Brief
Chinese tourists pay to experience simulated typhoon at Hangzhou disaster centre
A Hangzhou facility lets visitors pay to endure a flood‑simulating typhoon, part of a growing trend in China’s dark tourism market.
By Felo News Desk · Published
According to the Guardian, a 28‑year‑old woman from Chongqing travelled more than 1,300 km to Hangzhou to join a group of about 20 people in a disaster‑simulation that recreates typhoon‑strength winds and flash flooding at the Lvxing Centre.
What happened
Participants entered a large flood‑simulator where hundreds of tonnes of water surged through a mock street, sweeping people toward a safety barrier. The experience, described by the participant as feeling like a real disaster, lasted several minutes and included instruction on body positioning to stay safe.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that the Lvxing Base company, which opened a 200,000‑square‑metre facility in 2024, markets the simulation as a way to teach flood safety. General manager Wang Kuanghan told the outlet that most customers are aged 20‑30 and that many are drawn by the excitement of “paying to suffer” or “paying to buy fear,” phrases trending on Chinese social media.
What was said
"I never experienced a typhoon. I don’t know how it will feel and what will happen. I just have seen it on the news," the participant, identified as Leon Lv, told the Guardian. She added that the simulation taught her to stay calm and use the correct body position during a flood, something she felt no book could provide.
Wang Kuanghan said, "I don’t deny that many people come because they want excitement. They want to see what a real typhoon and torrential rain feel like, and whether they themselves can withstand it." He also said the company plans to open five more centres across China in the next three years and to add earthquake and fire simulations.
How it came about
The centre’s founders spent a decade making documentaries in extreme environments before turning to immersive disaster training. The Guardian links this trend to a broader rise in “dark tourism” in China, where visitors seek staged experiences of natural or man‑made catastrophes. Similar offerings exist at Beijing’s Haidian public safety museum, which uses a 4D theatre to simulate earthquakes, tsunamis and fires.
Key facts
- A 28‑year‑old from Chongqing travelled 1,300 km to join a simulated typhoon flood in Hangzhou. (theguardian.com)
- The Lvxing Centre’s flood simulator releases hundreds of tonnes of water to mimic flash flooding. (theguardian.com)
- General manager Wang Kuanghan says most customers are aged 20‑30 and the company plans five new centres within three years. (theguardian.com)
- The simulation is part of a growing ‘dark tourism’ trend in China, with phrases like “paying to suffer” trending online. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “China’s tourists flock to experience a pretend typhoon as ‘dark tourism’ flourishes”
