China’s travellers raise alarm over error-filled tourist signs in public spaces
A highway operator in Gansu province, northwestern China, apologised on Wednesday after a service area sign for the hot water room, mistranslated in English as “open water rooms”, was shared on social media. Similar translation errors, as well as spelling mistakes, on signage at public facilities have repeatedly drawn attention, including an incident in late March, when a passenger at an airport…
In Gansu province, northwestern China, a highway operator has apologized for mistranslated tourist signs, specifically a sign for the hot water room at a service area, which was mistakenly translated as "open water rooms" on social media. This is not the first time translation errors have been noticed on Chinese public facilities.
In late March, an airport in the southwestern city of Guiyang also had multiple misspellings on English-language signs. Commenters were concerned that such errors could damage China's image as a travel destination, especially during a time when Beijing is actively promoting China to international tourists. The Gansu Expressway Service Group, which manages 78 pairs of service areas representing 70% of the province's total, issued an official notice on Wednesday, stating that the incorrect English sign had been removed and that they would carry out "special inspections and rectifications of signs across all service areas managed by the company."
The company also promised to establish a signage management system with "review before installation, with periodic rechecks," and to improve its working mechanisms to enhance service quality and public image.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
