Visitors throw money and coins into a pond at Xiangshan Temple in Luoyang, Henan Province, on October 5. Photo: CFP

 

Paper money sticks out from the mouth of a stone lion at Kumbum Monastery, Qinghai Province, on July 11. Photo: IC

 

Visitors place money on the back of turtles at Sun Asia Ocean World in Dalian, Liaoning Province, on September 8. Photo: CFP

 

Employees at the Porcelain House in Tianjin collect money to be donated to the Tianjin Zoo. Photo: CFP

 

A cistern at the Porcelain House of Tianjin is filled with coins and bills during the National Day holiday. Photo: CFP

Cultural sites around China were left damaged from the storms of coins and banknotes thrown by well-wishing tourists over the National Day holiday, media reported.

Water tanks at a temple in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were flooded with coins and notes from visitors, while some stone statues saw every crevice stuffed full of cash, according to xinhuanet.com.

Airborne coin donations from visitors at Guiyuan Temple in Hubei Province were so frequent that employees were forced to wear helmets while collecting the thrown money, read the report.

While many Chinese believe such donations bring good fortune and blessings, the practice has recently taken its toll on some cultural sites.

A 200-year-old stone tablet in Beijing was left riddled with marks by thrown coins from tourists, The Beijing News reported in May.

Though some sites have adopted measures such as installing protective covering at key attractions or prohibiting coin throwing altogether, tourists are continuing to put their money wherever they wish. 

The reports drew criticism on Chinese social media over the National Day holiday.

"Tourists have damaged cultural relics by throwing coins at them. There should be better ways to make a wish," wrote a Sina Weibo user.

Some defended their actions. "It's their right to throw money as long as it's theirs, plus the attractions can collect the money and use it for renovations," wrote a social media user.

xinhuanet.com