China forced to close down Kyoto-themed neighborhood just one week after its launch.

From its initial trial launch, Tang Little Kyoto was always bustling with tourists, yet within just a week, the neighborhood received a barrage of criticism and calls for a boycott from Chinese social media users.

Tang Little Kyoto is a mixed-use residential, shopping, and entertainment district located in Dalian City, Liaoning Province. It replicates the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, with a section specifically designed to resemble the winding streets of the Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka slopes leading to Kyoto's iconic Kiyomizudera Temple. Notably, it exclusively sells traditional Japanese goods, sparking public outrage in China. Some residents criticized the developers and the Dalian government for approving the district, arguing that they had forgotten Dalian's Japanese occupation during the 1930s and 1940s, and that it was a "betrayal of local commerce."

The intense boycotts prompted authorities to intervene and order Tang Little Kyoto to temporarily cease operations. According to Nikkei, the decision to suspend operations in the neighborhood was due to pressure from netizens, along with concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic amidst the large number of tourists.

Alongside the criticisms, there are also opinions pointing out that many other cities have also used the appeal of Japanese culture to attract tourists and develop tourism.

There is currently no information on whether this area will reopen as it is only part of the Tang Little Kyoto project. This project is expected to be completed in 2024 and will become a large neighborhood with 1,600 buildings, including a healthcare facility, hot springs, 83 hotel-style apartments, 1,300 Japanese-style villas, and a small shopping complex selling Japanese food and goods.

Khanh Ha