On the evening of May 3rd around 7:30 p.m., a sudden fire broke out at Happy Valley Resort, located at 888 Linhu Road, Sheshan, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Initially, tourists mistook it for a special effects show, but as the fire intensified and thick smoke billowed up, chaos erupted on the scene with screams and shouts echoing all around.
Several videos posted by visitors online showed that the fire occurred near the Qiqi Market within Happy Valley, with multiple people still performing on a nearby stage when the fire broke out.
According to a report by Jimo News, a tourist named Ms. Li mentioned she was playing near the Qiqi Market when she noticed flames on the exterior of a nearby building.
Other tourists thought initially that the stage performances nearby were related to the fire, only to realize later that it was a separate building near the stage that was ablaze.
The videos showed flames spreading rapidly, devouring the decorative materials on the exterior walls of the building in no time, with thick smoke billowing up. It was then that the tourists realized this was not a show but a real fire, plunging the scene into panic with cries and shouts filling the air.
Reportedly, as the building on fire was of light steel structure with flammable exterior decoration, the fire became more intense. With the blaze growing larger, the rolling thick smoke quickly rose into the night sky, causing alarm and unease among the visitors. Children cried loudly out of fear, while parents held them close, searching for safe exits.
Around 9:20 a.m. on May 4th, the customer service staff at Shanghai Happy Valley Resort informed Jimo News that further details will be provided later and currently, the resort is operating as usual.
Upon hearing this news, many netizens expressed doubts, with some commenting on social media: “Just caught fire yesterday, and now open for business. Can safety be guaranteed? Are they too eager for profits, treating the safety of tourists as a joke?”
The fire incident at Shanghai Happy Valley quickly stirred up a storm on the internet, sparking intense discussions and widespread attention from netizens. On social media, the related topics continued to trend, with everyone expressing their opinions and viewpoints.
Some netizens sharply criticized the safety management at the resort. “This is just outrageous! The stage and the building were so close, didn’t the resort consider safety measures? This is clearly a case of inadequate safety management, putting the lives of tourists at risk.”
Another netizen pointed out, “Using flammable materials for exterior walls is like setting a time bomb. If a fire breaks out, the consequences are unimaginable. During construction and renovation, the resort should strictly adhere to fire safety standards and not compromise safety for aesthetics or cost savings.”
One netizen jokingly remarked, “Thinking it was a show, this ‘performance’ was too risky, almost ‘performing’ away everyone’s lives. The resort really needs to reflect on this, enhance safety measures, and avoid such incidents in the future.”