Summary of the Core Content
This article begins with a joke about netizens using AI to “transform” White Cliffs in the UK into a domestic scenic spot style, using it as a pretext to compare the differences in scenic spot development between China and abroad. Domestic scenic spots are often overly commercialized and reliant on human intervention for revenue generation and safety (such as internet-famous check-in spots, tiered ticketing systems, and dense facilities), while foreign scenic spots place more emphasis on natural preservation and meeting local needs (through restrained development and risk reduction through management rather than altering the natural environment). The article also analyzes the underlying reasons for the “uniformity” of domestic scenic spots (such as GDP pressure, safety responsibilities, and a checklist-based approach to implementation) and proposes improvements, such as establishing clear boundaries between facilities and the natural environment to ensure that facilities serve the purpose of enhancing the visitor experience rather than becoming a focal point for themselves.
I. The “Routinized” Development of Domestic Scenic Spots: Turning Nature into Uniform Internet-Famous Check-In Sites
The additions made to White Cliffs by netizens using AI are actually standard features of domestic scenic spots: vertical observation elevators, glass platforms, “sky mirrors,” love check-in spots, and large red signs with messages like “I miss you at White Cliffs,” along with an 8-kilometer entrance, a 168-yuan ticket price plus a 40-yuan shuttle fee, and an 800-meter-long commercial street. These elements can be found in almost all popular domestic scenic spots. Why is this the case? Because these facilities generate revenue (elevators and cable cars are charged separately) and attract tourists to take photos and share them online (internet-famous check-in spots attract traffic). As a result, whether it’s a famous mountain or a seaside location, all scenic spots end up looking similar, with the natural features being overshadowed by artificial elements. The joke that “you could work at a scenic spot with this setup” highlights how this development model has become a standard.
II. Why Can Foreign Scenic Spots Remain “Authentic”? Prioritizing Protection and Restraint in Management
White Cliffs has been able to preserve its original appearance not because no one manages it, but because the management is “smart.” In 1926, locals raised funds to buy the land and donate it to a national trust (a type of public welfare organization for conservation), which has since continuously expanded the protected area. The management at South Downs National Park is also very restrained, with almost no commercial facilities in the core scenic area, and only essential facilities like toilets and dining places are provided to meet the needs of local residents. Looking at other countries, for example, in Norway, despite a fatal incident at the Preaching Stone in 2024, no guardrails were installed; instead, risk management is handled through weather warnings, equipment recommendations, and visitor restrictions. At Ireland’s Moher Cliffs, dangerous sections are closed to visitors. In Yosemite National Park in the US, the Half Dome is accessible only through a lottery system. Their approach is to “manage risks” rather than “alter the natural environment” to eliminate all risks.
III. Three Underlying Reasons for the “Overdevelopment” of Domestic Scenic Spots
1. GDP Pressure: Scenic spots are seen as sources of revenue. Since natural scenery itself is difficult to charge for, additional facilities are added (shuttles, cable cars, elevators) to extend the consumer experience and generate GDP for the local area.
2. Safety Concerns: There is a fear of losing positions due to accidents. Even if laws do not require the installation of guardrails, scenic spots are held accountable if visitors get injured. To avoid liability, they often add more guardrails, pave concrete roads, and set up barriers, sometimes at the expense of the natural landscape.
3. Checklist-Based Implementation: New scenic spot standards emphasize environmental protection, but in practice, they are followed rigidly (e.g., a visitor center and check-in spots must be present). As a result, all scenic spots end up looking the same.
IV. Where Is the Balance? Facilities Should Be “Hidden,” and the Experience Should Be “Memorable”
The article suggests that returning to a completely wild state is unrealistic (given the large number of visitors during holidays and the needs of elderly and children), but improvements can be made:
- Establish Clear Boundaries: Commercial areas should be concentrated at the entrance, with visitor centers, parking lots, and commercial streets located outside the core scenic area, leaving only necessary signs and rescue points within the core area to avoid cluttering the landscape with food stalls and shopping paths.
- Provide Different Routes: Accessible viewing points should be set up near the entrance for those with mobility issues, while able-bodied visitors can take hiking routes that preserve the natural environment. Dangerous sections can be temporarily closed during bad weather.
- Thorough Evaluation: Before implementing new projects, ask questions like: Does the facility truly meet the needs of visitors, or is it just a way to generate revenue? Can visitors avoid it? Can the ecosystem recover after its removal? If the answers are not clear, don’t build it.
As the author’s daughter mentioned, what matters is not whether there is a grand visitor center at White Cliffs, but the feeling of running in the sea breeze. The best scenic spots should allow facilities to serve their purpose and then fade into the background, leaving the scenery as the main memory for visitors.
V. The Relevance of the Joke: We’ve All Seen Scenic Spots That Have Been Damaged by Development
Netizens’ jokes about AI transforming White Cliffs reflect a common issue with domestic scenic spots: the interference of various charging facilities and internet-famous check-in spots that disrupt the purpose of visiting a place to enjoy the scenery. A British friend named Emma found this unacceptable because she is accustomed to the natural state of the landscape; domestic netizens, on the other hand, recognize the familiar experience because this development model is too widespread. Whether White Cliffs will actually be transformed is less important than whether domestic scenic spots can reduce their reliance on clichés and show more respect for nature. The goal should be for visitors to remember the scenery itself, not the intrusive facilities.
This is probably the change that all travel enthusiasts hope to see.