Rare pink and floating grass destroyed by selfie-seekers

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Only two weeks after starting blooming, a field of pink and floating grass in the Binjiang Riverside Park in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province was cut down after being seriously destroyed by selfie-seeking tourists.

A field of pink and floating grass was cut down after being badly destroyed by selfie-seekers. /VCG Photo

Pink Muhly Grass, also named Muhlenbergia Capillaris, known for its pink to purple clump-forming inflorescences, could hold colors for two months before fading.

Early this autumn, the grass captured the public's attention on social media in China, including the video platform, Douyin. Soon after, hordes of tourists visited the parks, leading to damage.

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"There had never been so much people", said the safeguard of the field in the Binjiang Riverside Park, 'It seems that they all come here for photographing."

The Paper reported that many people ignored the rope barriers and entered the grass areas to take pictures by lying down or sitting down.

As a journalist of Dushikuaibao, a newspaper based in Hangzhou, said, a father tried to take pictures for his son, but thought the grass was too high. And then, the father entered into the grass area and lay down onto the grass to flatten the grass.

After that, groups of tourists followed the father's footsteps and tried to flatten the grass.

Floating above the body of the plant in an airy display, the pink grass area was once used as a shooting place for a wedding company. Since it is hard to grow, the caretaker Zheng Xianhua and her husband treat the grass carefully, almost like their children.

"It felt like my child was bullied but nothing I can do to protect them", Zheng cried. "After some pictures went viral on social media, growing numbers of visitors came here and took pictures."

According to Zheng, she has spent three years planting the pink muhly grass, which was imported from Australia.

Caretakers have no choice but to cut down all the grass to make sure it blooms again next year, The Paper said.

The case has triggered outraged on social media in China./VCG Photo

The case has triggered outraged on social media in China.

"It was a shame to post such pictures even though they looked beautiful," said @XxxxxHai.

"It is inconceivable why these people destroy the grass," said @Shuaifeng.

"Feel sad for these caretakers," commented @Azhu. "Especially when Aunt Zeng said please do not bully her child in the video."