China's Hokkaido-style Park Rebranded as 'Seoul' Amid China-Japan Tensions
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
A tourist attraction in Ningbo, Zhejiang province that originally recreated Japan’s wintery Hokkaido has removed Japanese signage and rebranded itself with Korean-themed signs like 'Seoul Special City' and 'Myeongdong' (a famous shopping district in Seoul). The change followed a spike in China–Japan tensions after a Japanese politician’s remarks and subsequent Chinese travel advisories that led to mass cancellations of trips to Japan. Local visitors continue to flock to the site for photos despite the makeover, and observers say the switch reflects cooling diplomatic ties between China and Japan.
