"The Essence of Chinese Tourists"... Thai People Outraged by 'Urination' Photo at Royal Palace Ruins

A photo showing a tourist, presumed to be Chinese, allowing their young child to urinate at a royal palace historic site in Thailand has been made public online, sparking outrage among locals.

Chinese parents suspected of allowing their young child to urinate at a Thai historical site
[Photo by Chinese social media capture]

On the 29th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a photo of a girl, estimated to be around 4 to 5 years old, urinating at a historic site in Thailand recently circulated on Chinese TikTok Douyin and other social networking services (SNS). The photo shows the girl lifting her skirt to urinate near a flower bed close to the historic site. Behind the child, two adults presumed to be her parents are standing and watching.

The location where the photo was taken is known as Chakri Maha Prasat, a tourist attraction in Bangkok, Thailand. This place was once the residence of the Thai royal family and is currently part of the Bangkok Grand Palace, frequently used for various events and national ceremonies.

Local media Morning News TV3 reported that the local person who took the photo suspects the family is from China. This assumption was based on the fact that the man, presumed to be the father in the photo, was carrying a bag with the logo of the Chinese smartphone brand Xiaomi.

After the incident became known, even the newly appointed Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports mentioned and criticized the case. Somsak Pongkanit, the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated in an interview with local media, "Their behavior is inappropriate and could negatively affect Thailand's tourism image."

Local netizens responded with comments such as "rude and disrespectful" and "this is the true nature of Chinese tourists."

There were also calls to punish them under Thai criminal law. Article 112 of the Thai Penal Code, known as the lese majeste law, stipulates that anyone who insults members of the royal family or negatively portrays the royal family’s achievements can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

Meanwhile, this is not the first controversy involving Chinese tourists causing public nuisance. In June, three Chinese tourists enjoying scuba diving in Thailand caused controversy by stepping on coral reefs and touching starfish. In Thailand, damaging marine ecosystems such as stepping on coral reefs can result in up to 2 years imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 baht (approximately 7.48 million KRW). In 2016, a video was released showing Chinese tourists at a buffet in Chiang Mai, Thailand, competing to grab shrimp dishes without queuing. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is known to frequently issue advisories urging its citizens to be mindful of manners when traveling abroad.