Chengdu Snow Village, a tourist attraction in Sichuan province, has come under fire after visitors discovered that its “snow” was made from cotton wool and soapy water. The revelation sparked outrage online, with netizens criticising the site for false advertising.
The controversy surfaced when tourists shared complaints and photos of cotton sheets scattered across the site, showing the extent of the deception. Some described the attraction as a “village without snow,” while others warned that “scenic spots must advertise truthfully and avoid deception or false advertising, otherwise they will shoot themselves in the foot.”
In response to the backlash, the attraction issued an apology in a WeChat post on 8 February, admitting that warmer-than-expected weather during the Lunar New Year period prevented natural snowfall. “In order to create a ‘snowy’ atmosphere, the tourist village purchased cotton for the snow... but it did not achieve the expected effect, leaving a very bad impression on tourists who came to visit,” the statement read.
Following the online uproar, the attraction closed indefinitely, removed the fake snow, and issued refunds to affected visitors. The management stated that it “deeply apologises” for the incident.
This is not the first time a Chinese tourist site has faced backlash for artificial enhancements. In 2024, a waterfall in Henan province was criticised after visitors discovered hidden pipes were being used to increase its water flow during the dry season.
China’s weather bureau has warned that climate change is leading to longer heat waves and unpredictable rainfall, affecting seasonal weather patterns.