An agitated man who cried out, "10 yuan (US$1.20) for a cut", caught the attention of pedestrians on Wangfujing Street on Saturday evening, reports Beijing Times.

The 30-something man first cut his left arm with a blade 40 centimetres long.

Then, dipping a finger in the blood from his wound, he wrote on the pavement before him:"Ten yuan (US$1.20) for a cut".

While his cries attracted more and more people, no one dared to cut him.

Cui, a witness, said many people were frightened by his actions.

The emotionally distraught man begged people to cut him so that he wouldn't have to resort to robbery to satisfy his empty stomach.

About an hour later, the man was escorted away by a patrolman who assured him he would not go hungry at the police station.

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