Ding Jinhao engraving scandal explained

The Ding Jinhao engraving scandal was a 2013 scandal revolving around Ding Jinhao, a then 15-year-old Chinese boy who scratched the Chinese characters "Ding Jinhao was here" on an engraving at the Luxor Temple in Egypt.^{[1] [2]}

Media response

On May 24, 2013, a verified Weibo user, Mr. Shen, posted a picture of the vandalised engraving with the letters "Ding Jinhao was here" etched in Chinese at the Luxor Temple in Luxor, Egypt. By the next day, the post had 11,000 comments and 83,000 reposts.^[3]

On May 25, 2013, a Chinese netizen unearthed personal information pertaining to Ding Jinhao through the Human flesh search engine and posted it to Weibo.^[4] On the same day, the Modern Express reported that Ding's parents publicly apologized on Weibo, and that Ding Jinhao was in tears over the incident.^[5]

On May 26, the website of Ding's school was hacked by vigilante netizens and defaced with a pop-up window on the website mimicking Ding Jinhao's vandalism. Ding Jinhao's engraving at the temple site was removed on the same day.^[6]

Government response

• Hong Lei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, responded to the scandal by calling on Chinese citizens travelling abroad to comply with local laws and regulations and to behave in a civil manner.^[7]
• The China National Tourism Administration also responded to the incident by posting a reminder on its official site imploring Chinese tourists intending to travel to domestic and overseas destinations to behave in a civil manner, and included a list of tips that would help them to do so.^[8]

Related law

According to the Egyptian Protection of cultural relics law, the posting of advertisements and posters at the heritage, writing, engraving, or smudging of cultural relics at heritage sites is prohibited and punishable by a jail term of three months up to a year in prison, and fine of to (US$2.05–10.26).^[9]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2014-04-28 . 叙利亚政府为何推动大选（详版） . Why the Syrian government is pushing for elections (detailed version) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304132343/http://www.apdnews.com/news/26954.html . 2016-03-04 . 2024-09-20 . Xinhua News . zh.
2. Web site: 2013-05-26 . 「丁錦昊到此一遊」 掀中國旅客質素爭議 . "Ding Jinhao is here" sparks controversy over the quality of Chinese tourists . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208162209/http://news.sina.com.hk/news/20130526/-2-2978101/1.html . 8 December 2015 . 10 July 2016 . zh.
3. Web site: 2013-05-26 . "丁锦昊"遭人肉搜索 网民哀叹:以后怎么有脸去埃及 . "Ding Jinhao" was searched by human flesh, and netizens lamented: How can we have the face to go to Egypt in the future . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130607222419/http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-05/26/c_124763897.htm . June 7, 2013 . 10 July 2016 . Xinhua News Agency . zh.
4. Web site: 2013-05-26 . 埃及3000年神庙浮雕现"到此一游" 部分中国游客感羞愧 . 3,000-year-old Egyptian temple relief with "I was here" appears, some Chinese tourists feel ashamed . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221211440/http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2013-05/26/c_115908013.htm . February 21, 2014 . 10 July 2016 . zh.
5. Web site: Ding's parents apologise publicly . 10 July 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150129080749/http://www.21cbh.com/HTML/2013-5-26/3ONTg3XzY5MjQ3OQ.html . 29 January 2015 .
6. Web site: 2013-05-28 . 埃及神庙浮雕中文涂鸦已清除 . Chinese graffiti on Egyptian temple relief removed . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221211446/http://news.xinhuanet.com/2013-05/28/c_124772172.htm . February 21, 2014 . 10 July 2016 . Xinhua News Agency . zh.
7. Web site: Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on citizens travelling abroad to comply with local laws and regulations, Sing Pao . 10 July 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518070148/http://www.singpao.com/xw/nd/201305/t20130528_437455.html . 18 May 2015 .
8. Web site: Qi . Cheng . 2013-05-29 . 查名网站人肉出"丁锦昊"？记者调查:网站查询信息真实 . Did the name search website reveal "Ding Jinhao"? Reporter's investigation: The website's search information is true . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130608044835/http://sh.eastday.com/m/20130529/u1a7422140.html . 2013-06-08 . 2016-07-10 . Sh.eastday.com . zh.
9. Web site: Protection of cultural relics law of Egypt. https://web.archive.org/web/20130615174623/http://www.sach.gov.cn/tabid/645/InfoID/11149/Default.aspx. dead. June 15, 2013.