A woman in Guiyang has gone viral after she was filmed pouring multiple cups of milk tea into a river as part of what she claimed was a “release ritual”, drawing widespread criticism and confusion online.
The bizarre incident reportedly took place along the Nanming River near Riverside Park in Guiyang, where the woman was seen repeatedly taking plastic cups containing what appeared to be milk tea from several plastic bags before emptying them into the river.
A video of the act quickly spread across Chinese social media platforms, with the uploader jokingly captioning it as “releasing milk tea”.
The unusual scene sparked strong reactions from netizens, many of whom criticised the act as environmental pollution rather than a religious or charitable practice.
Some users mocked the trend, joking that after “releasing” bottled water and milk tea, people might next start “releasing hotpot soup base” into rivers.
According to Chinese media reports, the Nanming District Water Affairs Bureau confirmed that authorities had received complaints regarding the incident.
Officials stressed that there is no such folk custom or recognised practice involving the “release” of milk tea, adding that the act polluted the river and is not supported by local authorities.
The water management department has since launched efforts together with police to locate the woman involved, with plans to provide education and warnings over the matter.
The incident has also reignited discussions online over a growing number of bizarre “release ritual” cases reported in China in recent years.
Previously, viral incidents involving the “release” of bottled water, milk, and even packaged fish tofu into rivers and reservoirs had also drawn public attention and criticism.
In one case in Guangdong, two women were reportedly seen throwing individually packed fish tofu into a river after removing the packaging, while another incident involved elderly individuals pouring boxed milk into waterways while chanting prayers.
