SINGAPORE: If you’ve travelled to China recently, you might have noticed some unusual additions to popular scenic spots.From street signs bearing slogans like “missing you in Chongqing” to rainbow LED lights illuminating ancient cave systems and giant plastic flowers adorning pagodas and temples, kitschy installations are becoming an increasingly common sight across the country - much to the frustration of Chinese travellers.“When will such decorations (disappear),” remarked a user on Xiaohongshu, who criticised fake roses and heart-shaped decorations she recently saw around the picturesque Baisha Lake in Xinjiang province.
A Xiaohongshu user posted a photo of fake roses and heart-shaped swing sets seen around the picturesque Baisha Lake in Xinjiang province, China. (Photo: Xiaohongshu/瑶柱皮蛋瘦肉粥)
In May, pictures of a giant pink winged heart sculpture in the middle of Qinghai’s Chaka salt lake went viral.
Famed for its crystal blue water and reflective surface, the lake is a major tourist attraction - welcoming more than two million visitors in 2025.The sculpture had ruined the lake’s natural beauty, netizens said, describing it as “overkill” and “unnecessary”.“Hold up - why did they put this in the middle of the lake? Wouldn’t a pristine, unobstructed lake look better? I don’t understand this,” wrote a user on Xiaohongshu - with the handle Xin.Another user by the handle Weiwei said: “What’s the point of taking photos of nature when there’s something ugly in the middle of it?”
