A new trend has emerged on Chinese social media platforms where vloggers are exploring abandoned ancient tombs and sharing their experiences with millions of followers. These videos have been viewed by many people, raising concerns about the possible damage caused to these valuable cultural relics.
Dalong, a popular vlogger with 7.2 million followers on Douyin, has posted more than 200 videos showing him visiting various ancient tombs, some of which are not yet open to the public. Some of these videos have been filmed at tourist sites, while others show him sneaking into tombs scattered around the countryside.
One of Dalong’s videos shows him crawling into a tomb believed to have belonged to the 16th son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty. After entering the tomb, the vlogger found nothing inside, including coffins, and noticed two holes dug by grave robbers. He introduced the tomb’s layout and architecture to his viewers and warned them not to visit abandoned tombs alone as they can be dangerous.
While these videos have the power to increase public interest in cultural relics and archaeology, experts warn that they can also damage these ancient tombs. The vloggers are not professional archaeologists and may not know how to explore tombs correctly, potentially causing damage to the murals and stone inscriptions inside.
Despite the potential risks, many viewers appreciate these videos, as they allow them to experience mysterious ancient tombs from the safety of their homes and learn more about archaeology. The hashtag gumu, which translates to ancient tomb, has more than 1.2 billion views on Douyin, according to a report from the Xinhua News Agency.
To balance the benefits and risks of these videos, experts suggest that authorized organizations could train volunteers to seek out and record these ancient tombs for conservation and research purposes. This way, the public can still learn about these valuable cultural relics without damaging them.
