In Beijing we’re no strangers to things masquerading as the real deal; there have been fake taxis, fake money, Taobao fakes, fake food, fake silk, and fake pearls, although we have yet to get our very own fake tourist attraction (unless you count Beijing World Park, which is basically just a knockoff of every tourist attraction in the world). In Xi’an however, one tourist’s cheery description of her run-in with scam artists have led to a police crackdown on a tourist site that featured counterfeit versions of China’s infamous terracotta warriors.

The tip-off led to Lintong Public Security Bureau destroying some 40 terracotta warrior replicas that police said were being passed off as authentic.

Located in a small room, the counterfeits are a pale imitation of the real actual mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shihuang that contains thousands of statues of soldiers, horses, and chariots. 

Local officials say unlicensed tour guides and illegal taxis were used to draw tourists to the attraction, which is located in the vicinity of the real version.

The crackdown comes a week after a netizen named “Bright Uninterrupted Vigor” posted an blog about Xi’an scam artists that drew massive attention lone. 

Titled “Xi’an is a fun city; its scenic spots and scammers are fun too,” the blogger detailed her colorful encounters with the city’s scam artists that prey upon visiting tourists. Besides being propositioned by drivers of black taxis and given false information by friendly touts pretending to offer discounts, the blogger even encountered a man pretending to be a police officer who told her to take a wrong bus.

“Bright Interrupted Vigor” admitted in her post that she hadn’t properly prepared to go sightseeing because her trip to Xi’an was primarily work-related. However, she said she was able to overcome the mulitple scam attempts by verifying information online using her cell phone.

Although this type of experience would sour another tourist, the blogger remained positive throughout her trip. As seen in her post, she referred to these scam attempts the “easter eggs” of a thoroughly enjoyable trip. “Bright Interrupted Vigor” went so far as to describe finally reaching the real terracotta warrior exhibit as “beating the final boss in a video game.”

The blog has attracted a wave of attention from Chinese netizens who said they had similar experiences. However, these responses were more critical and much less upbeat than “Bright Interrupted Vigor.”

A netizen named “T-poopy” said she had the same experience as “Bright Interrupted Vigor,” and warned others against asking for directions from roadside fruit sellers because they are colluding with the scam artists. “(The fruit sellers) are pitful and despicable at the same time,” said T-poopy.

Another netizen person, who happens to be a Xi’an local, confessed that he had been duped into paying a fare for a free tourist bus.

Although “Bright Interrupted Vigor” was able to navigate her trip free of scams, her post revealed the poor condition of Xi’an’s tourist industry, thus inspiring another popular online post that gave proper directions on reaching the terracotta warrior tourist attraction.

It’s this post that caught the attention of Wang Yongkang, Party chief of Xi’an. “I read an online article telling people how to find the real terracotta warriors, which is very disappointing … I feel sorry for Xi’an visitors,” said Wang.

Li Mingde, vice president of the Beijing Tourism Society, told the Global Times that the fake terracotta warriors have severely damaged the image of Xi’an and undermined the value of the Chinese historical relics.

However, these fake terracotta warriors aren’t the only counterfeit undermining China. Fake versions of real Chinese tourist sites are can be found throughout the country like a fake Great Wall of China and a fake Tian’anmen Square. 

At the same time, China is also home to a bustling cottage industry of fake international landmarks like a fake Pentagon, a fake Capitol Hill, and even several fake Sphinxes.

More stories from this author here.

Images: Xi’an Lintong PSB, WeChat