A recent post by a netizen from Hebei went viral, stating they were fooled by a gas station that looked strikingly similar to Sinopec. The customer expressed surprise at the unusually low fuel prices and was informed by staff that the station was not Sinopec but "Zhongyuan Shihua." In follow-up comments, the netizen clarified the station was located on Shiqing Road and they only realized the difference after refueling.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, a representative from the gas station was contacted and stated that they had operated under this name for over a decade. The representative claimed the name had been approved by relevant authorities and that they possessed a valid business license. When asked about the inspiration behind the name, the representative declined to comment further.
Public records indicate the station is registered as Shijiazhuang Luancheng District Zhongyuan Shihua Baichigan Gas Station, with a previous name of Luancheng Zhongyuan Shihua Gas Station.
An official from the Luancheng District Market Supervision Administration noted that determining trademark infringement depends not only on the name but also on overall factors such as visual design and branding. The administration will conduct an on-site investigation before issuing a formal response.
Online mapping services reveal the presence of other "Zhongyuan Shihua" gas stations in provinces such as Henan, Anhui, and Hunan.
Historical reports show similar cases. In July 2011, authorities in Xinle City penalized a gas station for using a "Zhongyuan Shihua" logo that closely resembled Sinopec's registered trademark. The station was fined 16,000 yuan and ordered to cease the infringing activity. In February 2015, industrial and commercial authorities in Taojiang County, Hunan, cracked down on eight gas stations using names like "Zhongyuan Shihua" and "Zhongyuan Shihua," which were deemed attempts to mimic well-known brands.
In recent years, major state-owned enterprises including Sinopec, PetroChina, and CNOOC have issued public warnings about counterfeit operations, urging the public to stay vigilant against imitation brands.
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