The Wawu Mountain range in Sichuan, renowned for its majestic snow-capped peaks and verdant forests, has long drawn crowds of Chinese tourists. However, in an unexpected turn of events, visitors have started to use an unusual medium to record their experiences – public surveillance cameras.
In January, traveler Wei Xi embarked on a trip to the area with friends. Amidst the stunning scenery, they stumbled upon surveillance cameras scattered throughout the site, sparking an ingenious idea. Wei documented her experience on her Xiaohongshu account, sharing, “A light bulb moment hit me. Since we could access these public surveillance feeds, we could position ourselves in front of the cameras and take screen captures.”
This method proved to be a game-changer for the group. They no longer needed selfie sticks or costly photography gear. Instead, they utilized the live feeds to monitor mountain conditions, confirming the presence of snow before their excursion. Wei described their activities as “capturing surveillance souvenir photos,” deeming the experience both novel and amusing. “It’s a blast, even if the video resolution leaves something to be desired,” she remarked.
Similarly, Jiang Baibai found himself without a functioning camera while visiting the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. Rather than let the moment slip away undocumented, he turned to the site’s live surveillance system. “These cameras serve as proof that I was actually there,” he explained, noting that the feeds were readily available through official websites and apps such as WeChat. To capture the perfect moment, Jiang and his companion held their poses for extended periods to compensate for any slight delays in the video feed.
Mount Emei, another iconic mountain destination in Sichuan, offers visitors live CCTV feeds accessible through its official WeChat account. Tourists take advantage of these feeds not only to stay updated on weather conditions and crowd levels but also to snap unique photos from unconventional angles. One visitor praised this approach, noting that the multi-perspective live feed snapshots significantly enhanced their travel experiences.
