China scenic spot faces outcry over real horse carousel ride, raising animal welfare concerns

A scenic spot in northern China has ignited controversy by featuring live horses in a carousel ride, where six horses are secured to a rotating iron frame, raising significant concerns regarding animal welfare and public safety.The tourist attraction, located in the Shijingli Scenic Area of Xian, Shaanxi province, has stirred heated online debates since introducing the “Rotating Real Horses” attraction.Videos circulating on social media depict the six horses fastened to a metal carousel frame, each spaced around one metre apart. A parasol offers minimal shade as the entire structure rotates slowly around a central axis.Videos shared on social media reveal six horses secured to a metal carousel frame, each placed around one metre apart. Photo: YouTubePromoted with slogans like “Rotating Real Horses, Instantly Turn for Good Luck,” the attraction has additional phrases printed on the frame, including “Instantly change your luck,” “Instantly get rich,” and “Instantly become wealthy.”On February 10, a staff member from the scenic area informed Henan Daily Newspaper Group that the ride was part of the “Fantasy Martial Arts Town” series, initially scheduled to open on February 6 and run until March 8. It is one of over 300 themed performances and activities co-organised by the scenic area and a third-party company.The attraction operates daily from 10am to 9.30pm; while entry to the scenic area costs 29.9 yuan (US$4), the fee for the horse ride is separate.“It was quite popular among visitors,” stated the staff member. “Most rides were fully booked. We had staff present to guide and control the horses, and the rotation speed was relatively slow.”A park staff member noted that the ride gained popularity, with most time slots fully booked. Photo: YouTube