Watch: China's tallest waterfall fed by pipes, netizens call it disrespect to visitors

China's Yuntai Waterfall, a major tourist attraction in the country's north-central Henan province, grabbed headlines after a video posted by a hiker on social media showed how a pipe was feeding the famous falls.

A Douyin user, which is the Chinese version of the short video platform TikTok, posted a clipping that revealed how a large pipe was burrowed at the top of Yuntai Falls.

The video, which reportedly has been shared 48,000 times, triggered a row on the internet, which ultimately pushed the park officials to release a statement that cited seasonal factors as the reason for a "small enhancement during the dry season."

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The move was meant to "enrich the visiting experience" and make the "trip worthwhile" for those "who have travelled a long way," operators wrote on their Weibo social media account.

Netizens react

Chinese netizens reacted to this pipe disclosure, with some blaming the authorities for not disguising it in a superior way and some bashing them for not respecting the laws of nature and the visitors.

"The main thing is that the water pipe is so crudely installed, others at least disguise it in a superior way," wrote a user on Weibo, China's popular social media platform.

"The move does not respect the laws of nature nor the visitors," wrote another netizen.

While some comments depicted a more conciliatory approach to the usage of pipe.

"It is better than seeing no water at all," wrote one user.

"It is a good faith effort for the scenic area to maintain the landscape during dry periods," another wrote.

As per the scenic park officials, the waterfall is the highest in Asia with a 314-metre vertical drop.

The Yuntai Mountain scenic area attracted more than seven million visits in the year 2023, as per the local tourism authorities.

(With inputs from agencies)