Guiyang under siege, stranded canoes, and crowded bridges: the extreme side of overtourism in China.

Overtourism has become a growing problem in many destinations around the world in recent years. But what recently happened in Guiyang , in China's Guizhou province, is emblematic of a disturbing new frontier of overtourism.

Two separate incidents, but linked by the same cause, have raised alarm: a river literally clogged with canoes during a rafting experience, and a bridge so crowded with visitors it seemed on the verge of collapse. The photos we're sharing in this article show the Jiaxiu Tower scenic area in Guiyang, the capital of the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou.

The case of rafting

Over the past few days, a natural gorge near Guiyang has appeared overrun with hundreds of tourists crammed into colorful rafts. The intention was to enjoy a relaxing rafting experience in the heart of nature, but instead it turned into an open-air nightmare. Participants, crowded between the rocky walls of the river, were left completely stranded, unable to move forward or backward.

Some attempted to paddle, but the water was still, choked by an impressive number of inflatables jammed together. The frustrated shouts of tourists mingled with the crashing sounds of the rafts, while the water—from an element of flow and freedom—became a stagnant trap. The overcrowding, local authorities explain, was caused by the peak tourist season, which completely overwhelmed the site's organizational capacity. Preventive measures, if any, proved woefully insufficient.

The human bridge

Almost simultaneously, another video taken in Guiyang made the rounds on social media: a viewing deck, designed to offer a spectacular view of the mountainous area, was literally invaded by a massive crowd. The images show people crushed together, in a slow, struggling flow of people.

Here, too, there was no opportunity to enjoy the scenery or move freely. Only the claustrophobic feeling of a natural site transformed into a human containment vessel. According to local sources, the bridge had been designed for a capacity far lower than the number of visitors that day. Despite this, access was not effectively regulated, and the consequences could have been tragic in the event of a panic or emergency evacuation.

These episodes represent extreme, yet increasingly frequent, cases of overtourism. The problem isn't just the presence of too many tourists, but the lack of sustainable planning . In Guiyang, as in many other areas of China and the world, tourism development has been accelerated to meet growing domestic demand, especially during holidays and school breaks.

However, the infrastructure and management of tourist flows have not kept pace. The result is that natural places, designed to offer immersive and relaxing experiences, are turning into scenarios of chaos and frustration. Tourism, once an economic and cultural opportunity, is turning into an environmental and social boomerang.

Possible solutions

Experts recommend introducing daily visitor limits , mandatory reservation systems, and a more intelligent distribution of tourist flows through the promotion of alternative destinations. Furthermore, greater investment is needed in staff training and tourist site safety. Without concrete interventions , incidents like those in Guiyang risk becoming the norm, rather than the exception.

Guiyang, with its natural beauty and growing tourist appeal, is a microcosm of the uncertain future that awaits many global destinations. If tourism isn't managed sustainably, the paradox will be realized: spectacular places that no one will truly be able to enjoy anymore.