Umbrella strike damages glass platform at popular Chinese tourist site

A glass panel at a popular tourist attraction in central China's Henan Province was cracked after a teenager allegedly struck it with an umbrella, prompting a temporary evacuation and triggering public debate over the structure's safety and quality.

The incident occurred on June 20 at the Baoquan Cliff World Scenic Area, a national 5A-rated tourist destination. A visitor reported that staff evacuated tourists immediately after they stepped onto the site's signature glass viewing platform, South China Morning Post reports.

A spokesperson for the scenic area said the following day that a teenage boy had poked the glass with an umbrella, causing the top layer of a panel to crack.

Thanks to the swift response of staff, visitors were evacuated promptly and there was no risk to public safety, the spokesperson said.

The damaged panel is being repaired, with the scenic area working with the original supplier to obtain a replacement of the same brand and quality.

In the meantime, the section surrounding the cracked panel has been cordoned off, while the rest of the glass platform remains open to visitors.

The Baoquan Cliff World Scenic Area is home to the world's largest glass viewing platform, a cloud-shaped structure recognized by Guinness World Records in 2023.

According to Guinness World Records, the double-layer platform features more than 1,700 square metres of glass walkways and offers panoramic views of the dramatic red sandstone cliffs of the Taihang Mountains.

The scenic area's spokesperson stressed that the platform is constructed from triple-laminated safety glass and that only the top layer of a single panel was damaged.

He emphasized that the platform's overall structural integrity, load-bearing capacity, and safety were not affected.

The attraction also plans to strengthen visitor education by advising tourists not to strike the glass with pointed objects.

The incident sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media. While many users argued that the teenager and his parents should be held accountable, others questioned the quality of the glass.

"If a boy can crack it with an umbrella, does that mean a person wearing high heels could easily damage it too?" one online commenter asked.

A staff member at the scenic area responded that the glass panels comply with national standards.

However, another user argued, "National standards are the minimum requirement."

A third commenter added, "The national standard is merely a passing score. Such projects, which involve people's safety, should adhere to a higher standard."

The Baoquan Cliff World Scenic Area received its national 5A tourist attraction designation in 2024. By 2025, China had 358 attractions with the country's highest tourism rating.

Glass bridges and elevated walkways have become major tourist draws across China, particularly for smaller destinations seeking to boost their appeal. According to a 2019 report by China Newsweek, the country had more than 2,000 glass walkways and viewing platforms in tourist areas.

Tourism researcher Yang Yanfeng of the Beijing Union University Tourism Institute said the growing popularity of glass walkways reflects the pressure on smaller tourist destinations to attract more visitors.

By Vafa Guliyeva