An investigation into a wintry tourist attraction in southwestern China is underway after guests claimed they were deceived with fake snow made out of cotton wool and foamy water.
Tourists at the Chengdu Snow Village project in the Sichuan province began reporting the snow was fake despite the organization’s promoting it as real, according to Chengdu’s culture and tourism bureau.
An on-site investigation later proved the reports were real, the bureau said in an online statement. The village has since closed as China officials continue to investigate “suspected false propaganda,”
“We will learn from this incident and further strengthen supervision and guidance of the city’s tourist attractions, tourist resorts and emerging cultural and tourism venues, and urge them to standardize management and operate with integrity,” the bureau said.
Village apologizes, blames warm weather in region
Chengdu’s culture and tourism bureau said officials immediately ordered the attraction’s owner to dismantle the fake snow scene and offer refunds to guests who were fooled.
The village has apologized for the changes on social media and said refunds would be offered, according to Reuters and CNN.
The fake snow fiasco started as the village needed an alternative due to warmer weather in the region, CNN reported.
Users on social media platform Wechat shared images of a thick layer of fake snow made from cotton wool sheets, Reuters reported.
“A snow village without snow,” one Wechat user wrote. “In today’s age of well-developed Internet, scenic spots must advertise truthfully and avoid deception or false advertising, otherwise they will only shoot themselves in the foot.”