Water Splashing Festival Faces a Reckoning When Celebration Becomes Coercion

A family of four had their electric vehicle's doors and trunk pried open by revelers at the Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, on April 14, with water sprayed inside causing damage – an incident that has sparked widespread public debate about conduct at the annual celebration.

A family member surnamed Sun told Jimu News on April 16 that she was in the passenger seat when it happened. The family, tourists from Northeast China, were driving out for a meal when heavy traffic brought them to a crawl.

As bystanders along the road played with water, Sun said she was about to take a video when both right-side doors were suddenly yanked open.

"The trunk was also opened and water was sprayed inside. I don't even know how they opened the trunk," Sun said.

Water entering the vehicle caused a component inside to smoke. The car has since been taken to a local dealership, and the family has filed a police report. Sun said her elderly parents, who were seated in the back, were completely drenched.

In a separate incident, a video circulating online showed two women on an electric scooter being aggressively sprayed with high-pressure water guns near the Starlight Night Market in Jinghong. One woman is seen repeatedly waving her hand to signal refusal, but the splashing continued. When she attempted to ride away, she was forced to turn back after her companion could not break free.

In response, a staff member from the Xishuangbanna Prefecture Culture and Tourism Bureau said the reports would be documented and referred to a designated official for response.

The Water Splashing Festival is a traditional celebration with deep cultural roots in Yunnan. Ahead of this year's event, the Xishuangbanna prefecture government had issued a public notice explicitly warning against the use of high-pressure water guns, splashing moving vehicles, and any harassment of women under the guise of celebration.