China's Most Surreal Tourist Spot Is Fake

So they have people dress up in the garb that the tourists want to see so they'll come and spend money. I fail to see how this is different than many _many_ other tourist destinations in the world.

This doesn't seem unlike the Pioneer Villages that dot the entire Western world.

Nobody honestly thinks the older lady in the little wooden shack is carding wool from one of her 3 pet sheep in order to actually clothe her family, who are all out doing other pioneering duties at this very moment. She probably drove a car or took a bus from her actual home to get there for your touristy entertainment. And she's been carding that same tuft of wool for months.

If you're paying for an experience, "fake" might be a bit harsh of a descriptor. Personally I love stuff like this.

I did a brewing apprenticeship at a pioneer village a few years ago. It was definitely one of the most fun ways to learn the craft. It was really funny because the tourists just casually assumed the brew master was my dad. I went along with what everybody thought, and just let him do all the talking. More fun for everyone that way.

What a brilliant scam. I love it. I hope it continues to work for them.

I totally get it. I too love the idea of getting a quick hit of "authenticity", all packaged up and without the work of actually joining a culture. It's fun, especially when it's disguised well enough that I can tell myself I'm getting some sort of benefit out of it.

If I'm getting a benefit, and they're working hard to provide it, I hope that they get to keep pulling this for a long time. Sure, being truthful is better than lying, even though lying creates the illusion better.

so, uh, disneyland?