This tale comes straight from China, where park officials have admitted to a sneaky “small enhancement” to the country’s tallest waterfall, and the reveal has sent shockwaves through social media. Let’s dive into the details!
It all started when a hiker, posting under the alias “Farisvov,” captured a video that went viral, showing the breathtaking Yuntai Waterfall—a stunning 1,000-foot-high cascade. But there was a twist. The video revealed that this majestic waterfall is actually being fed by a large pipe discreetly built into its rock face.
Farisvov’s sarcastic caption, “The one about how I went through all the hardship to the source of Yuntai Waterfall only to see a pipe,” quickly garnered tens of millions of views on Chinese social networks Weibo and Douyin.
Faced with the viral sensation and public scrutiny, officials from Yuntai Mountain Geopark took to social media, adopting the persona of the waterfall itself to address the situation. “I didn’t expect to meet everyone this way,” they posted, admitting to the modifications.
They explained that, as a seasonal feature, the waterfall doesn’t always present itself in its full splendor, prompting the “small modification” to ensure it impresses the UNESCO Global Geopark’s millions of visitors.
NEW: Chinese officials are forced to apologize after a hiker discovers a secret water pipe feeding China’s tallest waterfall
Millions of tourists visit the 1,024-foot-tall Yuntai Mountain Waterfall annually, attracted by its ancient geological formations over a billion years old… pic.twitter.com/mw3u9NK1xN
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) June 6, 2024
The hiker’s video and the subsequent admission sparked a lively debate on Chinese social media. One user on Weibo defended the enhancements, stating, “People would be disappointed if they end up seeing nothing there.”
On the other hand, critics slammed the park for “not respecting the natural order and not respecting tourists.” Some even questioned whether Yuntai Waterfall should retain its status as the country’s No. 1 waterfall, given the artificial boost.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time China has modified waterfalls for tourism. Huangguoshu Waterfall, another popular site, has been artificially supplemented with water diverted from a nearby dam since 2006.
