Interest in "dark tourism," involving visits to sites or experiences centered around disasters and tragedies, is growing rapidly in China. From disaster simulation centers to tours of historical massacre sites, Chinese travelers are increasingly seeking immersive encounters that convey the power of nature or the weight of history.

One notable example is Lvxing Base, a Hangzhou-based company that opened a large-scale facility in 2024 dedicated to simulated disaster experiences. Covering 200,000 square meters, the center offers staged typhoons, mudslides, and floods. Visitors like Leon Lv, a 28-year-old from Chongqing, travel long distances to participate. Lv recounted how a simulated flooding scenario taught her practical skills in remaining calm and adopting correct body positioning to survive such an event. The company plans to expand, with five more centers scheduled across China in the coming three years, including new earthquake and fire simulations.

Public institutions have also embraced this trend. Beijing’s Haidian Public Safety Museum uses 4D theaters with motion platforms and sound effects to simulate earthquakes, tsunamis, and fires. Guangzhou opened a five-story center equipped with an earthquake simulator replicating tremors equivalent to a magnitude 7.2 quake. Robert Li, director of the school of hotel and tourism management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, observed that many younger Chinese travelers now seek experiences rather than traditional sightseeing.

Alongside simulated experiences, genuine dark tourism to actual disaster sites has gained traction. In May 2008, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake devastated Sichuan province, causing over 70,000 deaths. Visitors to Beichuan, one of the hardest-hit towns, can walk among ruins preserved by the government. Alice, a 30-year-old writer who toured the area, described the emotional impact of seeing collapsed schools and frozen moments of devastation, such as a broken clock stopped at the quake’s exact time. She believes such visits help the nation confront its past, although the government curates the narrative presented to the public.

Interest in historical tragedies is similarly reflected in increased attendance at memorial sites. The Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall commemorates the 1937 wartime massacre during which Chinese accounts estimate 300,000 civilians and soldiers were killed by the Japanese Imperial Army over several weeks. Japan acknowledges civilian casualties but contests the exact figures. Entry to the memorial is free but requires advance online booking, with demand often exceeding the 25,000 daily ticket limit during peak months. Tour guide Samantha Wang reported a rise in visitors wanting to understand China’s tragic history better, a trend she attributes to evolving attitudes toward engaging with difficult subjects. Visitors often leave the memorial feeling a mix of sorrow and resolve to contribute to China’s strength.

These developments illustrate a shift in Chinese tourism toward confronting fear, tragedy, and history in more direct and experiential ways. Whether through high-tech disaster simulations or visits to preserved sites of real events, many travelers appear motivated by a desire to learn, empathize, and prepare for potential future challenges.