Foreign tourists climb on roof of Summer Palace hall for photos

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During the Second Opium War, a foreign expeditionary force of French and British soldiers ransacked and destroyed the Qing emperor’s Old Summer Palace in Beijing, marking one of the low points in China’s “century of humiliation.” More than 150 years later, history appears to be repeating itself. Though, this time around, the foreign troublemakers are carrying cameras, not rifles.

In a video that has gone viral on the Chinese internet, a couple of foreign tourists are seen posing for photos on the roof of a building at the Summer Palace, another Qing imperial garden located on the outskirts of Beijing which managed to survive the ravages of war and chaos to become one of China’s most celebrated heritage sites and popular tourist spots.

An eyewitness told reporters that she attempted to stop the foreigners from climbing on the historic hall, but they did not understand her. She also claims that the laowai caused tiles to fall to the ground while scaling the structure.

Meanwhile, a Summer Palace staff member has said that the foreign visitors likely did not understand the “no climbing” signs posted in the area, adding that if any worker spots this type of behavior, they will ensure that it stops immediately.

Chinese netizens have slammed the staff member for making excuses for the foreigners, noting that Chinese tourists would certainly not be given the same benefit of doubt elsewhere in the world, while also calling for the travelers to be deported and blacklisted from ever visiting China again.

https://v.qq.com/txp/iframe/player.html?width=500&height=375&auto=0&vid=o0754tpruyc

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