On 5/5, authorities in Sichuan province announced that a 16-year-old girl, identified as Liu, died on 3/5 while riding a cliff swing at the Maliuyan Waterfall Scenic Area in Huaying city. The incident occurred when the safety rope snapped as she was launched from the platform.

Video footage from the scene shows the girl repeatedly warning that her safety harness was not securely fastened. "Not tight enough," she reportedly yelled multiple times before an employee pushed her from the safety zone. The protective cable immediately broke, causing her to fall directly down the cliff face.

Authorities initially determined the accident was related to production safety responsibilities. The Maliuyan Scenic Area has been suspended until 10/5 to facilitate the investigation and a full inspection of all equipment.

A female tourist falls into a gorge after a safety rope breaks. Video: Standard

Chongqing Adventure Camp, the adventure tourism company operating the ride, is currently under criminal investigation. The attraction was previously promoted as a leading thrill-seeking destination in the region.

Cliff swings are high-thrill, high-risk adventure games. In tourist areas, these rides are typically installed at the edge of cliffs or other elevated locations to create a sensation of freefall.

Unlike ziplines, which move in a straight line on a cable, cliff swings operate on a pendulum principle. Players are suspended by a cable, and the system then pushes or releases them freely from a launch platform, sending them swinging through the air in an arc.

The incident became the hottest topic on Weibo on the morning of 6/5, generating tens of millions of discussions. The majority of comments criticized the operator's negligence in ignoring the customer's warnings. "They disregarded human life. A small oversight snatched away a young girl's future," commented user Tu Ma.

Hoai Anh (According to Standard, Weibo)