October 16, 2014, 6:45 PM HKT
Pandas Behaving Badly Remind Chinese Tourists to Mind Their Manners
On scenic sidewalks alongside Australia’s Sydney Harbor, a posse of pandas are seen holidaying with reckless abandon. They litter wantonly, spray graffiti and even urinate in public in a trail of pandemonium.
The bizarre spectacle, fortunately, wasn’t real. The boorish bears were actually part of an ad campaign commissioned by China’s state-run broadcaster cajoling Chinese travelers to mind their Ps and Qs while traveling overseas. Or as the ad put it: “Be a good panda, be a good tourist.”
But that message, however well-intentioned, didn’t go down well with many Chinese viewers.
Dozens took to social media to castigate China Central Television, which aired the ad on primetime over the recent National Day holidays, for perpetuating pejorative stereotypes about Chinese tourists.
“CCTV glorifies this ad, which insults all Chinese people, by calling it a public service announcement. Such ‘low-quality’ citizens are in the minority,” one user wrote on Weibo. “This besmirches the Chinese public—I strongly demand that CCTV remove this rubbish ad!”
Others, however, were more concerned for the honor of China’s cuddly national icon. “The smearing of pandas is infuriating,” a Weibo user wrote. “Clearly it’s us Chinese people who are low class. Why sully these adorable animals?”
“Why use pandas to represent the uncivilized behavior of a minority of Chinese tourists?” another user asked on Weibo. “Is it because pandas can’t stand up for their rights?”
CCTV started airing the public-service announcement across five of its channels on Sept. 29, two days before a weeklong “Golden Week” holiday period. A spokeswoman for DDB China, the ad agency behind the video, said the campaign had completed its scheduled broadcast run and the ad was no longer on air.
“This version isn’t the final cut,” the spokeswoman said in response to China Real Time queries. “CCTV said it would revise the ad after Golden Week.”
In a Sept. 30 statement, DDB China said: “By using these images, CCTV would like to remind Chinese people, ‘Do not forget the whole world is watching us,’ so as to make people behave more civilized while traveling abroad.”
CCTV didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pandas Behaving Badly Remind Chinese Tourists to Mind Their Manners
On scenic sidewalks alongside Australia’s Sydney Harbor, a posse of pandas are seen holidaying with reckless abandon. They litter wantonly, spray graffiti and even urinate in public in a trail of pandemonium.
The bizarre spectacle, fortunately, wasn’t real. The boorish bears were actually part of an ad campaign commissioned by China’s state-run broadcaster cajoling Chinese travelers to mind their Ps and Qs while traveling overseas. Or as the ad put it: “Be a good panda, be a good tourist.”
But that message, however well-intentioned, didn’t go down well with many Chinese viewers.
Dozens took to social media to castigate China Central Television, which aired the ad on primetime over the recent National Day holidays, for perpetuating pejorative stereotypes about Chinese tourists.
“CCTV glorifies this ad, which insults all Chinese people, by calling it a public service announcement. Such ‘low-quality’ citizens are in the minority,” one user wrote on Weibo. “This besmirches the Chinese public—I strongly demand that CCTV remove this rubbish ad!”
Others, however, were more concerned for the honor of China’s cuddly national icon. “The smearing of pandas is infuriating,” a Weibo user wrote. “Clearly it’s us Chinese people who are low class. Why sully these adorable animals?”
“Why use pandas to represent the uncivilized behavior of a minority of Chinese tourists?” another user asked on Weibo. “Is it because pandas can’t stand up for their rights?”
CCTV started airing the public-service announcement across five of its channels on Sept. 29, two days before a weeklong “Golden Week” holiday period. A spokeswoman for DDB China, the ad agency behind the video, said the campaign had completed its scheduled broadcast run and the ad was no longer on air.
“This version isn’t the final cut,” the spokeswoman said in response to China Real Time queries. “CCTV said it would revise the ad after Golden Week.”
In a Sept. 30 statement, DDB China said: “By using these images, CCTV would like to remind Chinese people, ‘Do not forget the whole world is watching us,’ so as to make people behave more civilized while traveling abroad.”
CCTV didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
