A Chinese tourist visiting Chew Jetty in Penang recently stirred controversy after attempting to add her own artwork to an existing mural without permission.
The tourist, known for sharing her real-life-inspired paintings on her Xiaohongshu (XHS) account, filmed herself encountering a mural of a woman sitting on a scooter. She then began painting a panda onto the mural.
According to the clip, a local man—presumably a resident—repeatedly told her “Cannot” in Mandarin. Undeterred, the tourist continued her painting, attracting the attention of passing visitors. She also shared insights about the cities of Szechuan and Chongqing while painting.
By the end of the video, she completed her panda mural and posed for photos with it.
However, her actions sparked a storm of online backlash and netizens criticized her for disrespecting the original artist’s work. One online commenter also highlighted potential legal consequences, noting the tourist could face fines or jail time for altering someone else’s property without approval.
The incident has reignited discussions on the importance of respecting local art and cultural spaces, especially in popular tourist areas like Chew Jetty.
