Airbnb’s hugely popular Great Wall sleepover just got canceled

Airbnb’s hugely popular Great Wall sleepover just got canceled

In case you missed it, last week we reported on a very funky contest from Airbnb giving its users the chance to win a luxurious overnight stay at the Great Wall of China.

You can read all about it here.

Anyway, turns out they’ve had to call the whole thing off amid public outcry.

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According to the BBC, Chinese social media has been abuzz with concerns the historic structure might be damaged by the event or that guests would be eaten alive by mosquitos.

Yep, our skin is crawling at that last part too.

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Despite the home sharing site claiming they received permission from authorities, SBS reports the cultural commission in Beijing’s Yanqing district said it was not even aware of the event, let alone given its approval.

Many have also called out Airbnb for exploiting the landmark for advertising and PR purposes.

A statement on the companys website said that they “deeply respect the feedback” they had received.

“We have made the decision to not move forward with this event and instead we are working on a range of other experiences and initiatives that showcase China as a destination and highlight how people-to-people travel can drive human connections.”

There are no laws preventing people from spending the night on the wall,  with some companies even offering packages for camping on it, however, conservation laws strictly ban installations not meant for conservation.

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