By: Alex
For many photographers, Xiapu in the northeast corner of Fujian Province is a photography paradise. With its beautiful sunrises, fishing village scenery, pastoral landscapes, and simple rural life, almost any angle can yield master-level shots. But a recent report by Insider reveals the truth: many of the things seen in photos are deliberately staged, the result of paid setups to cater to photographers.
▲ Xiapu in Fujian Province has transformed from a small fishing village and developed into a tourist destination, eventually becoming a photographer’s paradise. (photo by Re Lüxing)
The report points out that while Xiapu is indeed a rural town, its picturesque scenery is created by “photography teams,” including even the farmers and fishermen, who are basically “models” posing to help visitors and photographers capture images worthy of admiration on social media.
▲ A farmer with a water buffalo is one of the most classic compositions in rural photography. (photo by Traveler Career)
Insider cites a report from The New York Times, describing how groups of photographers lined up neatly along a bridge, all intently capturing a “model” wearing a traditional hat, rowing a boat toward the bridge. Reportedly, this model was paid $30 (approximately 200 RMB or 234 HKD).
▲ The lighting, character poses, and even props (including the flock of geese) in these photos are meticulously designed, making them highly representative of staged shots in Xiapu. (photo by Traveler Career)
▲ The girl herding geese through the morning mist is entirely a staged effect. (photo by Sina Travel)
They also interviewed 40-year-old Liu Weishun (phonetic name), a site manager where tourists can shoot scenes of fishermen casting huge nets to catch fish. Liu told the media that about 500 tourists visit daily, paying him $3 (around 20 RMB or 23 HKD) to take photos. Some tourists pay extra to have a fisherman wearing a straw hat row by in a boat. Of course, all of this is directed by Liu Weishun via walkie-talkie. He also said that photographers who come here are quite particular, and he has to meet every detail of their requests.
▲ Fake fishermen continuously cast nets to ensure photographers can capture the best composition. (photo by Heihei Ge Youji)
However, some photography enthusiasts have expressed dissatisfaction. Weibo user “The Legend of Trees and Stones” pointed out that both the fishermen and cowherds are fake, while another user, “Wang Fazhi 123,” remarked: “(Cattle herding photography) ‘When the false is made to look real, the real also seems false,’” meaning it becomes hard to distinguish truth from fiction.
▲ (photo by Wang Fazhi 123)
Weibo user Sentez even criticized certain photographers for “not mentioning the inauthentic scenes behind the photos at all,” indirectly causing “inexperienced kids to be deceived.” He cited “Xiapu Yangjiaxi” as an example, saying, “There are probably dozens of camera spots set up there—it’s extremely fake, yet a large crowd still buys into it.”
▲ (photo by Sentez)
Weibo user “Call Me Xiaochacha” was even more direct and blunt: “Strongly advise against going. A place that’s fake beyond belief—every person you see in online photos from here is an actor. You could say Xiapu is an open-air film studio (photo set).” However, every story has two sides, and some may truly not mind that it’s fake. Weibo user “Lucky Bao” said: “Xiapu’s banyan tree + old man + cow. The photos look like blockbusters, but in reality, it’s all smoke and mirrors. But in this world, it seems no one really cares about what’s real or fake—as long as the photos look good.”
Source: Insider