WHEN A WATERFALL IS NOT REALLY A WATERFALL

Matt Case - June 7th, 2024 - 7:58am 

Chinese Park Admits to Artificial Enhancement of Country's Tallest Waterfall

BEIJING — Chinese park officials have admitted to installing a "small enhancement" at the nation's tallest waterfall after a hiker's viral video revealed that the 1,000-foot cascade is being fed by a hidden pipe embedded in its rock face.

The revelation came after a video posted by a hiker using the alias “Farisvov” showed the Yuntai Waterfall being artificially bolstered by a large pipe. The video, sarcastically captioned “The one about how I went through all the hardship to the source of Yuntai Waterfall only to see a pipe,” has racked up tens of millions of views on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Douyin.

https://www.douyin.com/video/7376017078786084137

In response to the video, officials from Yuntai Mountain Geopark took to social media, adopting the persona of the waterfall. “I didn’t expect to meet everyone this way,” the officials posted. “As a seasonal scenery, I can’t guarantee that I will be in my most beautiful form every time you come see me.” They acknowledged the alterations were intended to ensure the waterfall remained visually impressive for the millions of tourists who visit the UNESCO Global Geopark each year.

The disclosure has ignited a debate on Chinese social media. One Weibo user defended the enhancement, saying, “People would be disappointed if they end up seeing nothing there,” according to the BBC. Meanwhile, critics accused the park of “not respecting the natural order and not respecting tourists,” and some questioned whether the waterfall should continue to be promoted as the tallest uninterrupted falls in China.

This isn't the first instance of such modifications in China. In 2006, the popular Huangguoshu Waterfall was similarly enhanced with water diverted from a nearby dam to ensure a consistent and spectacular flow.