A noodle shop in Yangshuo County has been ordered to suspend operations after being exposed for allegedly using a “dual pricing menu” to charge tourists significantly more than local customers.
The controversy erupted after a Chinese content creator uploaded a hidden-camera style test showing two groups ordering the exact same bowl of rice noodles at the restaurant using different accents.
According to the video, customers speaking with a local accent were charged 7 yuan (around RM4.60) for a bowl of “Guo Shao Rice Noodles”, while customers using an out-of-town accent were charged 13 yuan (around RM8.50) for what appeared to be the identical dish.
The footage quickly went viral online after viewers noticed there was no visible difference in portion size or ingredients between the two bowls.
During a confrontation captured in the video, the shop owner reportedly agreed to refund the 6 yuan difference but sparked even more outrage with his response.
“I can sell my food however I want,” the owner allegedly said. “Locals eat here every day. Do outsiders eat here every day?”
The incident triggered widespread debate across Chinese social media, with some residents from Yangshuo claiming the practice was not uncommon in tourist-heavy areas.
Several netizens alleged that some eateries secretly identify tourists not only through accents but also by the way they order food.
According to online comments, locals typically order the dish using the term “lu cai fen”, while tourists often ask for “Guilin rice noodles” — despite both referring to essentially the same meal.
Authorities from the Yangshuo County Market Regulation Bureau later confirmed that discriminatory pricing practices had indeed taken place at the shop.
Officials stated that the business is being investigated for suspected unfair treatment of consumers and incomplete price labelling.
The noodle shop has since been ordered to suspend operations and undergo rectification measures.
Regulators also announced a wider crackdown across the county targeting restaurants and food outlets that impose different pricing on locals, tourists or foreign visitors.
Authorities warned that all businesses must clearly display standardised prices and are prohibited from using discriminatory pricing practices against customers from different regions.
