China’s travellers raise alarm over error-filled tourist signs in public spaces

Travelers in China are raising concerns over the prevalence of mistranslated and error-filled English signage in public spaces, particularly along highways. A recent incident in Gansu province saw a sign for a hot water room at a service area mistranslated as "open water rooms." This error was widely shared on social media, drawing attention to the ongoing issue of poor translation quality.

The Gansu Expressway Service Group, responsible for the service area, issued an apology and stated that the incorrect sign had been removed. The company announced plans for "special inspections and rectifications of signs across all service areas managed by the company." This initiative aims to verify all Chinese-English signs and address any identified errors promptly. The state-owned enterprise manages a significant portion of service areas in the province.

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special inspections and rectifications of signs across all service areas managed by the company

This is not an isolated incident. Similar translation errors and spelling mistakes on signage at public facilities have repeatedly surfaced. In late March, a passenger at an airport in Guiyang discovered multiple misspellings on signs. The recurring nature of these errors suggests a systemic problem in the translation and verification process for public signage.

In response to the public outcry, the Gansu Expressway Service Group also pledged to establish a signage management system that includes "review before installation, with periodic rechecks." The company aims to improve its working mechanisms and enhance its service quality and public image. However, the repeated occurrences highlight a need for more robust quality control measures in producing bilingual signage for tourists.

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review before installation, with periodic rechecks