Top 10 Most Embarrassing Scandals of Chinese Tourists in 2016

Countries like Japan and South Korea heavily rely on tourism as a major part of their economy. Among the largest groups of tourists, China stands out as the most generous with visitors flocking to these destinations year after year. However, despite the large influx of tourists, local tourism facilities in both countries have often been frustrated with the behavior of some Chinese travelers. Last October, the waiting area on the third floor of Jeju International Airport in South Korea was overwhelmed by plastic bags and trash due to a surprising cause. After shopping extensively at the airport's duty-free stores, Chinese tourists casually dropped their plastic bags and packaging on the floor, even though trash bins were conveniently located throughout the airport. Many Chinese visitors prefer early morning flights from Jeju due to affordable ticket prices, turning the airport into a bustling hub between 6 and 8 a.m. During this time, duty-free stores have to work at full capacity to serve these shoppers. A staff member from one store reported selling around 1,500 products to Chinese tourists within just 30 minutes from 7 a.m. alone. Across all stores, that number could easily exceed 4,000 items in one morning. However, many tourists would immediately tear open their purchases and discard the bags and packaging, ignoring the nearby trash bins.

On October 17th, two Chinese tourists were so impressed by the smart toilet lid at the Nagoya Hotel in Japan that they made the bizarre decision to pack it into their luggage and take it home. When hotel staff discovered the theft, they quickly contacted the tour guide, demanding the stolen item be returned. Initially, the couple denied the allegations, forcing the hotel to involve the police. Eventually, the stolen toilet lid was found in their luggage. Only then did the couple admit their wrongdoing, claiming they thought the lid had been left behind by a previous guest under the bed. They promptly arranged to return the toilet lid to the hotel and sent an apology letter to the staff. There has been no update on any potential legal consequences for the couple, but this incident further tarnished the reputation of Chinese tourists internationally.

According to People’s Daily Online, on March 10th, a male passenger aboard Southern Airlines Flight CZ3693 from Chengdu to Urumqi suddenly stood up and opened the emergency exit while the plane was preparing for takeoff. His bizarre reason? He felt the cabin was too "stuffy" and wanted to open the emergency exit to "get some fresh air." A spokesperson from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, where the incident occurred, reported that the aircraft was close to the security gate, with 130 passengers and crew onboard. Due to the passenger's reckless action, the flight was delayed by nearly an hour while airport staff had to close the emergency exit and conduct a full inspection of the plane before it could take off. It’s unclear if the passenger faced any penalties, but according to Chinese Aviation Law, anyone who intentionally endangers flight safety or causes significant disruption can face criminal charges.

In August, a Chinese tourist once again added to the growing list of embarrassing incidents when they allowed their child to urinate inside the Catherine Palace, a historic site in Russia. According to Radio Free Asia, Russian media reported with outrage about the behavior of a Chinese tour group visiting the palace near St. Petersburg on August 2. One woman casually allowed her child to relieve themselves in one of Russia's most sacred places. Palace staff were shocked by the event, and local news outlets claimed that this was the first time in 250 years of the palace’s history that such a disgraceful act had occurred. This caused widespread outrage across Russia. It was reported that one of the tour guides accompanying the group was fined in an effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A video that went viral in March 2016 captured a shocking scene at a King Power buffet restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, where a group of Chinese tourists aggressively fought over steamed shrimp. In the video, a large group of Chinese diners can be seen crowding around the shrimp station without any order or line. They eagerly piled up plates and took as many shrimp as they could carry to their tables. The most shocking part was that after the scramble, the group couldn't even finish all the shrimp they had taken, leaving an excessive amount of uneaten food behind on their tables.

This embarrassing incident occurred on a domestic flight within China. Just moments before Air China flight CA1332, traveling from Zhengzhou to Beijing, was about to land, a witness reported seeing an elderly woman ignoring the flight attendant’s instructions to use the restroom. Instead, she calmly pulled down her granddaughter’s pants and allowed the child to urinate right in front of their seats. Despite the numerous complaints from other passengers, the elderly woman seemed unfazed and stared at those who criticized her behavior.

When Shanghai Disneyland opened its gates to visitors during a holiday season, even before its official launch, they were met with chaos. Soon after, troubling scenes emerged that caused concern for the park's management. Visitors disregarded signs and rules, littering the park and damaging property. Lush green lawns, marked with 'Do Not Step on the Grass' signs, were used as picnic spots by families, couples, and groups, despite the clear instructions. After finishing meals and drinks, visitors left piles of trash right next to the nearby bins. Even the 'No Walking on the Grass' and 'Do Not Enter the Flower Beds' signs were trampled on. Tourists even walked into newly planted flower beds to take photos, trampling delicate flowers. According to staff, many of the plants had been recently planted and were crushed, leaving the gardens in ruins just hours after the park opened.

On October 29th, Sydney police chased and arrested two Chinese tourists after catching them urinating in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Witnesses reported that the tourists were caught 'picking flowers' in a spot only a few minutes' walk from the nearest public restroom. When security approached them, the tourists attempted to flee the scene. Upon being apprehended, they resisted arrest, leading to a scuffle with the officers. Eventually, the police subdued the two tourists, handcuffed them, and took them to the station for further action.

In May 2016, two young boys were caught on CCTV at the Shanghai Museum causing damage to a glass artwork titled 'Angel Wings.' The footage revealed that the boys ignored barriers and dashed into the exhibit to play and destroy the delicate piece. What was even more surprising was that two women, believed to be the children's mothers, stood by laughing and taking pictures and videos of the whole incident. Afterward, the museum contacted the artists in hopes of repairing the artwork, but the artists decided to leave the broken glass on display and renamed the piece 'Broken.' Additionally, a large screen was placed next to the artwork, showing a looped video of the incident with the mothers’ approval, explaining why the once-glorious 'Angel Wings' was now 'Broken.'

In April, some Chinese tourists in Japan were spotted climbing cherry blossom trees—an iconic symbol of Japan—to take photos. They grabbed branches and created a chaotic scene, causing petals to fall like rain, all in an attempt to capture the perfect shot. Japanese news outlets mocked the tourists' actions, labeling it as a form of 'Chinese-style flower viewing.' They even suggested creating a designated area for Chinese tourists. Following the incident, many Chinese people expressed their shame, with one remarking, 'I don’t understand how you could witness this. I watched and felt utterly embarrassed and disgusted by these uncivilized individuals.'