Transformer trucks that turn into large banquet halls at the press of a button have become popular in many rural areas around China in recent years.

Recently, a video showing what looks like a container truck capable of morphing into a banquet hall in just six minutes went viral on Chinese social media, but according to several news reports, the intriguing vehicles have been around for a while now. They first appeared in China’s Inner Mongolia region but proved so popular there that they quickly expanded to neighboring provinces like Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Gansu. In recent years, they have been spotted in rural areas of northern Shanxi, northern Hebei, and western Shandong. The trucks can transform in just six minutes and can accommodate up to 200 people.

The so-called Transformer trucks are mainly popular in rural areas where people rent them to organize various events, from weddings, to local festivals and parties. The venue’s interior is similar to that of a conventional restaurant and features air conditioning, large projection screens and even audio and karaoke equipment.

The banquet hall does not include a kitchen, so the food has to be cooked somewhere else and only served in the mobile restaurant.

 

Mr Liu, the owner of a Transformer truck, said that he rents his 17.5-meter-long vehicle for various events, charging about 8,000 yuan ($1,150) for two days. That’s a nice chunk of change, but Liu says that it’ll be a while until he wins back his investment into the truck which cost him 700,000 yuan ($100,000). However, depending on specs, prices can exceed 1,000, million yuan ($141,000).