Study Buddy (Explorer): Hell-themed China hotel spooks social media with coffin room decorated with wreaths and urns

[2] The clip went viral earlier this month, attracting more than four million views on Douyin, the mainland equivalent of TikTok. It was posted by the hotel owner, @Nidexiaotaiyangya, who said it was one of dozens of themed rooms in her 20,000-square-metre horror-themed space, called Kuimeilou.

[3] According to Kuimeilou’s introduction on a local listing app, it is an immersive mystery game theatre that also provides accommodation. The building’s decorations are based on an original mystery story set in 1930s China, and more than 30 staff members work as non-player characters (NPCs).

[4] The facility has also installed a variety of interactive mechanical devices that invite people to solve mystery problems. A hotel staff member said that Kuimeilou can be seen as a large-scale version of ju ben sha, or script mystery games, which have become popular among young people in recent years.

[5] He said the coffin room is one of the hotel’s top three most hair-raising features, along with a ghost marriage-themed honeymoon room and a room containing dozens of dolls. Normal beds are provided in the room, as well as several mechanical coffins which can move to surprise guests. All the devices are controlled and operated by staff between 5pm and 1am each day.

[6] The hotel owner said the safest places in the rooms are the toilets, which are decorated normally. The coffin room costs 999 yuan (US$137) per night. The hotel also has three other ranks of rooms, with the cheapest priced at 499 yuan (US$68).

[7] The staff member said guests may opt out of the game at any time by asking customer service to turn off the devices or change rooms.

[8] Local officials described the experience provided at the hotel as appropriate, as the law allows horror-themed decorations. Online, people reacted to the coffin room with a mixture of shock and curiosity.

[9] “Can anyone really fall asleep in a room like this?” said one person on Douyin. “I sell coffins for a living, and I am scared of this room,” said another. “Having seen the images of your rooms, I think it is safest just to stay in the bathroom,” joked a third.

Source: South China Morning Post, October 14

1. The “spooky dwelling” in paragraph 1 refers to ________ Chinese funeral hall.
A. a video clip showing a
B. a room inside a hotel that looks like a
C. the decorations used inside a
D. the spirits that are reported to haunt a

2. How many rooms does Kuimeilou have according to paragraph 2?
A. only two
B. less than 10
C. more than 100
D. none of the above

3. Based on paragraph 3, what two things can visitors do at Kuimeilou?

4. In paragraph 4, what does a staff member equate Kuimeilou to?

5. Decide whether the following statements about Kuimeilou are True, False or the information is Not Given in paragraphs 5 and 6. (4 marks)
(i) A staff member said one of the scariest rooms looks like a haunted theatre.
(ii) Guests can only check into the hotel after 5pm.
(iii) Those who are easily scared should stay in the hotel rooms’ toilets.
(iv) The most expensive room costs about US$137.

6. How much does it cost to stay one night in the hotel’s least expensive room?

7. Find a phrase in paragraph 7 that means “to choose not to take part in something”.

8. In paragraph 8, what does Chinese law say about hotels such as Kuimeilou?

9. Which of the following best describes the people who have commented on the hotel in paragraph 9?
A. They are likely to spend a night in the scariest room.
B. They like horror-themed decorations.
C. They will probably avoid the hotel.
D. They enjoy solving mystery stories.

1. B
2. D
3. solve mystery games; stay in the hotel
4. a large-scale version of ju ben sha, or script mystery games
5. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) T; (iv) NG
6. 499 yuan
7. opt out
8. They are completely fine and legal because the law allows horror-themed decorations. (accept other similar answers)
9. C