"Told to Pay After 10 Seconds in Front of Mirror"... Controversy Over 'Mirror Usage Fee' at Famous Chinese Tourist Site

Asked to Pay After Using Mirror to Fix Hair
Tourist Site: "Inappropriate Remark... We Apologized to the Visitor"

A controversy arose when a tourist claimed that they were asked to pay a "mirror usage fee" after briefly using a mirror in front of a store at the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, a famous tourist destination in Sichuan Province, China. The management of the tourist site stated that it was an inappropriate remark made by a local resident and that they have apologized to the tourist.

A mirror hanging in front of a store in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, Sichuan Province, China. Douyin capture.

According to recent reports by Chinese media such as Jiangnan Urban Daily, a Chinese tourist visited the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area in Sichuan Province and claimed that after using a mirror placed in front of a store, they were asked to pay a fee of 2 yuan (approximately 400 won).

In a post on social media, the tourist explained the situation, writing, "While I was on my way to throw away some trash at the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, I saw a mirror placed outside a store. Since there was no one around, I took out a comb and quickly tidied my hair and makeup."

The tourist continued, "I only glanced at the mirror for about 10 seconds. As soon as I finished, a woman selling accessories approached and told me I had to pay 2 yuan to use the mirror."

The tourist added, "I walked away without paying. There were no separate signs or notices about a fee, and there was no way to know in advance." The tourist also criticized the practice, saying, "It is extremely unreasonable to arbitrarily place a mirror and then privately demand a fee from people who use it."

As the post spread online in China, various reactions emerged. Some internet users said, "This is the first time I've heard of having to pay to look in a mirror," and "This is bad for the image of the tourist site." Others responded more cautiously, saying, "We need to confirm the situation further."

As the controversy grew, the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area management began investigating the facts. A representative told local media, "We have received the complaint. There is no practice of charging money to use a mirror. We will look into the situation."

After conducting an on-site inspection, the management explained, "The store in question is operated by a local resident within the scenic area. We have contacted the person involved and will respond as soon as the matter is resolved."

Later that night, a representative from the tourist site further explained, "The tourist was tidying their hair next to a sausage stand, and the resident, worried that hair might fall into the food, impulsively said to pay 2 yuan. There was no real intention to collect money."

The representative added, "We have criticized and educated the resident involved for the inappropriate remark that gave the tourist an unpleasant experience, and we have also apologized to the tourist over the phone."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.