A woman in Zhongshan, Guangdong, unintentionally triggered a police response after the strong smell from a traditional Chinese dish she was cooking was mistaken by neighbours for the odour of a decomposing body.
According to local reports, the woman, identified only as Chen, had been slowly simmering “Chou Pi Cu” — also known as “Longevity Vinegar” — at home for about one and a half hours when the pungent smell spread through the neighbourhood.
Concerned by the unusually strong odour, one of her neighbours feared it could be coming from a corpse and contacted the police, suspecting a possible crime.
Officers arrived at the scene and carried out an investigation before speaking with Chen and recording the details of the incident. After confirming there was no criminal activity or emergency, police left the premises.
Chen later said she felt helpless over the misunderstanding but understood that her neighbour had acted out of concern for public safety.
She explained that “Chou Pi Cu” is a well-known traditional delicacy in Guangdong, famous for its distinctive sour flavour and fermented aroma. Although the smell can be overwhelming at first, many people grow to enjoy it after trying the dish.
The unusual incident quickly went viral on social media, with many netizens joking that the dish was “powerful enough to fool the police”. Others shared similar experiences of neighbours mistaking the smell of traditional foods for something suspicious, sparking fresh discussions about regional culinary specialities.
