China's 'Dark Tourism' Boom: Tourists Pay to Experience Simulated Typhoons and Earthquakes

A surging 'dark tourism' trend in China is seeing younger travellers pay to experience simulated natural disasters at dedicated training centres. The Lvxing Disaster Simulation Training Center in Hangzhou — which opened in 2024 and spans 200,000 square metres — offers immersive typhoon and earthquake recreations, drawing visitors from thousands of kilometres away. One tourist, Leon Lu, travelled 1,300 km specifically to experience a typhoon simulation, saying he had never lived through one and wanted to understand the sensation. The facility plans to open five additional centres across China. Beyond simulations, the trend also encompasses visits to real tragedy sites: preserved ruins from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake attract growing numbers, as does the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, where tour guide Samantha Wang reports rising interest in tragic historical sites. The phenomenon is partly driven by China's increasing exposure to extreme weather events, including record-breaking heat and an above-average typhoon season that affected 67 million people last year, which has prompted government initiatives promoting immersive disaster education since 2024.