Online photo of a sculpture at a theme park in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan Province Photo: Hongxing News

A theme park, named Land of Wilderness, in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, on Monday issued a statement apologizing to the public after some of its artworks drew widespread attention and made some visitors feel uncomfortable.

A recent video showing sculptures such as "human centipede" and "three-faced girl" in the theme park has sparked discussions on Chinese social media, with some netizens saying these bizarre designs are unsettling, according to multiple media reports.

Online photo of a sculpture at a theme park in Lijiang, Southwest China's Yunnan Province Photo: Hongxing News

The theme park mainly features a variety of sculptures, according to a report by Hongxing News. On Sina Weibo, many netizens commented that the photos of sculptures circulating online appear unsettling or slightly frightening. However, others noted that the theme park remains a creative spot for photographs and should not be judged solely on one aspect.

According to the statement issued by the park, it places great importance on public feedback and promptly implements improvements. It has now removed certain controversial artworks.

Previously, in response to the recent online controversy, staff at the theme park told Hongxing News that it was originally designed to express children's innocence and playful imagination. As a result, some sculptures may appear whimsical, but they are also very photogenic and popular with children.

"Some people feel that certain sculptures are scary or bizarre, but this actually depends on each person's interpretation," a member of staff said. "Among the visitors who have come so far, very few have said they were frightened or found the sculptures particularly strange," according to the report by Hongxing News. 

According to a staff member at the attraction, some of the negative online reviews resulted from bloggers intentionally altering the color tones of their photos, chinanews.com reported.

The person admitted that certain installations in the park are designed with exaggerated features, but noted that other areas look very photogenic on sunny days. The person also suggested that visitors learn more about the park in advance before deciding whether to visit, according to the report.

Global Times