Everything for the perfect Selfie

The Chinese Instagram Village

In today’s social media game, simple selfies just don’t cut it anymore. The competition for attention is fierce and in order to keep eyeballs locked, some are stepping up their game. This is what I learned when I accidentally stumbled upon an area just outside Dali, China and found myself in the middle of a selfie wonderland. Here, so called adult amusement parks promise, in exchange for a small admission fee, the opportunity to create the perfect selfie. Standing on top of a derelict bus with a mountain range in the background? No problem! Posing with an alpaca in a rented white dress? Done. More and more tourists from all over China are coming here to replicate pictures they have seen online and they don't seem to mind that these pictures lack any kind of originality or uniqueness.

1) Woman standing on top of derelict bus, posing for the camera.

2) Alpacas in a so called "adult amusement park" waiting for their turn.

3) Alpaca about to be used as a wedding photography prop.

4) Woman feeding seagulls at the shore of Erhai Lake.

5) Couples in wedding garment posing for their wedding album.

6) Advertisement banner showing what kind of pictures can be taken in this segment.

7) Lots of red and white dresses for rent.

8-10) Women posing in front of decayed building with Erhai Lake being exactly behind them.

11) Man posing in plexiglas bowl on top of a broken down building.

12) More people posing on top of derelict buildings.

13+14) People posing inside an "adult amusement park" with "international" props.

15+16) More props along the streetside closeby Erhai Lake.