China snow village tourist attraction apologises for using cotton to stand in for snow

A tourist attraction in southwestern China, Chengdu Snow Village project, has issued an apology for using cotton wool and soapy water to create artificial snow.

The deception was exposed after visitors’ complaints were circulated online, prompting the site’s temporary closure, The Paper reported.

Known for its scenic snow landscapes in the Sichuan province, the project admitted in a Wechat post on Feb. 8 that the warmer-than-expected weather during the Lunar New Year holiday prevented natural snowfall, according to Reuters.

Apology

“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 Chengdu Snow Village project said in the post.

Visitors reported seeing what appeared to be a thick layer of snow covering cottages and forest paths, as cotton was mixed with soapy water, South China Morning Post reported.

Photos showed cotton sheets scattered across the site, partially covering the landscape.

Attraction closes

Facing widespread criticism, Chengdu Snow Village closed indefinitely, citing the “big negative impact” of the controversy.

The management has since removed the fake snow and issued refunds to affected tourists.

The village said it “deeply apologises”.

One online commenter called the snow village a “village without snow”.

Another added: “In today’s age of well-developed internet, scenic spots must advertise truthfully and avoid deception or false advertising, otherwise they will shoot themselves in the foot.”

Previously

This incident is not an isolated case.

In 2024, a famous waterfall in Henan province was criticised when visitors discovered hidden pipes artificially increasing its water flow during the dry season.

China’s weather bureau has warned that climate change is causing longer heat waves and unpredictable rainfall, affecting seasonal weather patterns.

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