Golden Holiday of Five Days Spurs 'Encouraged Spending'
Too Many People Crowd Tourist Spots, Chaos Everywhere
Reports Show Crowded Scenes Emphasizing "Vibrant Consumption"
As Chinese authorities implemented a 'consumption promotion' policy during the five-day Labor Day holiday (May 1-5), numerous incidents occurred due to overcrowding at tourist sites across China.
"Pay to request rescue"... Chinese tourists stranded on cliffs, unable to move amid the crowds
As China promotes 'consumption encouragement' to celebrate Labor Day, crowds have flocked to tourist attractions across the country. On the 4th, at Yandangsan in Zhejiang Province, tourists were trapped on a cliff for an hour. [Image source=Weibo capture]
On the 6th, local media including sohu.com reported that tourists visiting Yandangshan in Zhejiang Province had to hang on a cliff for an hour without being able to move. Yandangshan is one of China's top ten famous mountains, known for its sheer cliff climbing experiences. However, during the 'Golden Week' holiday, an overwhelming number of people gathered at once, leaving hikers trapped, unable to move forward or backward. Ultimately, they had to hang on the cliff for as long as an hour. A netizen who recorded and uploaded a video of this said, "We were trapped and couldn't move forward or backward," emphasizing, "There were children on the path, so dangerous situations could have occurred at any time." Due to this, fights broke out in various parts of Yandangshan, and some people fainted and were taken away from the crowd.
Another issue was that Yandangshan authorities demanded payment to request rescue. A Yandangshan official said, "Those who are scared can request rescue," but added, "We charge 300 yuan (about 60,000 KRW) per person for rescue requests." Previously, rescues were free, but the policy changed because many people requested rescue for fun. However, as controversy grew, the Yandangshan Tourism Operation Company apologized and announced, "We will suspend ticket sales until the reservation and ticketing system is improved."
Chaos caused by crowds across China... sleeping outdoors, walking mountain trails at night, and police intervention
On the 1st, the Shanghai Waitan street was densely packed with crowds, leaving no room to step. [Image source=Douyin capture]
The Baoquan Tourist Area in Henan Province, famous for its canyon scenery, also turned into chaos due to the influx of crowds. Tourists exceeding the capacity visited the area, causing a shortage of buses for transportation, and people ended up sleeping outdoors. On social media, a scene was posted showing a mother holding a child stopping a bus and pleading, "Please open the door." Some tourists even walked down a 10km mountain trail in the middle of the night.
At the famous Shanghai landmark, Waitan Street, videos showed the street packed with people, leaving no room to step. Pedestrians bumped shoulders in the crowded space, while police officers held light batons to secure the walkway. According to Pengpai News, a total of 573,000 tourists visited Waitan Street on May 1, with a peak crowd of 57,000 at one moment. This represents a 23.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, famous tourist sites such as Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall in Beijing were also crowded with throngs of people.
1.36 billion people traveled during the Golden Week... Authorities say "Vibrant domestic consumption signals positive outlook for economic growth targets"
The scene of Hengyang Station in China, crowded with tourists on the 5th. [Image source=Xinhua News Agency]
The Ministry of Transport of China reported that the total number of trips during this holiday period reached 1.36 billion. This averages about 272 million trips per day, representing a 28% increase compared to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, and a 2.1% increase compared to the same period last year. The amount spent by Chinese travelers on domestic trips was estimated to be as high as 31.5 trillion KRW. China Central Television (CCTV) repeatedly broadcast scenes of crowded famous tourist sites nationwide during its hourly news programs, emphasizing 'vibrant consumption.'
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