China scenic spot entertainer sparks debate for giving ‘lollipop kiss’ to female visitors

A performer at a scenic spot in central China went viral for offering visitors “lollipop kisses”, raising controversy about the boundaries of interactive tourism.Ge’s Fairy Village, a resort in Jiangxi province, combines Taoist culture with forested landscapes and features martial arts-themed hotels. Adult tickets usually cost 130 yuan (US$20).One of its most popular entertainers, known online as “Little Yellow Fish”, has drawn nearly 400,000 followers on mainland social media.Dressed in traditional Chinese attire, he interacts with tourists through a window set in a classical architectural frame.In videos, Little Yellow Fish is seen performing his signature “lollipop kiss”.The performer, known as Little Yellow Fish, above, has issued an online apology. Photo: BaiduWhen a visitor rings the window bell, he emerges from behind a curtain, holding a lollipop in his mouth and delivering it directly to them.Occasionally, he covers his eyes with a red cloth, gently pinches female visitors’ cheeks or interlaces fingers.Even male visitors receive lollipops, sometimes with a cheek kiss through a veil.With children, he simply hands over the sweet, earning praise online for “showing restraint”.One female visitor said that she dressed in a Hanfu costume, applied traditional-style make-up and queued up for over an hour in the scorching sun just to meet him.Little Yellow Fish, above, cups the face of a young woman as he delivers his signature “lollipop kiss”. Photo: Baidu“He is gentle and polite. The experience made me feel like the heroine of a television drama,” she wrote in an online post.Further ReadingThe sensory-driven interaction quickly went viral on mainland short-video platforms, giving the resort a temporary boost in popularity and visitor numbers.But it also drew widespread criticism.One netizen said: “While he may provide emotional satisfaction for some young women, these suggestive interactions could negatively influence minors, who might think it is acceptable for strangers to touch their faces or kiss them.”This time, a red veil, above, covers both participants’ as the so-called lollipop kiss is made. Photo: BaiduOn May 1, China’s state media outlet Minsheng Weekly criticised Little Yellow Fish and other similar resort performers for “borderline interactions”.The report said some scenic areas rely too heavily on influencers’ looks, using excessive physical contact and staged kisses to make interactions appear lowbrow and attract traffic.In response, Little Yellow Fish issued an apology video, pledging to adopt more appropriate and warm ways of engaging with visitors, replacing the lollipop kiss with hand-delivered flowers.Ge’s Fairy Village also apologised, promising to improve performers’ cultural training and implement a supervision system to regulate interactive entertainment.In China, similar appearance-driven interactive forms of entertainment are not uncommon.Earlier this year, the modern dance show Nobaby drew attention online.The performer takes a much more conservative approach with some visitors, above. Photo: BaiduIt featured a troupe of muscular male dancers in uniform who performed partially undressed, doused in water and engaged with the audience, with ticket prices reaching up to 880 yuan (US$130).Last year, the restaurant chain Haidilao launched nighttime services where diners could watch muscular male DJs perform while eating.Supporters say these performances allow female audiences to “gaze freely, empathise openly, and interpret boldly”.However, one critic wrote: “Using male appearance and charm to attract female consumers fosters a distorted entertainment ecosystem, which can create grey areas and pose legal and social morality risks.”