Some tourists in China, while visiting a scenic area in Yunnan, were startled by the bizarre and fantastical exhibits in the park, especially the humanoid centipede and three-faced girl mannequins, claiming they were unsettling. The scenic area once suggested that visitors learn about the park's special features beforehand and choose a sunny day to visit. However, on the 14th, the park issued a statement saying, "Some artworks have attracted attention and caused discomfort to visitors. The art park takes feedback seriously and has dismantled some of the controversial pieces."
Qiao Xiaodao Creates a Magical World for His Daughter
The scenic spot criticized in online posts is Wilderness Kingdom in Lijiang, Yunnan. Netizens pointed out that some of the park's decor made people uncomfortable, with exaggerated and bizarre sculptures such as the humanoid centipede and three-faced girl, which created a less pleasant viewing experience.
According to park staff, Wilderness Kingdom was designed by Qiao Xiaodao for his daughter as a fairytale world, aiming for a dreamy and warm atmosphere, and that some negative online reviews were caused by certain bloggers deliberately editing the colors in their photos.
The staff admitted that some of the park’s works are indeed exaggerated in style, but other areas look very nice for taking photos on sunny days. They suggested visitors learn more in advance before deciding to visit, but said they would not remove all exhibits.
Using Scrap Materials and Scrap Iron
Qiao Xiaodao is a renowned Chinese singer and artist. In 2020, he rented more than 40,000 square meters of wasteland in Lijiang, Yunnan for free to create a dreamlike world for his daughter. According to him, all the exhibits in the park are made from reclaimed and scrap materials.
Wilderness Kingdom has received high praise among young people, who think its magical and childlike decorations make it a popular photo spot.
The humanoid centipede artwork, which was recently criticized by some netizens for being unsettling, was actually inspired by Liang Long, the lead singer of the Chinese rock band Second Hand Rose. Liang Long and Qiao Xiaodao are close friends, and many works in Wilderness Kingdom are themed after Liang Long.