. Nice living conditions will help them to be in a better mood while serving their sentences," Zhao said.

Some viewed the visit as warning against becoming a criminal.

"I want to know what it feels like to be cut off from the outside world and lose freedom. When you are free, you are not aware of such pain," said Sun Yinhui, 46, a senor manager at a top construction company in Beijing who brought her colleagues to the prison yesterday.

"Seeing a prison firsthand is the best kind of warning."

Any Beijing resident aged over 18 can apply for the tour, provided they have not served a jail term.

Each month, residents can submit applications to Beijing Prison Bureau two weeks in advance of the visit, which takes place on the last Wednesday of each month.

Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed to be taken inside, and visitors are not allowed to talk to inmates.

Source: China Daily