The dispute between dog lovers and dog-meat lovers has escalated over a festival that is set to begin on June 21 in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Dog meat is commonly served on local dinner tables in the city of Yulin.

And every year during the summer solstice, the locals put on a festival, eating dog-meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor. The festival attracts thousands of diners every year.