Shenzhen Cultural Fair: I Don't Even Know Where to Start. #WTF
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Friends, let me share my experience at the Shenzhen Cultural Industry Fair!
On May 25th, I excitedly headed to the Cultural Fair, only to be met with disappointment. You won't believe what happened!
Due to a supposed individual or group named "October Sunny Day," Pavilion 15 suddenly implemented "closed access and restricted flow." No one inside could come out, and no one outside could get in.
The worst part? The organizers did not provide any advance notice! We watched helplessly as we had paid admission but were unable to enter. It was truly aggravating!
I hear that famous Chinese film actors like Huang Bo and Chow Yat-Fai have attended the fair before, yet they didn't face such restrictions on their visits. Who is this "October Sunny Day"? Why such an extravagant reception for just two people? It's beyond me.
There's an old Chinese saying, "Natural Disasters and Man-made Calamities." Some disasters are brought by heaven, others by human actions. I would classify my experience here as a man-made calamity!
Photos weren't captured well; I merely gathered a few haphazardly, my mood soured by the entire situation.
A Reminder for Visitors of Similar Large Exhibitions:
- Sudden Changes: In China, exhibitions may temporarily close certain areas or limit foot traffic due to VIPs' attendance.
- Official Notifications Might Not Be Timely: Don't expect the organizer to give you much advance notice about these changes.
- What to Do:
- Stay Cool: It can be frustrating when things happen, but you need to adjust your schedule.
- Flexible Planning: If there are specific pavilions or events you're interested in, try to arrive early or allocate extra time in case there's restricted flow.
- Ask for Information: If you have enough time, inquire with the staff upon arrival or check other tourists' actions to see if there are any temporary restrictions.
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They were probably controlling the crowd out of fear of a stampede. I was able to get in when I went in the afternoon.
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That's because they had already left by the afternoon.
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It was tough for regular attendees. We just wanted to get a stamp, that's all.
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I'm truly speechless...
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So, don't you think this is the organizer's fault? Right from when ticket sales began, they used 'Shi Ge Qintian' (note: it's 'Shi Ge Qintian,' not 'Shiyue Qingtian') to draw people in. Naturally, the fans came expecting them. But then, the organizers failed to manage crowd control properly. They were even still using them to boost ticket sales on the very morning of the event! Countless marketing accounts were hyping it up. If there hadn't been so much promotion, far fewer people would have attended.
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That's odd. I was also at Hall 15 yesterday afternoon and could come and go freely.
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As a long-time fan of the Cultural Expo and someone who spends a fair bit there every year, I'd actually suggest they don't need to invite celebrities. Today's fans can be a bit much. We just want to browse, look around, and buy local specialties and cultural products; we really don't care about the celebrities. Besides, I didn't even know any celebrities were scheduled to appear before I went. My big takeaway this time is how much our domestic provinces' economies are flourishing – their local offerings are increasingly worth seeing and truly distinctive. I barely glanced at the international sections, or even Taiwan and Macau. For me, the real 'top draw' of the day was the Digital Dunhuang exhibit.
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The organizers were probably acting out of safety concerns. It's understandable.
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It was likely for safety reasons. Totally understandable.
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It was probably a temporary measure; people could get in later on.
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It's tough for everyone. They restricted access for safety reasons, so we could only check out the other halls. Celebrities are nice to look at, but safety is more important.
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When it's packed with fans, closing the venue is indeed the better option. This kind of situation should qualify for a refund, right?