Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
A tourist attraction in northern China raised concerns about animal welfare and public safety because it used real horses in a merry-go-round ride.
Videos online showed six horses tied to a spinning metal frame, with the horses one metre apart. A parasol offered minimal shade as the structure spun slowly. The ride is located in the Shijingli Scenic Area of Xian in Shaanxi province.
Many people online say the attraction is cruel to animals.
One commenter expressed concern, stating: “Won’t the horse get dizzy from going in circles all the time? Say no to animal rides, as every form of animal riding is abuse.”
Another viewer angrily remarked: “Even just three hours a day, being tethered in one spot and forced to repeat a circular motion is torture for an animal born to run and crave freedom. A horse is not a machine and has feelings. Watching them trapped like that is suffocating!”
In light of the public outcry, the park suspended the ride.
