Dragon Boat Festival chaos as tourists overwhelm historical mountain scenic area in China
- The tourists were stuck waiting for hours for a cable car to take them down a mountain after staff were overwhelmed by the numbers
- However, the behaviour of the tourists themselves seems to have contributed to the inefficiencies
A famous tourist attraction in eastern China apologised on Monday for its poor crowd management after thousands of people were trapped for hours waiting for the cable car service to take them back down a mountain.
“We offer a sincere apology for the inconvenience caused by some upgrades being made in our scenic zone, our inconsiderate service and improper management,” Mount Tai’s management said.
Mount Tai holds cultural significance in China as not only the tallest mountain in Shandong province but also a spot for worship for thousands of years.
According to a statement from the site’s management, the tourist numbers at the information centre, which lies partway up Mount Tai, began to increase at about 8am. Around an hour later, the centre was flooded with people gathered in the waiting room for the trip down the mountain.
The tourists’ behaviour resulted in the entire system becoming inefficient, adding to the chaotic situation in the area, said the manager’s statement.