Man Steals Bamboo Shoots, Falls and Has One Impale His Nose, Sues Scenic Area for 36,000 Yuan
A man in Chongqing, China, named Liu, was injured when a bamboo shoot pierced his nose while illegally digging for bamboo shoots off the designated path in a scenic area. He sued the scenic area for 36,000 yuan, claiming they failed to ensure his safety, but the court dismissed his claim.
In October 2025, Liu purchased a ticket to visit the scenic area. During his visit, he left the path and entered a bamboo forest, where he began to illegally dig for bamboo shoots.
On his way back, he tripped over a bamboo shoot and fell face-first, causing a bamboo shoot to pierce his nasal cavity. He was diagnosed with a through-and-through nasal injury, a fractured nasal septum and sinus bones, and spent 9 days in the hospital with medical expenses exceeding 20,000 yuan.
Liu argued that the ground in the scenic area was messy, the bamboo shoots were exposed, and there was no protection, so the scenic area should be liable for compensation.
However, the scenic area argued that the injury did not occur in the designated tourist area, but in a non-tourist area where he was illegally digging for bamboo shoots. They also stated that they had clearly prohibited the picking of bamboo shoots at the entrance and along the path, and it was impossible to install protective measures for every bamboo shoot in the natural landscape. The accident was caused by the man’s own violation of the rules.
The court found that the scenic area had established standard paths and warning signs, fulfilling its reasonable safety obligations.
Liu, as an adult, was solely responsible for the accident due to his unauthorized departure from the path and illegal digging. The scenic area provided timely assistance after the incident and was not at fault.
The court ultimately ruled against Liu’s claim in its entirety, and he was ordered to pay the court fees.
The presiding judge stated that the scenic area is not an all-inclusive safety vault, and tourists are primarily responsible for their own safety.
The scenic area has an obligation to ensure safety within the designated tourist area, but tourists should bear the consequences of injuries resulting from their own risky behavior and violation of the rules.