"Water of Enlightenment and Soil from Peking University Lake Sold for 20,000 Won on Secondhand Market, Promising Wisdom and Higher EQ"

Lake Water from Peking University Sold on Chinese Secondhand Platforms
Exaggerated Ads Lead to Mockery: "Buying It Proves Your IQ"

Controversy has arisen as so-called "water of enlightenment," collected from a lake on the Peking University campus, is being sold on certain online marketplaces in China.

A panoramic view of Weiming Lake on the Peking University campus. Peking University website

According to a recent report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, water drawn from Weiming Lake on the Peking University campus is being sold on Chinese second-hand trading platforms. The price ranges from 30 yuan (approximately 5,700 won) to 99 yuan (about 19,000 won) per 500ml. Considering that ordinary bottled water in China typically costs around 5 yuan, this is a significantly higher price.

Weiming Lake is a prominent symbol of Peking University. Sellers sometimes record videos of themselves collecting the water to prove to buyers that it was actually taken from Weiming Lake.

One shop advertises that "the water from Weiming Lake plays an amazing role in promoting the growth of various plants and is also effective for controlling humidity when placed in a room." The shop also claims, "Looking at this water every day will boost your energy, open your mind, and even rapidly increase your EQ (emotional quotient)."

However, the sellers have specified that this water is for ornamental purposes only and is not intended for drinking.

Some shops are also selling soil collected from Peking University. Soil from around the lake is being sold at 99 yuan per 600g, while soil from other parts of the campus is priced at 129 yuan (24,500 won) per 900g. In some cases, sellers attempt to increase product credibility by featuring a professor's signature.

This phenomenon is believed to be driven by the symbolic status of Peking University as a prestigious institution. The intense competition for university entrance has created a demand among students and parents who wish to receive the "energy of a top university" in hopes of passing entrance exams.

Meanwhile, some people have responded to the exaggerated advertising with humor, spreading it as a meme and consuming it for entertainment. One Chinese internet user sarcastically commented, "This really is magical water?buying it is proof of your IQ." Another user joked, "Why not sell the air too? Parents would gladly buy it."

The security department at Peking University announced that collecting and selling water from the lake is prohibited. The department stated that it would contact the relevant shops to demand a halt to sales and called for reports of online sales.