A 6-year-old girl was found begging naked on the street in Nanjing, capital city of Jiangsu province, on Tuesday, the Modern Express reported on Thursday.

The girl said she could get more money from pedestrians if she was naked, according to the report.

A photograph of the girl went viral on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. The picture shows a middle-aged man named Zhou Chonggao, described as the girl's father, kneeling down beside her. In front of the man is a plastic basin containing money.

Passers-by reported the situation to the local rescue center for homeless people, who intervened, offering to help the girl. However, the man explained that the girl was his daughter and refused any assistance.

The pair have been taken into custody by police, who are investigating their identities and considering further action.