Recently, a tourist visiting the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area in Sichuan Province mentioned that they saw a mirror hanging outside a shop and decided to quickly tidy up their appearance with a comb. To their surprise, they were then asked to pay a “mirror fee” of 2 yuan (Chinese currency). This incident sparked a heated discussion, with the scenic area responding by issuing an apology to the individual involved and criticizing the residents running the shop.
This incident came to light when a netizen posted online about their experience at the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area in Sichuan Province. While walking and disposing of trash, they came across a shop displaying a mirror outside. Seeing no one around, they took out a comb to briefly touch up their hair and makeup. Without warning, someone immediately approached them and demanded a 2 yuan “mirror fee.”
According to the netizen, while they were near the Arrow Bamboo Sea drop-off point, they glanced in the mirror for about ten seconds before being interrupted by a lady selling accessories who insisted on payment for using the mirror. Refusing to pay, they walked away. There were no visible signs or notices indicating any charges, and the netizen felt blindsided by the unexpected fee. The arbitrary act of placing a mirror and charging for its use seemed highly unreasonable.
A photo shared by the netizen showed a mirror hanging on the side of a refrigerator, igniting a widespread discussion across social media platforms.
Netizens expressed their discontent, calling the situation “unsightly” and criticizing the blatant money-driven behavior. Many found the concept of charging for using a mirror to be absurd and unprecedented. They questioned the motives behind such practices within the scenic area, referring to it as a money-grabbing scheme at the expense of visitors.
In a report by the Jiangnan Metropolis Daily on May 28th, staff members from the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area explained that the residents operating the shop were concerned about hair strands falling into food at the nearby sausage stalls. As a preventive measure, they casually mentioned a 2 yuan fee, which was not intended to be enforced. The residents were reprimanded and the staff even apologized to the individual involved.
However, many netizens were not convinced by this explanation. They pointed out the absurdity of using contamination as a reason to charge visitors and the lack of clear signage or warnings regarding any fees. They viewed the sudden request for payment as a typical example of subtle overcharging tactics aimed at unsuspecting tourists.
The questioning continued, with netizens highlighting the underlying intention of profit-making behind the seemingly trivial gesture of placing a mirror outside the shop. The debate expanded to the very purpose of setting up a mirror near the stall and raised suspicions about ulterior motives.
In conclusion, the incident at Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area serves as a cautionary tale about transparency in tourist attractions and the importance of setting clear guidelines to avoid misunderstandings and potentially exploitative practices. It underscores the need for accountability and ethical conduct in all aspects of the tourism industry to ensure a positive and fair experience for visitors.