Recently, the Wilderness Kingdom scenic area in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, sparked controversy after several of its art installations were criticised for their eerie and unsettling designs.

Among the exhibits were sculptures dubbed “Human Centipede” and “Three-Faced Girl,” which feature dark, grotesque aesthetics that sharply contrast with the park’s advertised “dreamlike and heartwarming” theme, leaving some visitors feeling uncomfortable.

A staff member explained that the Wilderness Kingdom was created by designer Qiao Xiaodao as a fairy-tale world for his daughter, with the intention of evoking a whimsical and gentle atmosphere. In response to criticism, the park offered two clarifications.

The first being that some influencers allegedly altered the colour tones of their videos and photos to exaggerate the eerie atmosphere, making the artworks appear more disturbing than they do in person.

Secondly, the park admitted that a few installations are visually bold, but emphasised that most areas look bright and picturesque in good weather, recommending that visitors learn more before visiting.

On the evening of October 13, the park issued an official apology on Weibo, announcing that several controversial pieces had been dismantled. The statement said the park “takes visitor feedback seriously” and will make further adjustments based on public input to ensure a more pleasant artistic experience in the future.