Two Japanese tourists recently encountered an aggressive confrontation with a Chinese key opinion leader (KOL) while taking photos at the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, igniting a nationwide debate about racism.
Also known as Yuanmingyuan Park, the Old Summer Palace was once one of China’s most magnificent royal gardens until it was devastated by a fire set by invading British and French troops in 1860.
A common claim circulating online suggests that the Eight-Nation Alliance, which included Japan, inflicted further damage on the park in 1900, but historical evidence does not support this assertion.
On September 7, the two Japanese tourists and their Chinese interpreter were taking pictures when their view was obstructed by the Chinese influencer known as Asianman.
