Two female activists dressed as geishas aimed to increase awareness of AIDS prevention as they asked people in Kunming, Yunnan Province, on Sunday to meet HIV-infected patients for a meal.

The campaign organizers said they hoped to change people's perception of HIV-infected patients and help combat discrimination, ahead of the 23rd World Aids Day on December 1.

Volunteers had already found 20 people on the Internet who agreed to meet with the patients. And, during Sunday's initiative in the Kuming city square, about 67 people also expressed interest.

But police detained the activists, as they had not received prior permission for this activity.