Yahoo News Airbnb cancels 'sleepover on the Great Wall of China' event after furious backlash
A planned sleepover on the Great Wall of China has been called off after it provoked a furious backlash from Chinese residents.
Airbnb set up the event on the World Heritage Site last week, offering customers the chance to take part in a sleepover like no other.
The online home rental company promised a gourmet feast for customers, who would then have gone to sleep in one of the old watchtowers along the 13,000-mile-long structure.
However, many people in China hit out at the plans, labelling it a ‘gimmick’ before demanding authorities take action.
One person wrote on Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter: ‘The Great Wall is Chinese, not a company or an individual. We work together to protect the Great Wall.’
Another added: ‘If you really want to eat and drink on the Great Wall for one night, are you not afraid of polluting the environment? I’m afraid it’s a gimmick, just an advertisement.’
Now Airbnb has cancelled the event, saying they ‘deeply respected’ the feedback they received.
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The company said in a statement: ‘We were excited to promote the Great Wall and Chinese cultural heritage with our Night At The Great Wall and while there was an agreement in place that was the basis for the announcement of this event, we deeply respect the feedback we have received.
‘We have made the decision to not move forward with this event and instead we are working on a range of other experiences and initiatives that showcase China as a destination and highlight how people-to-people travel can drive human connections.’
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and dates back to the 7th century BC.
