Xi'an's Viral Hotspot Vanishes Overnight: Why Did It Suddenly Disappear?
As one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, Xi'an has long been renowned for its rich history and culture, along with a diverse range of cuisines, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists. Xi'an's distinctive food street, Yongxingfang, has gradually emerged, and its most famous attraction is 'Falling Bowl Wine'. The popular Douyin (TikTok) short videos have further propelled this project into the public eye, making it a must-visit destination for tourists.
The origin of 'Falling Bowl Wine' dates back to a local legend. It is said that two chieftains from different ethnic groups of the Tujia minority, to promote the prosperity of their nation, shared a bowl of wine and smashed it, symbolizing the resolution of past grievances and showcasing their boldness. We can also see ancient armies in television programs, where generals and soldiers would toast before embarking on military campaigns, smashing their bowls after drinking, a method to boost morale and express a hopeful wish for victory. It embodies the bravery and vigor of the army's soldiers.
Currently, 'Falling Bowl Wine' is primarily used to express interpersonal emotions and to make wishes for a better future. Visitors silently express their desires, drink a sip of wine, and smash the bowl, hoping their dreams will one day come true. However, in the past two years, this project seems to have faded from public view. As it is no longer a necessary choice for tourists, what has caused this significant change?
The thriving popularity of 'Falling Bowl Wine' in Xi'an led to imitation across the country. It is no longer a unique feature of Xi'an; we can find shops with 'Falling Bowl Wine' signage in almost every tourist destination. This has diluted the popularity of Xi'an's 'Falling Bowl Wine,' and people have lost their initial novelty and curiosity. We can see that fewer tourists stop in front of the shops, and the piles of broken bowl shards are no longer as high as before. The business of 'Falling Bowl Wine' shops has also declined considerably.
Let's deeply consider this behavior – is it truly worthy of being celebrated? It has been recorded that the maximum number of broken bowls smashed on a single day reached over ten thousand. The shards piled up in front of the shops, creating a visually impactful, and somewhat alarming, scene. A single sip of wine and a smashed bowl brings a considerable waste of resources, and the subsequent management of the broken bowl fragments also presents a problem. As consumers, we need to rationally approach this issue and not blindly follow the trend.
