Laoshan Blade Net Controversy: Second Chinese Scenic Area Under Fire
A fresh controversy has erupted over the installation of razor-wire “blade nets” at the Laoshan (Mount Lao) Scenic Area in Qingdao, Shandong Province, just days after a similar uproar over a 135-kilometer barrier at Mount Tai. Local environmental authorities say they have found no record of approval for the project, raising serious questions about regulatory oversight at some of China’s most treasured natural sites.
The Discovery
On July 2, 2026, a netizen posted on social media revealing that Laoshan had installed roller-type blade nets atop green fencing in certain mountain areas — the same type of razor-wire barriers that had sparked nationwide debate at Mount Tai. According to China News Weekly, which broke the story, the images showed the distinctive coiled razor wire mounted on existing fencing, prompting the question: “Shouldn’t the Laoshan blade nets be removed?”
When contacted by reporters on July 3, Laoshan scenic area staff confirmed the facility’s existence but deferred further comment, stating that details needed to be verified with relevant departments before they could respond.
No Approval Found
The most damning revelation came from the Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Laoshan Branch. An official who verified with several internal departments reported that the environmental protection department had found no approval or filing procedures for the blade net project whatsoever. The same official noted that, under normal circumstances, the scenic area “should have at least filed a record” before construction or installation.
This apparent regulatory gap echoes the Mount Tai controversy, where the 135-kilometer razor-wire fence — officially described as a forest fire prevention and pine wilt disease barrier project — was built without clear public disclosure of its environmental review process.
Expert Analysis on Regulatory Requirements
Zhang Tongsheng, a researcher at the China International Engineering Consulting Corporation, explained to China News Weekly that construction projects in scenic areas typically require expert assessment to discuss necessity and facility type, followed by detailed planning. Crucially, environmental impact assessments must be conducted by environmental protection authorities. Zhang noted that the level of departmental involvement depends on the scale of the project, but “the most important department in this process is still the environmental protection department.”
The Mount Tai Precedent
The Laoshan controversy cannot be understood in isolation. It follows directly from the Mount Tai blade wire fence scandal that erupted in late June 2026. The Mount Tai authorities confirmed the fence’s existence on June 29, citing forest fire prevention and control of illegal hikers as justifications. The Mount Tai Scenic Area Management Committee issued a statement on July 2 explaining that the barriers are located in non-open, non-tourist areas and do not overlap with normal游览 routes.
However, public anger intensified dramatically on July 1 when a blogger posted images of a black goat found dead, caught on the Mount Tai blade wire fence. The image became a powerful symbol of the ecological damage critics had warned about.
A Broader “Enclosure Mentality”
Commentators have identified a troubling pattern across Chinese scenic areas. Writing in Guangming Online, commentator Hu Xi’an argued that “Mount Tai should not be ‘trapped’ by a wire fence,” warning that good management is “not about cutting off the connection between people and nature, but finding a balance between protection and openness.” The commentary cited examples from the Qinling Mountains to Meili Snow Mountain, where similar fencing and wall-building approaches have been adopted.
Laoshan itself has a history of aggressive anti-hiker measures. A 2022 article from the Laoshan management center detailed the installation of over 2,000 meters of “iron thorns” (铁蒺藜) and the repair of 100 meters of isolation nets to combat illegal “lvyou” (adventure hiker) crossings.
Implications and What’s Next
The twin controversies have exposed significant gaps in environmental oversight at China’s scenic areas. With both Mount Tai and Laoshan now confirmed to have installed blade nets without apparent regulatory approval, questions are mounting about how widespread this practice may be.
Public pressure may force Laoshan authorities to either justify or remove the nets. Mount Tai, meanwhile, has denied rumors that it has begun dismantling its fence, and faces ongoing scrutiny. The broader conversation about “enclosure management” in Chinese scenic areas — where control and restriction are prioritized over ecological integrity and public access — may lead to policy reviews at higher levels.
As one environmental official put it, the question is not just about who approved these installations, but about whether China’s natural heritage is being managed for protection or merely for administrative convenience.