China’s social media influencers are being blasted for boasting about “wild trips” to off-grid locations after a flash flood killed seven tourists and injured eight
- Flash floods killed seven tourists in Pengzhou, China’s Sichuan province
- Eight other people who were said to be on a “wild trip” were injured in the August 13 disaster
- It follows a craze for “wild trips” to off-grid places on Chinese social media
- The tragedy has prompted influencers to be called upon to be accountable when promoting travel
Seven tourists were killed and eight injured when huge floods hit a valley in western China’s Sichuan province last week.
The August 13 disaster in a valley in Pengzhou, in a remote corner of the county, has reignited fears that “wild trips” are being promoted to young people on social media.
Influencers and their platforms are being urged to act responsibly when endorsing travel that could be dangerous, The Guardian reports.
A video showing floodwater rushing through the valley, sweeping away people who find themselves in its path, has since gone viral on social media.
State media outlet Global Times said: “Warning signs and chain link fences were erected and even security personnel were dispatched to warn visitors, but these measures proved largely ineffective.”
Tourists crossing the river in Pengzhou in China’s Sichuan Valley were overwhelmed by the sudden flash floods
The Pengzhou Valley (pictured) has become a designated “wild jaunt” on social media, but Chinese influencers have been criticized over potential dangers for travellers
“Wild Travels” or “yeyou” in Chinese, started in 2020 as a social media phenomenon, letting youngsters travel to remote places on adventures.
One such place is the Sichuan Valley, which has been dubbed a haven of “secret places” by influencers on Douyin — the Chinese version of Tiktok — and Little Red Book, which is similar to Instagram.
In a relatively short space of time, obscure regions have become notorious travel destinations for young people.
But the country’s wild landscape poses a hazard to those unfamiliar with the terrain. The Sichuan Valley, known locally as “Longcaogou,” is a flood spillway that regularly experiences flash floods and mudslides.
The disaster struck on August 13 in a valley in Pengzhou, a remote corner of western China’s Sichuan province
Covid travel restrictions are believed to have played a role in changing people’s holiday choices, with many choosing the wild travels rather than traditional destinations.
“When it comes to viewpoints that are not commercially developed and pose potential security risks, media platforms should be required to issue security warnings and monitor the content,” Xu Guilin, a partner at Beijing law firm Jurisino, said in a Beijing Youth Daily news report.
“Publishers of such content should also remind the public of the potential danger that a destination poses. If not, both platforms and publishers should have some legal responsibility.”