In response to a video shared on a short-video platform in which a user complained about a "big hotel at the Arxan scenic area costing 200 yuan a night," the market supervision bureau of Arxan city in Inner Mongolia issued a notice on the evening of October 4 stating that the filming location was the private home of a local resident surnamed Bao, and that the individual concerned had provided paid accommodation services without obtaining a business license, constituting illegal unlicensed operation.
The "big hotel" referred to in the video was merely a joking description by the netizen, and the person involved never used that name in any promotional materials, the notice said. A screenshot of the video posted by the netizen titled "big hotel at the Arxan scenic area costing 200 yuan a night."
According to the investigation, the guest in question was a driver accompanying a tour group. Before checking in, the driver had asked the resident to help find a hotel or guesthouse, but none of the several establishments contacted had vacancies, so the resident offered his own home instead. Before check-in, the resident truthfully informed the driver that the facilities were basic and the living conditions were poor, and the two sides reached an agreement on a rate of 100 yuan per person per night, with free meals provided on the night of the stay.
The property had no online travel agency promotional or sales channels, and no price fraud, false advertising or other pricing violations were found, the notice said.
The video, posted by a netizen three days earlier, runs 21 seconds and was filmed from a first-person perspective. After opening the door, the viewer sees a kitchen, next to which is a bedroom where a traditional heated brick bed, or kang, is covered with white sheets and pillows. As of the time of publication, the video had been forwarded 196,000 times, received 49,000 likes and attracted nearly 10,000 comments.
Regarding the unlicensed accommodation business, law enforcement officers conducted on-site questioning and evidence collection. In accordance with Article 43 of the Regulation on the Administration of Market Entity Registration, the individual was ordered to immediately cease accommodation services. Officers also carried out on-site legal education, informing the person that operating a commercial lodging business requires lawful registration as a market entity and the obtaining of statutory permits including public place hygiene certification.
Leads concerning the venue's environmental sanitation and linen cleaning were transferred to the comprehensive administrative law enforcement department for health, while related information was also sent to the cultural and tourism authorities to remind travel agencies that they are strictly prohibited from arranging for people to stay in unqualified private residences.
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